Oil Change Mishap

[tmdvtpike]

So I changed the oil in my LX 470 this weekend. The first time I had ever changed the oil in any truck/car. I used Mobil 1 5W-30 EP and a M1-209 filter. My reading comprehension skills were obviously not great on Saturday and (using the jugs from Wal-Mart) I overfilled the engine by about 1.8 quarts for a grand total of 9. Realizing my mistake yesterday afternoon when upon closer inspection of the Wal-Mart jug I realized it actually had 5 quarts per jug, not 4 as I thought when I was filling the engine with oil, I proceeded to drain out the excess oil. The oil level on the dipstick now reads exactly on the "F" mark.

The truck was driven about 30 miles between the oil change and the subsequent draining of the excess oil. The engine seemed to run fine the whole time, although the oil pressure gauge was reading lower than it normally did (on the 1/4 mark) as opposed to the 1/2 mark. I did not find any oil on my garage floor from a blown gasket.

So my questions are: Should I change the oil again, would any frothing of the oil cause it to breakdown prematurely? Has anyone else overfilled their engine and did it cause any damage I should be on the look out for? Will switching from a dino oil to a synthetic cause the engine to run at a lower oil pressure (generally)?

 

[sseaman]

It sounds like you caught it before it became an issue. I always check the dipstick for proper level before starting the engine, then again after starting. The pressure gauge may read lower with synthetic versus dyno.

 

[jonharis]

It sounds like you caught it before it became an issue. I always check the dipstick for proper level before starting the engine, then again after starting. The pressure gauge may read lower with synthetic versus dyno.

I wouldn't change the oil either. Note if you check the level before you start the truck it will read higher than after you start the truck because there is no oil in the filter until you start it. I just drain/fill start the truck and run for a minute or 2, turn off truck, then check the dipstick.

Welcome to the world of DIY. you will be doing brakes, bearings and diffs before you know it.

 

[NMuzj100]

The synthetic shouldn't cause a change in pressure at operating temp since the rated viscosity is the same. But the low indicated pressure (1/4 or even slightly less) is totally normal in the 100. Several board threads on this.

No need to change the oil for at least 10,000 miles. How far are you going to run the Mobil1 EP?

Congratulation on your first DIY oil change! Shops make a lot of mistakes on customer cars but you never get to know about it.

 

[scottm]

Even if you double-filled the oil, you're alright.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series...-dealer-stumped-any-thoughts-advice-help.html

 

[sseaman]

Wait until you don't notice that the old fiter gasket is still on and you screw on the new filter. I did this on a 4runner whee the filter is right over the exhaust manifold, it looked like my garage was on fire because of the oil pouring out between the 2 gaskets. New oil is very hard to clean up too.

 

[OregonLC]

New oil is very hard to clean up too.

Just turn the cat upside down and swirl it around by the tail. Cleans right up.

Disclaimer: no animals were injured in the making of this post.

 

[mgeiger]

#1: Good for you for taking it on yourself.
#2: You didn't hurt anything overfilling it by a quart or so.

Double gasket: I worked at 2 oil change shops in high school and college. I was counting up the other day that I've done over 2,000 oil changes. Do the double gasket once, and you'll never do it again.

Cat cleanup: Finally, a good use for my wife's cats.

 

[Southeast Overland]

This is a good lesson to check, and then double check your oil level, or any fluid level after service.

You should be OK. No worries. Since you oops'd once it wouldn't hurt to be OCD and check the level one more time to be safe.

As someone else just said before you know it you'll be changing brake pads, then rotors, then who knows what else!

 

[tmdvtpike]

#2: You didn't hurt anything overfilling it by a quart or so.

This makes me feel better. As of yesterday the truck was running fine.

No need to change the oil for at least 10,000 miles. How far are you going to run the Mobil1 EP?

My plan is to take it to 10,000 miles. Based on what I've read (mainly on here) that seems to be totally reasonable.

 

[OregonLC]

Be glad fellas that we don't have the goofy cartridge filter that Toyota now uses. At least this is what they run in the ES350. Extra steps and extra messy.

By the way, someone had a good suggestion the other day: use a punch to open a hole in the end of the filter before pulling. Allows the oil to drain, saves the mess.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

No harm done. Being lazy, I doubt I would have drained the extra quart.

I have found that using M1 5w-30 does cause the oil pressure gauge to read in the lower part of the acceptable range. remember the 30 weight standard is a range of viscosity and M1 5w-30 i near the lower end of that range. It's still great oil, and there is a school of thought that thinks lower but acceptable viscosity is better because the flow is higher.



If it bothers you, the M1 10w-40 High mileage will read at normal to high ranges.


If the readings really bother you, test it with a real pressure gauge, find that it is within spec, and feel reassured.


I guess your fist oil change is like the fist time you dance with a girl in Jr High. It gets both better and worse from there.

Good going.

 

[NMuzj100]

Do the double gasket once, and you'll never do it again.

Same for not reinstalling the drain plug prior to pouring the new oil.

Well ... at least that's what I hear.

 

[OregonLC]

Same for not reinstalling the drain plug prior to pouring the new oil.

Well ... at least that's what I hear.

Shade tree oil flush. Some people pay extra for that!

 

[flycast]

i drained the oil on a 5.7L tundra engine one time and changed the goofy paper cartridge filter then stood up and closed the hood and drove around the block. Got home and filled the engine and have never had a problem. 2007 tundra with 180k on the clock. haha oops

 

[TheFuzz]

Same for not reinstalling the drain plug prior to pouring the new oil.

Well ... at least that's what I hear.

I have some rather fond memories of a 1990 Bonneville SSE...as I recall, the drain plug was left off during an oil change by *ahem* someone I know.

It's a self-correcting error.

 

[mechanixhorseman]

Don't feel bad. I drained my transmission fluid during an oil change once. It turned out to be one of "those" days.

 

[OregonLC]

the other cool thing to do is to get your oil drained and filter replaced only to realize the case of oil you were sure was in the cupboard was used on the previous change.

 

[TheFuzz]

Better hope you're a two-car family at that point, or it's a long walk.

 

[OregonLC]

No, I ride my bike. It's a Sledgehammer.

Napolean Dynamite

Edit: the walk part reminds me of when I was a kid and had an alternator go out. Car died half way between parts store and home. Walked 4 miles holding a battery.