Potential damages from oil overfill?

wfbal · 10-31-2009, 05:28 AM

Please help,

I got my 911 SC 3.6 conversion engine oil changed by none Porsche experience shop.
They overfilled the oil by 3 quart!

I did not notice it right away, I left the shop and the car was running normally (no smoke) but after a hard right turn, the car started to smoke like crazy and the engine started to run poorly.
I did not push the engine hard.

After a short drive home, I removed the excess oil and went for an 1/2 hour drive.

At first it was still smoking a lot but after 15 min or so, smoke was reduced but did not disappear totally. Now the car smoke a little when the engine is running and still smoke a lot on startup.
The engine is still running poorly (low power, shaking at idle). I think it's not running on 6 cylinders.

Can an oil overfill generate serious engine damages?

theiceman · 10-31-2009, 05:43 AM

you are going to get a lot of \' go sue the pricks comments but the reality is your plugs are fouled . \if you have fixed the oil level you need to change the plugs and if you can get your maf off clean that up with some contact or brake cleaner ... then go burn it all off ... not a \huge deal ..

Oh Haha · 10-31-2009, 06:28 AM

Lesson learned, I hope.

It's not a big deal. I would suggest taking your air cleaner off and cleaning out the box and clean up as much as you can.

As theiceman posted, clean your MAF and all of the parts associated with it. I don't see a need to replace the sparkplugs. it should run ok once you get the oil cleaned out of her. It may smoke for a while but it will burn off.

kidrock · 10-31-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Lesson learned, I hope.

It's not a big deal. I would suggest taking your air cleaner off and cleaning out the box and clean up as much as you can.

As theiceman posted, clean your MAF and all of the parts associated with it. I don't see a need to replace the sparkplugs. it should run ok once you get the oil cleaned out of her. It may smoke for a while but it will burn off.

+2...not a big deal if you clean everything up and drive it briskly for a short while. I'm still pretty new to Porsches, but not new to air-cooled motors. Although I've not ever heard of it on this site, my experience has been that overfilling most air-cooled motors (particularly VW) usually results in a leaking main seal. I hope this is not the case for you.

speeder · 10-31-2009, 09:06 AM

Overfilling 911 engines frequently results in them being towed into a shop that does specialise in Porsches covered with that foam that comes out of fire extinguishers. They start puking oil out the breather as soon as the engine warms-up, it hits the hot exhaust and the rest is history. You're very lucky that this did not happen.

Let this be a cautionary tale against letting someone w/ "none Porsche experience" touch your car. In most all cases, you are better off doing it yourself w/ advice from a BBS like this. (Or at least reading the owners manual first). These air-cooled cars are not that exotic, just exotic enough to completely destroy by something as simple as an oil change.

Glad it worked out as it did.

BURN-BROS · 10-31-2009, 10:08 AM

If the engine does not see high rpms while overfilled then no real issues should happen.

If you spin the engine the seals will blow out, ring damage and hydrolock can occur.

Good posts on what to do so far.

wfbal · 11-02-2009, 03:40 PM

Thanks guys, that's a relief.

It's the last time this car is touch by an none Porsche mechanic.

DW SD · 11-02-2009, 03:46 PM

DO NOT use Brake Cleaner to clean your MAF. Use MAF cleaner, which is readily available at NAPA.

Also, you may want to add a catch can inline in your breather circuit.

Doug

80-911SC · 80-911SC's Garage

this post should be mandatory read for all newbies ,

this should start out with once upon a time
at an IFFy lube far far away
a man who didn't know better
took his Porsche to a place run by those who don't know better
they did what they thought and check the stick twice
filled it to the top and said that looks quite nice
it smoked and it shook and it scared him back home
into the garage were they (the car and he) could be alone
he checked it all out and then made his post
hoping all the while that his engines not toast
the gurus they read and gave there advise
told him to drain down and clean it quite nice
we hope it works out and that all is swell
and they man a the IFFY lube goes straight to hell
so don't touch a Porsche if think or don't know
but please ask first a PELICAN they will probably know .........

moral of the story is _____ work on it yourself or pay some one who knows
or ask Wayne's Pelicanite's they probably know

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

I like it! very phuny

kidrock · 11-02-2009, 06:47 PM

80_911SC,

I always knew you had a hidden talent.

80-911SC · 80-911SC's Garage

bump , just because i like my comment .... #9

FIG · FIG's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80-911SC

bump , just because i like my comment .... #9

I'm bumping too!!!!

Love it!

Drisump · Drisump's Garage

One time I didn't have time to do my own change just before storage so I took it to a very good local general mechanic just around the corner. I left him with the Bentley manual and a little extra oil and asked him if he knew the drill on these cars. Yeah, yeah. When I picked it up, all the oil was used...that's strange, I guessed that be had managed to remove more of the oil from the front cooler and lines. When I was about to drive away he said had to add a quart from the shop because I hadn't left enough.... the penny dropped. Sure enough, there was at least two quarts over the center line when warm at idle....lesson learned, ONLY experienced "Porsche people" touch my car....other than myself.

Wil Ferch · 01-22-2011, 07:39 AM

Never.....ever....(when it's important...as I found out even in my professional life)....say to someone.... "Do you understand?...and accept only a "yes" answer WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

Ask the person to whom to you ask a question.....to answer you back fully with details ( aka "paraphrasing")

Yeah...sometimes you come off looking like a jerk trying to talk to a kindergartener....but if it's important, you do this.

WI wide body · 03-26-2012, 07:50 AM

My motto is: Always make sure the person doing work on my car is smarter than myself. Why let anyone dumber than myself mess with the car?

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

The answer to the OP's question is YES,......and this SERIOUS damage would be known right away.

Best,

Doyle

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drisump

One time I didn't have time to do my own change just before storage so I took it to a very good local general mechanic just around the corner. I left him with the Bentley manual and a little extra oil and asked him if he knew the drill on these cars. Yeah, yeah. When I picked it up, all the oil was used...that's strange, I guessed that be had managed to remove more of the oil from the front cooler and lines. When I was about to drive away he said had to add a quart from the shop because I hadn't left enough.... the penny dropped. Sure enough, there was at least two quarts over the center line when warm at idle....lesson learned, ONLY experienced "Porsche people" touch my car....other than myself.

Better comm,..especially if you knew the guy......could have told him how many quarts she held and had no issues (after showing him the drain points and the needed torque values on reinstall).

My question is: surely you had them correct this issue before leaving-driving off (after the penney dropped)? Right?

Doyle

Targalid · 03-26-2012, 02:19 PM

One other thing. Look your engine over carefully. The oil can and will run out of the airbox, over the top of the engine and down both sides and then onto the exhaust. My point? You may need to thoroughly clean off the engine exterior with a steam cleaner, degreaser or power washer. All caveats about keeping the ignition dry apply here.