Over Fill Oil

D

DBSHELTON

Senior Member
If someone does something dumb like over fill the engine oil where does the oil run out? I poured the whole oil container in thinking it was 4 quarts, but as soon as I did it I saw where it was 5 quarts. Now after running, oil is dripping out of the hole in the bottom of the bell housing.
 
Why drain? When I was overfilled, I just llet it overflow out to the cotter pinned drain at the bottom of the bell housing. I just put a container under the hole to catch the dripping when I was in the garage. This post reminds me, I have to change my oil soon.
 
If that leak from the rear main isn't bothersome then let it go. Model A oil level is kinda like water, it'll seek its own level. So to speak. If it does bother you then just drain out a qt.

These engines are not like others, the crank can't get to oil in the bottom of the base to whip it up.
 
Easiest way would be to drain all the oil out and then put back in the proper amount. Trying to drain a bit is easy until you try and put the plug back in.
 
I knew an old Model A owner who for years put five quarts in every time he changed the oil in his car.

He would always say, “the service bulletin says it holds five quarts so that’s what I add”.

Forget about the half a quart in the dipper tray, he did not want to hear about that.

Anyway it would just leave a bigger spot on the ground until that extra half quart was gone. No problems, and he was happy.

There are more important things in life.

Enjoy.
 
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DBSHELTON said:
If someone does something dumb like over fill the engine oil where does the oil run out? I poured the whole oil container in thinking it was 4 quarts, but as soon as I did it I saw where it was 5 quarts. Now after running, oil is dripping out of the hole in the bottom of the bell housing.
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Had a member on this site sometime back suggest running the oil level at half full/empty (depending on how you look at it) to minimize oil leakage. He seemed knowledgeable about that and assured me there would be no engine damage. I took him at his word and have had no problems.
 
I drained it out and refilled until I got to the line on the dipstick. A little under 4 quarts. It still spit a little more out but I think it is OK now.
 
DBSHELTON said:
I drained it out and refilled until I got to the line on the dipstick. A little under 4 quarts. It still spit a little more out but I think it is OK now.
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Obviously a wise decision on your part. Why intentionally do something wrong. If you’re going to be a Model A collector, do it right Or collect bottle caps.
 
Two observations: The cotter pin hole is to leak it's not an overflow. Second and VERY important. These engines, like a small lawn mower motor, use SPLASH to move oil. Picture your hand in a pool just making a big circle about 6 inches into the pool then coming out about 6 inches and repeating. You are splashing water all over the place. Now don't change and picture the pool filling up slowly but your ability to rotate has not changed. Now your hand is under water, stirring the water not splashing anymore.

Overfilled splash systems do not lubricate.
 
jg61hawk said:
Two observations: The cotter pin hole is to leak it's not an overflow. Second and VERY important. These engines, like a small lawn mower motor, use SPLASH to move oil. Picture your hand in a pool just making a big circle about 6 inches into the pool then coming out about 6 inches and repeating. You are splashing water all over the place. Now don't change and picture the pool filling up slowly but your ability to rotate has not changed. Now your hand is under water, stirring the water not splashing anymore.

Overfilled splash systems do not lubricate.
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Remember there is a dipper tray that the rods rotate in. It only holds a given amount of oil. Anything else over flows down into the oil pan. The extra added oil is in the oil pan not the dipper tray.
 
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