I am a moron...overfilling oil...

[Danbob]

Okay...So for the past few oil changes my brain has been up my butt and I filled my 95 Legacy with 4.8 quarts instead of 4.2 because I thought it took the same amount as my wrx. I was wondering why my seals seemed to be seeping a bit (oil pan, valve covers) no major leaks or anything, but did I do permenant damage or could anything else bad happen as a result of me overfilling the car for the past 3-4 oil changes??? (PLEASE SAY ITS NO BIG DEAL) :-(

[Perdue]

You're ok. Engine seals will seep some oil over time anyways, but overfilling by half, or even a full quart, should not be a problem for most drivers. As long as the oil is not being push up to where the crank will splash through it (I'm not sure if it can happen on teh H4, as I haven't taken the oilpan off of one before), then you'll be ok. If the crank is sitting in the oil, it will basically whip the oil into a foam, and an oil pump pumps, oil...not foam. Could lead to engine failure due to lack of lubricant.

The Subaru H4 doesn't have a pressurized oil pan, so overfilling it shouldn't hurt in the idea that it's going to blow out seals due to the oil pressure being too high.

CN: You're ok. Overfilling by half a quart should not cause any major problems. I wouldn't continue to do so though, just in case.

[Wiscon_Mark]

No big deal, especially since your car takes 4.6 quarts, not 4.2...

Say you actually did majorly overfill the oil pan (like you put in 6 quarts) - you'd blow a seal, cause a slow oil leak, and it would leak onto the headers and smell a lot until you got it fixed. You wouldn't totally wreck anything, you'd just have to keep any eye on the oil level and put up with the smell until you got it fixed.

[Danbob]

thanks guys - so wait - my 95 leggy takes 4.6?? owners manual says 4.2...wierd...anyway the most that would have been in the car is 5 quarts. In which case my slow seeping leaks that I already have would probably just seep a bit more than normal...which honestly until I blow a seal completely I am not sinking money or time into to fix...it is my beater car and I treat it right, but I'm not gonna spend the time or money unless somethign has shit the bed. YOu guys are a huge help...like I said - N/A is a lot different than turbo.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Does it now?

That's interesting...

Well, I don't really put the exact amount in anyways, it really depends on how well you drain it and what filter goes in - I always put 4 qts in, run the car, then check the dipstick and fill accordingly (to slightly under the full line).

[devmaster]

ive heard from one guy who used to race professionally that if you put like 1 to 1 1/2 more quarts in you get more hp. because of an increase in compression!? or at least thats what he used to do. although i have heard horrific stories of people putting to much in and killing all the seals in their engine as well as killing their cats from buring off oil.. if it was more oil i would be worried. but i think your fine.
at least thats my opinion

[Sarra]

Convert to a dry sump system. :lol:

Different cars got different oil pans. My EJ25D takes 4.6 quarts. The BE I had took 4.1 quarts. Our 1995 Legacy Wagon took I think 4.2. Our BH outback takes... 4.2 quarts. And my dad's Toyota T100 takes 5.2 gallons of oil, due to a misprint in the manual. ;)

[Wiscon_Mark]

5.2 Gallons...that's more than a porsche :lol:

[Sarra]

You mean, more than you have to put into a porsche's engine every week? I don't think so. :shock:

[backpack09]

I was just priceing out a straight 6 izuzu diesel motor for my truck. It takes 22 quarts of oil...