Oil Overfill/White Smoke - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

samg1965 · 03-30-2016, 04:56 PM

2002 Boxster no manual!!! Was out of town three months and when I returned my battery was dead and the dash oil light was on once started. Checked the oil and could not see any on the dipstick (poor eyes too). I added 5 quarts and it took without a problem, oil light now off. My eyes still couldn't see oil on the dipstick, so two days later thinking it must have been very low, I added a few more. Now when I start I get a cloud of white smoke and also a intermittently while running (i.e. after shifting, etc) and leave a cloud behind me.

I was thinking AOS, but the white smoke only began after adding additional oil. Will excess oil cause this?

Also concerned why the oil level dropped while the vehicle sat for a few months. No oil on the garage floor.

How much oil can possibly be overfilled without it overflowing back out while pouring?

No I didn't pour it into the coolant!!!

I know too much oil is bad, but how bad?

tommy583 · 03-30-2016, 05:02 PM

Ummm yeah it might be overfilled. You should probably drain the oil and start over. By the way it should take a little under 9 liters.

cornontherob · 03-30-2016, 05:07 PM

The oil capacity is around 9.2 quarts. So if there was oil in the car at all, then you definitely overfilled it.

Ja986s · 03-30-2016, 05:15 PM

8 quarts with filter change puts me at the half mark on the dip stick. Too much oil can damage the diaphragm. in your AOS. Pull the engine cover and look for oil residue around your intake.

thstone · 03-30-2016, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

I was thinking AOS, but the white smoke only began after adding additional oil. Will excess oil cause this?

Yes, this is a common symptom of overfilling the oil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

I know too much oil is bad, but how bad?

It can range from nothing to engine failure. As the oil level increases, more oil vapor gets pulled into the AOS and passed through to the engine intake; this is why the engine starts smoking more and more.

As the engine burns heavy oil vapor, the injectors can become covered in oil deposits and the cats can become contaminated - both can be expensive to repair.

At some point of increasing oil levels, there is the risk that liquid oil, not just oil vapors, will get past the AOS and into the intake. If this were to happen, it could cause hydrolock in a cylinder and damage the engine.

samg1965 · 03-31-2016, 06:36 AM

Thanks guys for your input!!! This morning I I took a ride around the block and no white smoke. I drained ~3 quarts out and still no white smoke. I'll keep an eye out and will likely change filters as I'm guessing is saturated. Hoping no damage was done!!!

alm001 · 03-31-2016, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

Thanks guys for your input!!! This morning I I took a ride around the block and no white smoke. I drained ~3 quarts out and still no white smoke. I'll keep an eye out and will likely change filters as I'm guessing is saturated. Hoping no damage was done!!!

What? No.

Start all over. Drain all the oil, and replace with the correct amount before driving this car any more.

kk2002s · 03-31-2016, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alm001

What? No.

Start all over. Drain all the oil, and replace with the correct amount before driving this car any more.

+1+1+1

You are playing Russian Roulette arbitrarily adding and removing oil.
The Filter will be saturated. It is suppose to, it sits in oil and oil flows through it.
You need to start from a know baseline, new filter, new oil, filled to the correct level on the dip stick

You'll sleep better

samg1965 · 03-31-2016, 12:40 PM

I was thinking just that on my way home a few minutes ago!!! Oil is cheap!!! Thanks!!!

samg1965 · 03-31-2016, 12:41 PM

You're right!!! Thanks

samg1965 · 03-31-2016, 01:04 PM

I'm still not comfortable with the AOS something funky is going on. Would a faulty AOS cause my oil light to go on giving me the false impression that I needed oil? I don't know why the oil would run out after 1000 miles with no trace, although the car did take everything I poured in. Unless the mechanic who did the 60K service put the wrong amount in. It was an indy shop.

jdraupp · 03-31-2016, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

I'm still not comfortable with the AOS something funky is going on. Would a faulty AOS cause my oil light to go on giving me the false impression that I needed oil? I don't know why the oil would run out after 1000 miles with no trace, although the car did take everything I poured in. Unless the mechanic who did the 60K service put the wrong amount in. It was an indy shop.

I know these are seemingly simple questions and routine tasks, but I'm a new owner and not much of a techy.. My tool box consists of four credit cards and a yellow pages!!!

A bad aos would cause white smoke and oil usage in an extreme case. You probably need to take it to your mechanic. If your engine hydrolock, your credit limit needs to be much higher.

samg1965 · 04-01-2016, 02:36 AM

jdraupp.... yes taking into mechanic... noticed coolant level quite low too... Just had a 60K service done 1000 miles ago. Car sat idle for 4 months during winter and lost oil... lost coolant... no puddles or stains on the garage floor... white smoke... not over heating... AOS??? Head Gasket??? I cannot view if one is mixing with the other. I had a new water pump/thermostat installed just after the 60K as well. I've had more problems after the 60k service!!!

JFP in PA · 04-01-2016, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

jdraupp.... yes taking into mechanic... noticed coolant level quite low too... Just had a 60K service done 1000 miles ago. Car sat idle for 4 months during winter and lost oil... lost coolant... no puddles or stains on the garage floor... white smoke... not over heating... AOS??? Head Gasket??? I cannot view if one is mixing with the other. I had a new water pump/thermostat installed just after the 60K as well. I've had more problems after the 60k service!!!

These engines never blow head gaskets as the multilayer steel gasket is actually stronger than the cylinder or engine case alloys. While there is no coolant in the AOS on Boxsters (unlike the 996 cars), the AOS can fail due to over filling the sump with oil.

If there is no coolant in your oil (or visa versa), I would top up the coolant when doing your oil change, and just keep an eye on the level; you may have just had an air pocket clear from the water pump swap,

samg1965 · 04-01-2016, 06:17 AM

Thanks JFP in PA.... I like the $40 answers better than the $2000 answers!!!I'll be curious to see if the white smoke returns after topping the coolant off. It hasn't smoked since I've drained the oil overfill, but I've lost coolant at the same time. Not sure what caused what effect..... It's raining today, wil revisit tomorrow!!!

stelan · 04-01-2016, 04:22 PM

Yes please do as advised, drain all oil, let it sit for a while while draining, add 8 or 9 quarts max if changing the oil filter and that's it, the oil light turning on it was probably an electrical gremlin due to low battery or something when I bought my 99 it was leaking from spark plug tubes and doing a couple of strange things, the previous owner had over 14 quarts of oil in the engine and it was destined to blow the engine if I did not rescue the poor thing, lol

samg1965 · 04-03-2016, 03:36 PM

Stelan thanks.... I am hearing the same thing you told me... If the battery dies and remains dead for an extended period of time, much of the programming goes out of wack (i.e. my radio doesn't power on now and have to reset it on a computer at the dealer). Could have possibly caused the oil light to go on.