Too much oil

[Mrturner1]

So I wasn't paying attention and I put 6 quarts in my truck when changing the oil. It's a 1970 C10 SBC 355. When I was driving I noticed some white smoke behind me so I pulled over to look and I have a valve cover gasket leaking and the bottom of my timing chain cover where it meets the oil pan is leaking. I went home and drained some oil. Is it possible those leaks were only because I put to much in and they will go away now that the oil level is correct or did I just cause myself a HUGE headache and a few hours in labor to change oil pan, timing cover and all other gaskets on the way to that spot?

[GASoline71]

Yep

Gary

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mrturner1

So I wasn't paying attention and I put 6 quarts in my truck when changing the oil. It's a 1970 C10 SBC 355. When I was driving I noticed some white smoke behind me so I pulled over to look and I have a valve cover gasket leaking and the bottom of my timing chain cover where it meets the oil pan is leaking. I went home and drained some oil. Is it possible those leaks were only because I put to much in and they will go away now that the oil level is correct or did I just cause myself a HUGE headache and a few hours in labor to change oil pan, timing cover and all other gaskets on the way to that spot?

I would try snugging up all of the bolts in those areas. Just don't get heavy handed or you will have more headaches.

LockDoc

[GASoline71]

My "Yep" referred to too much oil. It blew by the front crank seal and only looks like it's the front pan seal.

Too much oil up top will cause leaks at the valve covers some times.

You took out a quart or so... just drive it to see if more oil comes out.

Gary

[Mrturner1]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

My "Yep" referred to too much oil. It blew by the front crank seal and only looks like it's the front pan seal.

Too much oil up top will cause leaks at the valve covers some times.

You took out a quart or so... just drive it to see if more oil comes out.

Gary

So I might be okay then as far as that seal goes? That's great news if so.

[dazza]

I feel for you and that headache if thats the case. I literally just finished doing mine... what a pita! I have an old CalCustom finned pan and it wouldn't come close to coming out with the engine lifted 4 or 5 inches. I ended up having to pull my front cross-member, luckily it was bolted in (but still a b*&$%!)

[snipescastle2]

Too much oil will cause your plugs to foul out as well. The oil will "Foam" if it gets too high causing higher crank case pressures resulting in more leaks.
Ben

[GRX]

Bubbles are bad for other reasons. Think about one of them in the oiling system spread out half thickness of a piece of notebook paper. Roughly the clearance between crank and bearing.

[snipescastle2]

Not to mention foaming oil reduces the ability to remove heat as well
Ben

[kwmech]

1 quart over isn't going to hurt anything and it's not going to pump more oil into the valve covers unless you have drain back problems (which I doubt). Once the engine is running and warm, there's only about 3 quarts in the pan anyways, the rest is in circulation. On long heavy hauls I commonly add an additional 1/2 to a quart to help cooling. Nothing is going to foam up unless you are 2-3 quarts over.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by kwmech

1 quart over isn't going to hurt anything and it's not going to pump more oil into the valve covers unless you have drain back problems (which I doubt). Once the engine is running and warm, there's only about 3 quarts in the pan anyways, the rest is in circulation. On long heavy hauls I commonly add an additional 1/2 to a quart to help cooling. Nothing is going to foam up unless you are 2-3 quarts over.

+1. I've overfilled on accident a few times always by a quart or less and never had any problems. I can't see any real foaming issues happening with a quart or less over full.

[garyd1961]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

My "Yep" referred to too much oil. It blew by the front crank seal and only looks like it's the front pan seal.

Too much oil up top will cause leaks at the valve covers some times.

You took out a quart or so... just drive it to see if more oil comes out.

Gary

I have to disagree. A qt too much oil will not blow a seal. The oil pump will pump the same pressure no matter how much oil you put in the motor. Unless you completely fill the motor with oil it will not have any affect on the valve covers. I guess it is possible to fill it until the level reaches the pan gasket or seal and seep through an already bad gasket or seal.

ETA- I should have read the entire thread before posting. I see this has already been pointed out.

[chefk85]

So I agree it doesn't make sense that it would cause a leak however I did this a couple months back and I did leak oil down the top of the trans bellhousing. I checked oil pressure line and distributor seal and no leaks there. Valve covers either. It seems that it somehow was coming from intake gasket area. A week of driving it everyday and it stopped I'm guessing when the oil dropped to a certain level. Like I said it makes no sense mechanically to me but it has only ever leaked there when I put too much oil in the engine. Food for thought.

[Mrturner1]

Originally Posted by garyd1961

I have to disagree. A qt too much oil will not blow a seal. The oil pump will pump the same pressure no matter how much oil you put in the motor. Unless you completely fill the motor with oil it will not have any affect on the valve covers. I guess it is possible to fill it until the level reaches the pan gasket or seal and seep through an already bad gasket or seal.

ETA- I should have read the entire thread before posting. I see this has already been pointed out.

But a quart too much oil DID blow oil through the crank seal, so he's correct on that one. After I drained some out and started it back up all was well. Keep in mind though Gasoline71 (Gary) knows exactly how I drive and that's usually with my foot pushed through the floorboard, so a quart of oil will certainly make a difference when you're spinning the motor upwards of 6300 rpm

[midniteblues]

There is no way a extra qt. Is gonna blow out of the front seal or cause "more leakage". There is no significant pressure at the front seal it's lubed by oil draining back down.

Like said when running a lot of the oil is in the top end in circulation. And the oil in the pan is in the baffled sump except what is draining back in.

If there was way too much 2-3 qts. It's possible the rotating assemblely will splash in it and foam it up. But I still don't see it pushing past the seal.

Did you lube the snout of the damper when you put it in? If not you could've fried the seal or tore it.

I couldn't believe I did this once but I installed the wrong front oil pan seal once but that made a complete mess almost instantly at start up.

I bought a 81 Malibu in the early 90's. From a elderly couple.
The owner said the motor was shot cause it smoked so bad. I mean REALLY bad. the smoke flume coming out the tail pipe was tremendously horrifying.

As it turned out someone filled the motor up with oil dang near half way up the dip stick tube had too be at least 12 qt.in it.
And amazingly it ran that way not good but it ran.

I don't remember seeing any external leaks except what was puking out the pcv and air breather hose.

I drained most of the oil and left it idle for a while and it started clearing up. Afterwards i Changed the plugs and oil and cleaned everything up and it ran great.