I did something stupid!

[mdlowry]

Today I went to replace my air filter and when I opened the hood I found the engine compartment was coated in oil. My oil fill cap had not been replaced on my last oil change! I was "sure" everything was OK when I finished it last time. . . I checked the oil level and it was very low. I immediately added oil (about 3 qts of Amsoil) and replace the cap (it was still on the fan cover after all those miles!) I will be replacing the filter tonight (under the cover of darkness--I hate these apartment rules). I will also be changing the oil ASAP (need to find some place to do it). This is my only vehicle and need it to get around. My question would be what kind of damage would this cause and what should I look for (in addition to that oil cap next time #ad
).

BTW, I ended up driving for a long time before noticing it. #ad


Michael

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2000 QC 5sp swb 2wd 4. 10
PGP key id:0x8BB389F7 Finger Print: BD0B 4CCE BB08 0BCB A8DD F4A3 9CBA B96B

[This message has been edited by mdlowry (edited 05-24-2001). ]

 

[monkfarm]

probably ok with just 3 qts low especially since you are using amsoil. Did you have some funny noises when you started up?? Was it making extra noises before you discovered your mistake?? (I wouldn't start it up again untill you get a cap for it)

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'99 3500 Quadcab Laramie SLT with customized aluminum flatbed
B&D bombed with Jakebrake, firestone air bags; 3. 54 gears
5 speed,6X4, truck mirrors, trailer towing, and camper pkgs; magview pumpkin cover
Ranger Cb with Messenger kicker; Amsoiled throughout. . .
2000 Peterbilt 379 with Cummins N14plus 500 hp
13 speed fuller, 70 inch Unibilt sleeper
American Class

 

[mdlowry]

Originally posted by monkfarm:
probably ok with just 3 qts low especially since you are using amsoil. Did you have some funny noises when you started up?? Was it making extra noises before you discovered your mistake?? (I wouldn't start it up again untill you get a cap for it)

The cap was still there! It was sitting right about the fan shield. No unusual noises or other indications that anything was wrong. Quite a mess to clean up though. . .


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2000 QC 5sp swb 2wd 4. 10
PGP key id:0x8BB389F7 Finger Print: BD0B 4CCE BB08 0BCB A8DD F4A3 9CBA B96B

 

[illflem]

Unless you were doing some extended driving or towing I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter did the same thing with her Honda, 3 qts. low out of 4 when the light came on, no problems after refilling. Our Dodges large oil capacity is to keep oil temps down when working hard, if you were just cruising town and to work you shouldn't have a problem. Sure makes a mess though, doesn't it?

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Aside from being a huge mess, you probably did not hurt anything. Just go get some cans of "Gunk" Engine Brite and clean up your engine compartment. Think of it as an excuse to do that.

 

[work2muchplay2little]

Well, think of it this way; there's a lot of stuff under your hood that's NEVER gonna rust! #ad
#ad


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Kurt Voss
********* 1999 2500 24VCTD AUTO 4x4 QC LB Laramie SLT, Luverne stainless steel nerf bars, 3 piece bug deflector, mopar mud flaps, Line-X bedliner, Blue Chip Fuel Management System (Premium), Psychotty Air, DD3's,TTPM, DD 4" exhaust, HX40, DTT VB/TC(91%) , Mag-Hytec transmission pan... YEEEEEHAAAA!!
2000 4x4 Z71 Tahoe, all options, rear AC, brush guard, nerf bars, mobile video system, after market 3rd row seat... the ultimate urban assault vehicle!

 

[John Berger]

Just say you had an extreme case of crankcase blow-by and stick to that story. #ad


I did that once on a Mazda GLC. The hood was up and I had the wife start the car. Oil all over the place. Glad nobody was looking. #ad


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1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 2wd; 5 spd; 4:10 LSD rear; Mag-Hytec differential cover; US Gear EGT and Boost gauges. Stewart Warner Fuel Pressure Gauge with dual senders, Westach Oil Temp Gauge for differential. Rancho 9000 shocks, PowerEdge EZ Box, Amsoil foam air filter and synthetics in the motor and differential. Cummins Power, don't leave home without it

 

[MidwestMotorman]

I had the same thing happen to me. It took 1200 miles for me to notice as I was away while wife was driving it. The cap stayed put on the top of the radiator!!! The only thing I noticed was damaged was the rubber seal from the hood to the cowl. It got all wrinkled up. You can use brake cleaner on the not-so-sensitive areas and hand wash or wipe the rest.

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99 2500 QC longbox, SLT, 4x4, 24V Cummins, 5 spd, 3. 55 LSD

 

[mdlowry]

EMDDIESEL,
Thanks! I'll look for the engine brite next time I'm out. I tried washing it off already, but I didn't do a very good job (limited time--I had to go to work).

work2much,
I even have some protection on all those connectors in there. They won't corrode from all the salt up here.

