I recently changed out my oil and oil filter, and I inadvertently put in about 4.5quarts out of the 5 quart jug rather than 4.25quarts. Not much of an overfill, but even so I right then and there removed the oil filter to drain off any excess. But nothing drained so I screw the filter back on and went on my merry way.

So is the oil filter / stud a reliable maximum level "dipstick"?


I'm reading well above the H mark. I may just take the oil filter off after the car has rested a while so I can be sure all the oil has drained into the pan, and then remove the oil filter.

 

I dont think the problem is with the filter, you just put in a bit too much oil. Just drain some from the drain plug, check level in dipstick until its about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way between Lo and Hi.

 

No. Not only is this above the normal oil level, it is closed off to the oil pan. Oil can only reach there when the engine/oil pump is running.

 

Good point. I'm not sure why I didn't consider that before.

Easier said than done, but that looks like the route I'll take.

 

This should work now that you have run engine and have oil in the filter. Remove filter, dump out oil, replace filter, run engine, check level, repeat if necessary.

 

1/4 qt. over will not harm anything and should barely show on the dip stick.

Check the oil level on the dip stick in the morning before the car is started.
It should be fine.