Oil Overfill/Leaking Oil

[hjkim]

I noticed a pool of sludge on my garage floor which looks like motor oil. Not 100% sure yet, I took the skid plates off my truck and parked over a dry spot to see if there would be another pool of oil since I'm not entirely positive that the sludge in the garages wasn't already there. This brings me to my issue.

I know virtually nothing about cars and just assumed that if I had overfilled the oil that it would drain out somewhere. On my last oil change I used an extra long filter so I put in considerably more than the recommended 6.5 quarts. Now I'm wondering if I could have caused damage when I overfilled the oil. I recall there being a burning smell from the truck right after I changed the oil. Hopefully not.

Please feel free to add any wisdom and/or chastise me for not thinking.

Thanks.

 

[Bossman]

Hey hjkim,

Here are some threads on that very subject:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/69697-v8-engine-oil-capacity.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/26688-oil-overfill-what-could-happen-if.html

Overfilling is not a good situation, and under pressure the excess oil will try to "drain out" but not in a good way. It may be forced out through gaskets and indeed cause engine damage.

I always slightly underfill ... easier to add a little oil than try to take out excess.

 

[hjkim]

Thanks

I'm going to drain/change the oil this week. Better safe than sorry.

 

[proz07]

have you looked on the dipstick? to see what the level is at? are you sure that filter is the right diameter it may be too narrow allowing oil to leak? you already stated you know nothing about cars so why are you going to start changing things? is the filter installed tight? why waste 30$ish on oil filter if not needed to figure this out check the dipstick.

z

 

[Toyodas]

Any updates?

If it wasn't oil dripping from your skidplate from previous oil changes also check around your engine bay for any valve cover gasket leaks, drain plug leaking, oil filter with bad seal or possibly double gaskets on it, or maybe your oil pan has a leak.

What engine do you have?

 

[hjkim]

proz7, I have about 6000 miles since last oil change (mobil 1 synthetic) so I have about 1500 left before changing oil for sure but I need to change gear oil and lube so I figure I'll just take care of everything. I checked the dip stick and the oil level looks like it's between the two lines but there is a patch of oil above the line after a dry gap, does that make sense?

Toyodas, I have the 4.7L V8. At last check drain plug is fine and oil filter is fine without double gaskets (friend of mine blew engine that way so I'm careful about that). Not sure where the valve cover gaskets are, I'll look around tonight.

Again, not sure if I actually have a leak or I'm looking at sludge on the garage floor from previous renter.

Thanks all for the responses.