Auto Parts: oil, pep boys, weight oil

Question
  I put one quart of 5-w-30 in a van when it was not low on oil. I misread the oil stick. 2 questions. (1) They say to not overfill the oil. How much is too much? and why? (2)I don't know what kind of oil is in the engine but can weights be mixed? What about brands? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Ray,

Open the drain-plug and get the extra quart out if you haven't already. Excessive oil in the crankcase will cause 'foaming' of the oil because the crankshaft and connecting rods, as they are spinning at a few thousand RPM's, will be hitting the surface of the oil in the pan. Not only will it cause foaming which can cavitate the oil pump and starve your engine of oil, but it will cause the engine to run rough because the crankshaft isn't designed to hit ANYTHING in the engine, even oil.

Almost every motor oil you buy on the market is multi-viscosity which is why there are two weight numbers given. ie 5W-30, 5 weight oil that has viscosity up to that of 30 weight oil when needed. Mixing multi-viscosity oils is not a big deal and there should be no adverse effects. My brand(s) of choice are Valvoline for most cars and Castrol for harder working engines.

Looking for a reputable service technician? My advice on finding a good technician is: Steer clear of the dealership and 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).

Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
Knucklebusters Used Auto & Truck Parts, Inc.
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
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