How to Remove Oil From an Engine That Has Too Much

Having too much or too little engine oil can cause problems with your vehicle.

Changing the engine oil is a maintenance task that should be performed regularly on every vehicle. The process of changing the engine oil requires the removal of the old oil and then the addition of the new oil. Occasionally, there might be too much oil put into the vehicle. When this occurs, the excess oil needs to be removed in order to prevent any mishaps from occurring with the vehicle.

Things You'll Need

• Engine oil pan
• Funnel

Instructions

1. Turn off your vehicle's engine and open the hood. Place the oil pan underneath your vehicle.

2. Unscrew the drain plug to drain all of the oil into the pan. This may take a few minutes depending on the viscosity and temperature of the oil.

3. Screw the drain plug back in. Remove the engine cap that has "OIL" printed on it, and place the funnel into it.

4. Pour the oil into the funnel. Make sure not to pour all of it. When the engine has enough oil -- pull the dip stick to check -- remove the funnel. Place the cap back on and close the hood. Pour the excess oil back into the oil container for the next oil change.

Tips & Warnings

• If your vehicle was just recently turned off, wait a few minutes. Oil can become very hot.

References

• "Remove Excess Oil in Engine"; Chapucillas.com; 2010
• "Car Talk Service Advice: Oil Changes"; Cars.com; 2005
• "How Can I Do My Own Oil Change?"; Wisegeek.com; 2010