Running an engine that isn’t properly lubricated gets overheated quickly and damage can happen soon after. You’ll need to solve this immediately, but don’t worry, it’s a simple fix!
The smell of burning oil Oil puddling underneath your vehicle High oil pressure on the pressure gauge Engine misfiring, stalling, or rough idling Screeching or grinding sounds Poor or weak acceleration
If you don’t see HIGH and LOW on the dipstick, look for 2 pinholes, the letters L and H, the abbreviations MIN and MAX, or a crosshatched area. [7] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
Most dipsticks don’t have measurement markings on them, so it’s hard to know exactly how much excess oil you have if you’re above the MAX line. Some dipsticks have notches that may indicate measurements, but you’ll need to check the owner’s manual for specifics. If you’re in a safe place to work on your car, you can fix the issue on the spot. Otherwise, find a safe spot nearby, drive back to your house if it’s close, or have the car towed to your house or a mechanic.
If the dipstick shows that your oil is still overfilled, repeat the process.
If you don’t have any specialized tools or experience doing this, we don’t recommend trying it.
Most engines require 5-8 quarts of oil, but the exact amount depends on your engine size. The smaller the engine, the less oil is needed.
