Engine oil overfilled, blows smoke

[Martin]

Anyone had this experience.
You overfill the engine oil and smoke starts coming out of the exhaust pipe.
I have since found out that oil gets sucked up by crankcase ventilation and then into cylinder and out exhaust via cat converter. Has happened twice and is now missfiring and constantly blowing thick white smoke at idle and acceleration. Yes I know that there is a warning on the filler lid, but it is very easy to overfill it.
I should have drained the oil earlier to get the level back to normal.
VW service replaced oiled up spark plugs, said o2 sensor warning came up during diagnostics, but couldn't fix problem. Car is back in again. First they want to determine reason for misfire on #1 cylinder. So far they have eliminated fuel injectors as problem(by swapping #1 injector to another cylinder). Would be interested in similar experiences.

Word of warning for v6 Passat owners.
Dipstick readings - scribed mid section, upper to lower zone=0.5L
plain metal section up to round plastic bulb = 0.5L
So if your dipstick shows its down to bottom of scribed section and you put in 1.0L of oil you have put in 0.5L too much and may get into the same problem I have experienced.

[Tim]

im pretty sure overfilling is known to shag your cat converter too.

[FknDubbin]

Yep. Stuffs the converter quick smart. You should see what happens to a diesel Renault when you overfill it. It runs off the overflowing diesel and sends it bouncing around the rev limiter until the motor blows up.

[TDI Dude]

Yep. Stuffs the converter quick smart. You should see what happens to a diesel Renault when you overfill it. It runs off the overflowing diesel and sends it bouncing around the rev limiter until the motor blows up.

best I've seen was a lancer filled up with oil to the top of the crank case... the engine was swimming in oil.. to which the owner said ' i just filled it up till i could see it at the top when pouring it in ' needless to say the owner only came in as the car was blowing a little smoke

[Ben_GTI]

It'll be alright, it'll burn off eventually!!

[The_Hawk]

Word of warning for v6 Passat owners.
Dipstick readings - scribed mid section, upper to lower zone=0.5L
plain metal section up to round plastic bulb = 0.5L
So if your dipstick shows its down to bottom of scribed section and you put in 1.0L of oil you have put in 0.5L too much and may get into the same problem I have experienced.

Interesting, anyone happen to know how much oil is required to fill a VR6 from the lowest mark to the highest mark on the scribed part of the dipstick? I tend to hover around the lower mark, something I'm trying to avoid but don't really want to overfill it.

[Jmac]

Around 0.5 litre to 1.0 litre. O.5 and check from there. There is a reason for the warning stickers all over the place it really doesnt do the Cat any good. Sure it will burn off but you are running a risk. Precious metals in there are very sensitive.
JImmymac

[Preen59]

best I've seen was a lancer filled up with oil to the top of the crank case... the engine was swimming in oil.. to which the owner said ' i just filled it up till i could see it at the top when pouring it in ' needless to say the owner only came in as the car was blowing a little smoke

Haha, yeah, this asian guy had his car towed to my old man's workshop one time cause it was a little low on oil, and he couldn't see any in the top so he 'put four litres in it'. It blew nearly every seal, there was oil EVERWHERE.

Oh, and it was a honda...

[velly_16v_cab]

Haha, yeah, this asian guy had his car towed to my old man's workshop one time cause it was a little low on oil, and he couldn't see any in the top so he 'put four litres in it'. It blew nearly every seal, there was oil EVERWHERE.

Oh, and it was a honda...

i know someone who did this on a 205 XS lol

[OilBurna]

the dipstick is damm confusing whats wrong with a simple min max and the bulbs are very close together.

[SoVeReIgN]

Wow - Don't you have to go WAY over max on the dipstick for it to screw up?

[Preen59]

the dipstick is damm confusing whats wrong with a simple min max and the bulbs are very close together.

Yeah exactly, VW are renowned for simplicity and then they go and do something like that.. There's no need!

[mdbrisbane]

Ah the joys of doing your own car maintenance!
Anyone know how much oil, from empty to put in a seat ibiza clx `95? oh and how much gear box fluid too? cheers