Your oil should not resemble a milkshake.
April 14, 2024 has 9:00 a.m. ET
Combustion engines require oil to keep things lubricated and cooled. But what happens if you pour too much? A few extra drops won’t dissolve the crankshaft or blow the spark plugs, but adding three or four times the recommended amount can cause serious problems, including compromising the effectiveness of the lubricant. A new video from YouTube channel Garage 54 shows what happens to the fluid inside an overfilled engine with a clear oil pan. It’s not good.
Double the recommended amount fills the oil pan with fluid, but there isn’t enough for the crank and rods to throw it around and cause problems…yet. Garage 54 is a company that likes to push the limits, which is why they add more oil to the engine.
Major problems occur when there is so much oil that it comes into contact with the crankshaft. The rotating part picks up and dumps oil into the engine block, which cannot properly vent crank gases, turning the fluid into a gooey, milky sludge that cannot lubricate or cool. It looks like something you’d see served at an ice cream parlor in July.
Adding more oil results in more foam and bubbles, almost overwhelming the crank and connecting rods. Eventually, there is so much oil in the engine that it leaks out of the crankcase ventilation tube, and the fluid continues to turn into foam which is then sucked into the oil pump, aerating it to the beyond its usefulness.
Overfilling your engine with oil could cause a drop in pressure, starving certain components of lubrication. The journals and bearings would wear, expand and fail due to the increased friction between the components. Excess oil could also prevent the fluid from cooling properly as it circulates through the engine, allowing excess heat to build up. Oil is vital for a reason, so stick to the amount that well-paid engineers believe is best for your car.
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