How much oil is too much oil?

[John Wright]

At what point do you consider a dangerous level of extra oil before worrying over a broken crank?....3qts?, 4qts?

Just thinking about a senerio .... with a 3qt accumulator

[Vegas69]

I'm not sure what scenario that would be. If your accumulator is dumping into your main galleys then your oil pump pickup is is uncovered and the pan needs oil. Once the pickup regains full demand it will fill the accumulator. The worst possible time for an over filled crankcase is at high rpm. That's when you have max oil pressure. The only time you'll have excess oil in the pan is if you pre lube the engine.

[ZZ430]

I had a small block Chevy ...with a stock pan, come into the shop that I drained 10 quarts out of....true story.

[John Wright]

I think that I was mis-understanding the way the accumulator action works.....At start up you would dump the accumulator and when the engine fires and the oil pump builds pressure, the accumulator pressure is over come by the oil pressure and quits flowing and takes up the rest of the excess oil...correct?

I was thinking for some reason that when the engine dies, and oil pressure falls off to zero, the accumulator dumps another 3qts of oil into the pan unless there was an automatic valve to keep this from happening...I can't see a person getting out from the driver's seat quick enough to cut a manual valve off after you kill the engine before all 3 qts hits the pan.

[Vegas69]

I have a manual valve on mine. The only time I use it is on the road course and occassionaly to mix the oil. I normally open my valve with the engine running by slowly opening the valve. The electronic valves open when the key is turned on. The only time you should have extra oil in the engine is at start up or when the engine needs it. It's a really simple device that works well. Keep in mind there is only 6psi of air pressure behind the accumulator piston. I have a quality road race pan on my car and that's why I don't bother with it unless I'm road racing. I personally don't like the delay in oil pressure starting the engine with the accumulator valve open.

[BonzoHansen]

I had a small block Chevy ...with a stock pan, come into the shop that I drained 10 quarts out of....true story.

I had a pontiac sunbird w/an iron duke 4 come in on a hook. Oil everywhere. No lie, she filled it. I forget now how many bottles of oil she said she used, but she filled it.

Carry on with your regularly schedule thread....