Engine Oil Overfilled Causing Leak?
 

Hello,

Recently started smelling some dry burning smell that lasts for about 10 seconds after 10-15 mins of driving or when the car warms up. Also, some small puddles of something on the driveway coming from the engine bay.

Checked for leaks around timing chain cover and there was nothing but there seemed to be a leak around the oil filter part. I checked my dip stick after letting the car sit for about 10-15 mins, wiped the end and dipped it back in and this is what it read.


https://i.ibb.co/ZmFV7M3/7dd83796-8f...43faebabd9.jpg

Does overfilling the engine oil cause a oil filter leak? What would you guys recommend my next steps are? Dealership that did the change is booked up due to covid. Should I just loosen the oil drain plug and drain some oil or should I just do a full oil change and get a new filter too?

Yeah overfill can cause the engine to force oil out of various places, including the oil dipstick tube. If you take a close look in the engine bay and under the vehicle after letting the car idle for a couple minutes, you may be able to see exactly where if that’s the case.

If it were me, I’d just drain the appropriate amount out. Then drive and monitor to check for any status change.

What is the oil level as you are seeing on the dipstick?

What are the puddles of something on your driveway?

I constantly have problems with shops putting in 6 quarts when they change my oil because I bring 6 quarts. Last time I only brought 5 and the guy gave me a hard time because it was slightly under, when I explained why he admitted that he would have just put in whatever was there so it was good that I didn't give him all 6. The dealer does it every time and insists it's fine to overfill especially considering that so many of these engines burn a bit of oil, mine doesn't burn any though and they don't seem to understand how that's possible.

Yeah that seems real high if the oil is all the way up the dip stick. Did you check the other side? The lower side is the correct one to read

@congee did you read both sides of the dipstick? One side always reads high. Flip it over, the other side will read much lower. How I know this? Well I pulled my dipstick after an oil change and it read high just like that, drove to mechanic on the corner and he laughed and told me to flip the dipstick over, it read perfectly between the lines, at the full mark. I think he's dealt with enough Subaru's to know this.

I've had leaks from the oil filter before. Somehow wasn't tightened down right one time. Sprayed my whole engine bay with oil and left drops all over the driveway.

Thank you, didnt know this either haha

So I checked in the morning when it was cold, and again after it was warmed up(waited 5 mins after turning the car off). checked the lowered side and it still read about an inch over the full mark.

Oddly enough, the burning smell was gone after I tightened the oil filter a bit and wiped away some oil coming out of the dipstick tube.

Should I try to siphon some of the oil out or would it be safe to drive for another week when I can go back to my dealer

Install a Fumoto oil drain valve in place of the oil drain bolt. Perfect for situations like this and easy to do oil changes.

Bubba suggests you place a whole bunch of paper towels underneath the oil filter, then loosen up the oil filter till it quits burbling, then tighten it up, remove the saturated paper towels and wipe around the bottom of the oil filter. Then check the oil level - it should be slightly above the top hole in the dipstick, which will be OK.