Over Fill Oil

[DBSHELTON]

If someone does something dumb like over fill the engine oil where does the oil run out? I poured the whole oil container in thinking it was 4 quarts, but as soon as I did it I saw where it was 5 quarts. Now after running, oil is dripping out of the hole in the bottom of the bell housing.

[Y-Blockhead]

Probably the rear main.

[Jack Shaft]

Drain it and refill,oil is cheap

[sethkestenbaum]

Why drain? When I was overfilled, I just llet it overflow out to the cotter pinned drain at the bottom of the bell housing. I just put a container under the hole to catch the dripping when I was in the garage. This post reminds me, I have to change my oil soon.

[Patrick L.]

If that leak from the rear main isn't bothersome then let it go. Model A oil level is kinda like water, it'll seek its own level. So to speak. If it does bother you then just drain out a qt.

These engines are not like others, the crank can't get to oil in the bottom of the base to whip it up.

[McMimmcs]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

You don't need that mess everywhere you go!! Drain it out!

[Jacksonlll]

It will also shoot out of the dip stick hole and make a big mess under the hood. Get it out of there.

[katy]

Easiest way would be to drain all the oil out and then put back in the proper amount. Trying to drain a bit is easy until you try and put the plug back in.

[WHN]

I knew an old Model A owner who for years put five quarts in every time he changed the oil in his car.

He would always say, “the service bulletin says it holds five quarts so that’s what I add”.

Forget about the half a quart in the dipper tray, he did not want to hear about that.

Anyway it would just leave a bigger spot on the ground until that extra half quart was gone. No problems, and he was happy.

There are more important things in life.

Enjoy.

[The Master Cylinder]

Isn't that why they put a grass 'runner' in the middle of the driveway back in the day?

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by The Master Cylinder

Isn't that why they put a grass 'runner' in the middle of the driveway back in the day?

LOL. Practical.

[shew01]

Originally Posted by The Master Cylinder

Isn't that why they put a grass 'runner' in the middle of the driveway back in the day?

[emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GPierce]

Originally Posted by The Master Cylinder

Isn't that why they put a grass 'runner' in the middle of the driveway back in the day?

And in the middle of the garage floor.

[stewgee]

Originally Posted by DBSHELTON

If someone does something dumb like over fill the engine oil where does the oil run out? I poured the whole oil container in thinking it was 4 quarts, but as soon as I did it I saw where it was 5 quarts. Now after running, oil is dripping out of the hole in the bottom of the bell housing.

Had a member on this site sometime back suggest running the oil level at half full/empty (depending on how you look at it) to minimize oil leakage. He seemed knowledgeable about that and assured me there would be no engine damage. I took him at his word and have had no problems.

[DBSHELTON]

I drained it out and refilled until I got to the line on the dipstick. A little under 4 quarts. It still spit a little more out but I think it is OK now.

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by DBSHELTON

I drained it out and refilled until I got to the line on the dipstick. A little under 4 quarts. It still spit a little more out but I think it is OK now.

Obviously a wise decision on your part. Why intentionally do something wrong. If you’re going to be a Model A collector, do it right Or collect bottle caps.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by mcmimmcs

obviously a wise decision on your part. Why intentionally do something wrong. If you’re going to be a model a collector, do it right or collect bottle caps.

:d:d:d:d:d

[old31]

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

It will also shoot out of the dip stick hole and make a big mess under the hood. Get it out of there.

x2 with jackson.

[jg61hawk]

Two observations: The cotter pin hole is to leak it's not an overflow. Second and VERY important. These engines, like a small lawn mower motor, use SPLASH to move oil. Picture your hand in a pool just making a big circle about 6 inches into the pool then coming out about 6 inches and repeating. You are splashing water all over the place. Now don't change and picture the pool filling up slowly but your ability to rotate has not changed. Now your hand is under water, stirring the water not splashing anymore.

Overfilled splash systems do not lubricate.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by jg61hawk

Two observations: The cotter pin hole is to leak it's not an overflow. Second and VERY important. These engines, like a small lawn mower motor, use SPLASH to move oil. Picture your hand in a pool just making a big circle about 6 inches into the pool then coming out about 6 inches and repeating. You are splashing water all over the place. Now don't change and picture the pool filling up slowly but your ability to rotate has not changed. Now your hand is under water, stirring the water not splashing anymore.

