Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Hey stupid question but I am stressing a bit about it and want to know what you guys think. I changed the oil today to get ready for winter and I overfilled it a litlle bit. It went past the 2nd white tic on the dipstick and around the bottom of the top white bulb (not sure if that makes any sense). I guess what i am trying to ask is if it is OK to have over filled or do I need to do something about it? If so what can I do to correct this besides dropping $50 worth of oil out. Thanks

Craig

I did that a few changes ago and took it to a lube place I trust (I know that's an oxymoron, but there's actually a really reliable joint in Okotoks). They just loosened the plug, drained it down a bit, then tightened the plug and topped it up. I think they used a bit of weatherstripping adhesive on the plug to make sure it didn't loosen off again.

I've done the same myself (just loosen until a little comes out), without the adhesive and it worked fine.

I can do that. I probably can't do it without making a huge mess though! I usually use a little wrap of Teflon tape around the drain plug. Hopefully it will seal when I tighten it back up. Is it bad to leave too much oil in there?

I am just being lazy becaue i had a not so fun time doing it today. Bumped the drain pan as I walked away and noticed when i could see the sun shining from the reflection while in the garage. Friggin Exxon Baldeze I called it. What a mess. Then i over filled it as a big plop of oil went into my funnel. I also have a whopper of a power steering leak spraying the underside of my van. It stopped in the summer ( I think the heat expands the rubber and helps it stay sealed?) and now as it is getting colder it is leaving a sweet mess as well. I think my mechanic said it was the power steering rack seal. Oh well, someday I will be able to drive and enjoy it 100%. Hopefully.


Craig

CREGAN wrote:It went past the 2nd white tic on the dipstick and around the bottom of the top white bulb (not sure if that makes any sense). I guess what i am trying to ask is if it is OK to have over filled or do I need to do something about it?

I wouldn't even bother to drain it out Craig. The bottom line to the top line usually represents 1 litre of oil, so depending on how high above the line it is... think of that much extra compared to the total oil in the engine.

CREGAN wrote:I usually use a little wrap of Teflon tape around the drain plug. Hopefully it will seal when I tighten it back up.

I'd also be careful putting teflon tape on the drain bolt threads, they don't actually seal the oil in. That job is the crush washer on the head of the bolt, I usually put a new one on every 2 or 3 oil changes. Anything you put on the threads can possibly end up in your oil.

foxycanuck wrote:I think they used a bit of weatherstripping adhesive on the plug to make sure it didn't loosen off again.

I wouldn't trust weatherstripping adhesive in my oil, adding that sounds a little hokey to me. This can be solved by changing out the crush washer.

A turkey baster with a hose attached that can fit down the dip stick hole. Pretty sure you can buy a cheap hose and hand pump at a auto parts shop too, same idea.

What's a crush washer? All I had was a bolt that I pulled out to drain the oil.

Second the Turkey Baster.
I did the same thing this past summer so I took the Deli to a local shop and they used a boat pump to suck out the excess oil through the dipstick hole.

CREGAN wrote:What's a crush washer? All I had was a bolt that I pulled out to drain the oil.

Something like attached pic.

Steven

overfilling can cause the front/rear main seals to leak. Not an easy fix compared to draining or sucking out the excess oil.

Since both alternatives mentioned here seem messy I guess I will just loosen off the bolt and try to contain the spillage. I think I can attach my catch pan to a juice bottle I have and measure about how much I take out. I think I am probably about a half to full litre over. We shall see. I wil have the rags and cardboard handy though this time!

Craig

Don't even need a turkey baster; just get about 8 feet of cheap (clear!) poly hose that'll fit down the dipstick hole, get your overfill bottle/container ready and suck up about 4 feet worth before turning it over inside the bottle.

With the clear hose you'll see it coming and won't pull a Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 3. (where he sucks up a mouthful)

OK- bought some cheap tubing slid it in about 4-5 feet and sucked until I turned blue. Nothing coming out- I don't think the tube was in the oil it was curling up. I did impersonate Riggs for you Tony "I'm too old for this shit!" So I just popped off the plates loosened the drain plug and let about a little over a half litre out. Zipped it back up and I think everything is ok. I will check it again later. Thanks for the info everbody.

Craig

I'm sure the jokes can start flying but you need to suck like there's no tomorrow for gas, let alone engine oil. I'm not sure it's possible !

Just changed my oil in l400 superexceed and wondering what the oil capacity is supposed to be? Only 5L of oil drained out, and thats what I put in. Looks like it is slightly over filled on dipstick. The sakura filter I put in is about twice as big as the hyundai filter I removed. Seeing anywhere from 6.5L - 8 L researching on web, so would like to know. Thanks all.

Sanluis ph wrote:Just changed my oil in l400 superexceed and wondering what the oil capacity is supposed to be? Only 5L of oil drained out, and thats what I put in. Looks like it is slightly over filled on dipstick. The sakura filter I put in is about twice as big as the hyundai filter I removed. Seeing anywhere from 6.5L - 8 L researching on web, so would like to know. Thanks all.

I noticed that too. I drained about 5.5 - 6 L out and put about 6.5 back in. I use a Sure Filter and it is pretty big. I was having a tough time determining how much I put in when I primed the filter. I am finding the hardest thing is to get an accurate reading off the dipstick. It is all over the map and everytime I dip it in it gives me only a partial indication or it shows that the whole thing is covered.

Craig