lowlander Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Hi there, I have slightly overfilled the oil on my K series 1400SS. Will this be OK or do I have to drain some off? The dipstick is the early plastic one with the notch cut at both sides to indicate max oil level. Will the excess oil just burn off? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 I suppose one risk is it may get onto clutch ?? Best to drain a little off, to be safe ! Depends on your definition of 'slightly' ?? ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. Seven related photos Edited by - Stationary M25 Traveller on 1 Oct 2007 14:44:04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 It will probably vent into the inlet manifold - which isn't a disaster but isn't ideal either. Do you have an Apollo tank? Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlander Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 No apollo tank. There appears to be conflicting evidence re the correct oil level for a K series. I'll try and find the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlander Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Not sure how to paste the link but the thread is found at the location below. http://www.blatchat.com/T.asp?id=119508 All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 The excess will burn off. If it is only just above the notch I wouldn't worry about it. Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisddl Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 For information purposes on the correct oil level in a 1600K series wet sump. I recently had my se7en serviced by CC Dartford and for reference purposes for future oil topping up I checked the level directly after the sevice. On the yellow plastic type dip stick, the level is spot on the notch. Although, having said all this, CC may have it wrong, but I like to think not. Not wishing to teach your grandmother to suck eggs here, but one thing to remember when checking the level, always wipe off any trace of oil from first removal of the dip stick, this most certainly is not the correct level. Dip the stick again for correct reading and make sure the car is on level ground. Hope that helps ChrisL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlander Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Hi Chris, Was the oil at the notch with the oil cold and the engine NOT running? Cheers. Lowlander 1994 1400SS, 6 speed, clams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Hi Martin, Simplest way of reducing oil a nominal amount is to replace the oil filter or remove current one and allow is to drain, before refitting. Can't see why early "poster" suggested clutch might be effected. Oil would only travel through towards the clutch if the Crank oil seal failed, not if you over filled it. In which case the oil would be in the bell housing and then drain downward! Windage is the biggest problem with over filling... JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 230bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlander Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Thanks John, It's only slightly overfilled (about 3-4mm above the notch) Martin. Lowlander 1994 1400SS, 6 speed, clams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Bowler Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 A friend of a friend (ahem) over filled a bit on a track day. Got black flagged for ALOT (cough) of smoke coming out of the exhaust on left handers ( *smokin* ) Drained a bit through the appollo, and no harm done (he hopes). Better to drain it off, thru the filter, as suggested. AB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 If you've overfilled, you will see noticeably-higher OTs - my 1800 is slightly overfilled this time but I've been running it as-is rather than draining the excess. TBH, after a few thousand miles, I've yet to see any real evidence that the level is receding. The OT is running upto 10 degrees C hotter on the road than usual... 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Equipe™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Waite Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Suggest you drain some out. I once overfilled my 1400K & then on the way to work next day left several clouds of white smoke. I wouldn't have liked to have been the driver of the transit following. Steve... In may only be a Red 1.4K, but it goes to the ring & back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethemook Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 After doing my first Oil change I found it almost impossible to check the oil level . The oil was so clean. It did seem against a kitchen towel that I had over filled it. So I undid the oil drain plug and drained a bit out..Then thought..Ive drained too much .and then refilled it..But could I see the level..Oh maybe ..bol***ox I've over filled it I went round and round in circles till I gave up and now after 2000 miles around Europe it is a tad low. Surely a bit either way cant hurt Steve Northerner in a Nova Violet Brute.S777 XTC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisddl Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Sorry, should have mentioned in my first posting that the oil level was checked with the engine not running and cold. ChrisL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I had a similar problem. The solution was fairly complicated, so I thought I'd not down the necessary steps for others to use: Steps: 1/ Raise car on axle stands 2/ Undo drain bolt on bottom of Apollo until oil starts to flow slowly out 3/ Drop drain bolt onto floor 4/ Try to stem flood of oil with thumb 5/ Wonder how the hell you're going to reach the drain bolt, which has rolled four feet across garage, without removing thumb 6/ Stuff wodge of dirty tissue from back pocket into drain hole of Apollo. 7/ Retrieve drain bolt 8/ Remove wodge of tissue, precipitating new flood of oil 9/ Replace drain bolt 10/ Clean up huge pool of oil 11/ Refill the engine with oil 12/ Discover you've put too much in again 13/ Return to step 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Gregory Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 😬 The real world of Caterham maintenance....... Thinking about it, couldn't you have reached the plug with your foot & carefully kicked it within reach of your free arm.......... Edited by - Mark Gregory on 2 Oct 2007 11:55:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Hours of fun are to be had here. My advice is to ignore it and go for a drive. After a few miles, if more than a teaspoonful of oil is in the breather catch tank then it's overfilled. You should then empty the catch tank in a responsible fashion and go home to drain a bit off, pref via the filter as others have said. You won't harm the engine unless you have overfilled by >1L in which case it will spit 1 litre + of oil out of the breather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 What breather catch tank? My K certainly doesn't have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 and why via the filter. Surely you can just undo the blody big plug on the side of the sump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 ... easier to control and stop the flow I guess (sounds a bit like the doctor wearing rubber gloves !!) ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. Seven related photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 My K had a catch tank and a dry sump. Any racer needs a breather catch tank to keep oil off the track, it's a track reg and I thought was a track day requirement. If you undo the drain plug it can be hard to replace when oil is gushing out. Not so the filter - undo it a bit and just let it leak out slowly till you fancy doing it back up. Read the story above about the drain plug going AWOL and you will understand my reasoning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I can assure you that having a catch tank is not a track or racing reg 😬 Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2006 diary My SuperGraduates 2005 diary, My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 There's no external breather pipe on a Supergrads car, so need for a catchtank. Good point on the filter, I'll use that next time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild bill Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 1) Oil should be dipped with engine running and warm as far as i have been told 2) I bought an oil pump which allows you to feed a pipe down the dipstick to then 'suck' the oil out, as much as you want, no mess, no fuss, really good bit of kit. use it to drain the diff as well before refilling. It also has litre marks which show how much you have taken out and therefore how much to put back in. You will of course have to drain through the sump on servicing. Do a google search on oil drainers, here not that expensive (about £60 ISTR) Also good for service interim oil changes which don't do any harm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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