Overfilled splash systems do not lubricate.

Remember there is a dipper tray that the rods rotate in. It only holds a given amount of oil. Anything else over flows down into the oil pan. The extra added oil is in the oil pan not the dipper tray.

[DBSHELTON]

This brings up something else. I don't have a cotter pin hanging out of the bellhousing drain. Anyone have an idea how I could get one in there? I have been wondering this for some time and still haven't come up with a good solution. Any chance of fishing a small wire up through the bottom hole that could come out where the inspection cover is, tie a string to the wire with a cotter pin tied to the other end, then pull the wire and string back down?

[redmodelt]

The cotter pin was there to keep the hole clean. I don't think it is much of an issue seeing most if not all the roads Model A's see today are paved. You would have to feed the end that is bent in first then work it down through the hole. Not sure how you might hold that end with your wire then feed under the flywheel, but where there is a will there is a way.

[DBSHELTON]

Thanks, I guess I will wait until the next time I have the floorboards out and remove the trans inspection plate. May be able to get something through there.

[Jack Shaft]

Nope,cant put the cotter pin in through the inspection cover hole either..The model a engine lubrication system is like a monsoon,oil is splashed everywhere. On cold startup it takes about 30 seconds to completely fill the valve gallery..when the car sits oil drips from the main bearing clearances lowering the gallery level,startup is when your mains are most vulnerable to lack of lubrication..I run mine on cold start at about 1000 rpm,get the oil up to the valve gallery as fast as i can without load..

[Patrick L.]

Like red mentioned, nothing to worry about. Since the cotter is just about impossible to install now, whenever you're crawling around underneath that monster just take a look at that little hole and make sure its clear.

[The Master Cylinder]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

Nope,cant put the cotter pin in through the inspection cover hole either..The model a engine lubrication system is like a monsoon,oil is splashed everywhere. On cold startup it takes about 30 seconds to completely fill the valve gallery..when the car sits oil drips from the main bearing clearances lowering the gallery level,startup is when your mains are most vulnerable to lack of lubrication..I run mine on cold start at about 1000 rpm,get the oil up to the valve gallery as fast as i can without load..

I always run mine over with the starter, ignition off for awhile to pump some oil up. I don't know if it helps or not but it makes me feel better. I have 12v so it spins pretty fast.

Originally Posted by DBSHELTON

I don't have a cotter pin hanging out of the bellhousing drain. Anyone have an idea how I could get one in there?

I don't think you will be able to get the cotter pin in. The flywheel is oretty close to the bell at that point. I put one in once after I bolted up the flywheel. Luckily I notice before installing engine. I had to bend the cotter pin to get enough clearance to get it thru the hole.

[Als48]

Put it in from the outside, after cutting the bendable ends off to about 1/4'" long. Put a slight bend in the two legs and it will stay in the hole. Don't leave it too long, as it may hit the flywheel as someone suggested.

Al Hook

[JD 1931]

Try to keep mine half way between top mark and bottom one on dip stick. Still leaks but only a little...

[stewgee]

Originally Posted by JD 1931

Try to keep mine half way between top mark and bottom one on dip stick. Still leaks but only a little...

Same here

[DBSHELTON]

Bought one of those "Rear Main Janitors" and cut an absorbent pad to fit inside for the 29. Built one similar for the Huckster but it has never leaked. We will see how well that works.
Thanks for the responses.

[JD 1931]

Another thing that causes it to leak if you over fill the transmission. I did that but only once...

[31Abone]

roadster here in town that had been sitting long time...with oil 1" over full mark ,ran it several hours..did not leak a drop or smoke..so some leak some don't..checked it again after running ,still 1" over full mark

[DBSHELTON]

Originally Posted by 31Abone

roadster here in town that had been sitting long time...with oil 1" over full mark ,ran it several hours..did not leak a drop or smoke..so some leak some don't..checked it again after running ,still 1" over full mark

That is how my 30 Huckster is. All the way to Full on the dipstick and no leak.