Nathan,
1200mi--I wish. I ended up going more than that. I guess this is a lesson for me. I should be checking fluid levels more often.

Well, I'm off to do the stealth oil filter change here very soon.
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2000 QC 2500 5sp swb 2wd 4. 10
PGP key id:0x8BB389F7 Finger Print: BD0B 4CCE BB08 0BCB A8DD F4A3 9CBA B96B

[This message has been edited by mdlowry (edited 05-25-2001). ]

 

[David Winnett]

mdlowry,

Don't feel alone. I did the same thing on my last oil change. Luckily, I changed it on Friday and Saturday we had a TDR cookout at the lake. One of the guys asked me to pop my hood to compare something and asked, "What's all over your engine"? Oops! There was the cap, sitting on the valve cover. I'd only gone about 100 miles and the level didn't go down, as far as I could tell. But it sure made a mess. I can only imagine what 3 quarts looked like. I bet we won't make that mistake again.

David

 

[amsoilman]

Michael,
I had a customer that did the very thing you did, but he had the return line from the Asmoil by-pass filter routed to the fill cap so the oil pump just pumped and pumped.

He ran for 10 miles before noticeing noises coming from the engine compartment as well as the gauge showing no pressure! He was in an area where there were no towns within 10 miles, but had two quarts of oil in his truck (Amsoil 5W-30) which he added. He claimed the dip stick barely showed on the end of it. He drove back to the closest town (10 miles) and bought some oil to fill it. He then did oil analysis 2 different times since then, and all is good with his engine. NO damage at all. This happened a couple of years ago.

Wayne


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94'SLT 4X4 AT/White in color. Factory Tow Hooks & Running Boards. Amsoil By-Pass filter, Amsoil Air cleaner,and all fluids are Amsoil. Optima "Red Top" batteries.
BD exhaust Brake, BD Torque Lock, BD Torque Converter, Dr. Performance Stage II Injection Pump. Mag-Hytec Diff Cover,Mag-Hytec Transmission Pan, Isspro Pyro, Boost,Oil temp Gauges mounted in 3 Gauge post mount. One gauge monitors Engine Oil, Trans, Diff. Temps.
Wayne Owen

 

[mdlowry]

Originally posted by amsoilman:
Michael,
I had a customer that did the very thing you did, but he had the return line from the Asmoil by-pass filter routed to the fill cap so the oil pump just pumped and pumped.

He ran for 10 miles before noticeing noises coming from the engine compartment as well as the gauge showing no pressure! He was in an area where there were no towns within 10 miles, but had two quarts of oil in his truck (Amsoil 5W-30) which he added. He claimed the dip stick barely showed on the end of it. He drove back to the closest town (10 miles) and bought some oil to fill it. He then did oil analysis 2 different times since then, and all is good with his engine. NO damage at all. This happened a couple of years ago.

Wayne

My concern is that I ran for ALOT more than 10 miles. It took me a few weeks to notice this mistake.


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2000 QC 2500 5sp swb 2wd 4. 10
PGP key id:0x8BB389F7 Finger Print: BD0B 4CCE BB08 0BCB A8DD F4A3 9CBA B96B

 

[hammong]

Considering the dipstick calibration, your 3 quarts low was only 2 quarts below the "fill" mark on the stick. As long as most of the driving was on level ground, you shouldn't have any appreciable amount of engine damage.

The only "problem" would be been if the oil sump ran dry, then your bearings would have taken a beating. You'd know it if oil pressure went to zero while driving - the truck would have starting with the "chime of death" - similar to the low-fuel chime, but continuous.

Greg


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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger, Autometer Ultralite EGT and Boost gauges in 2-gauge pillar w/tweeter, DD Stage II injectors, boost module, and boost elbow. Yee haw!
http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!

 

[Mick2500]

MDlowry,
I learned a very good lesson waaaay back in my gas pump jockey days. When you remove an oil filler cap, ALWAYS put it in the hood latch receiver! A new oil filler cap is a LOT cheaper than the body work to take the dimple out of the customer's hood. #ad

Remember when your gas was free if we didn't offer to check your oil?? #ad

Mick

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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Totally STOCK!!
On Order 4/28/00
Arrived 9/14/00 !! #ad

My Truck

[This message has been edited by Mick2500 (edited 05-29-2001). ]

 

[mdlowry]

Originally posted by Mick2500:

Remember when your gas was free if we didn't offer to check your oil?? #ad

Mick

Umm. . . No. People acutally asked to check your oil?!

Michael

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2000 QC 2500 5sp swb 2wd 4. 10
PGP key id:0x8BB389F7 Finger Print: BD0B 4CCE BB08 0BCB A8DD F4A3 9CBA B96B