To Much Oil In Engine
 

My Son Returned My Mom's Car He Was Useing While I Fixed His. It Was Running Rough. He Said He Thought He Put To Much Oil. Dam Did He, About 2 Guarts To Much. Today I Changed The Oil And The Glow Plugs Because The Glow Plug Light Didn't Go On. Then Diesel Purged It. This Helped A Little. It Still Runs Rough. Minor White Smoke At First Then None. What Could My Son Have Caused With To Much Oil. What Should I Check. Ray M

Dont worry two much, mine had 4 gallons (!!!!) in it at one time...(not for very long, though)


I'd change the oil that's in it (I like Rotella/synthetic) (yes, it's a group 3 syn.) and start from there. Hopefully a gasket isnt blown (I've seen rear mains go out due to to much oil)

The main thing about over filling is it creates air in the oil, which heats it up. Air is also a better conductor of heat, so less air space = more heat (same can be said for the trans)

Gasket
 

How would i know if a gasket was blown? What gasket are you talking about? Could the oil have caused the need for a valve adjustment?? SEARCHING!

car
 

SORRY I didn't mention the car is a 1981 300d.

Drain it out, do a normal oil change with the right amount, and drive it, it will probably be ok.

did it
 

I changed the oil today. I used castrol 20-50 which was recomended buy a great older diesel mechanic yrs ago.

Many diesel engines have a warning to never overfill with oil as serious damage can result. (Usually a sticker.)

A diesel can literally feed off its own oil and go into runaway. (If you do a search on "runaway", you will be in for an eye-opener.) Runaway is where the engine is capable of going to wide open throttle until it siezes.

You should be all right once the level is corrected.

Air is a better conductor of heat? Where did you get this one?

The biggest problem with too much oil is that when the crank runs in it, it foams the oil, and the oil pump sucks foam, which won't adequately lubricate the bearings.

On a diesel, you have the added problem of throwing that oil out the engine where it can enter the intake, and cause a runaway engine. If this happens on a gasser, the engine just shuts down, but not on a diesel.