Overfilling a car engine with oil is not a good idea. That said, many motorists do not know why. Excess engine oil is as common as the opposite scenario. It has the potential of affecting the engine’s performance.

Sam Serwadda, a mechanic, says too much oil can damage seals, causing oil leaks. The leakage in the long run affects parts of the engine that cease to get optimally lubricated. It facilitates faster wear and tear.

However, he notes that new car models are fitted with lights to indicate when the engine oil is too much, and when it is at the recommended level. “Excess oil can be reduced by removing the drain plug and bleeding it out,” Serwadda says.

Derrick Lwanga, another mechanic says excess oil will forcefully escape through areas it is not supposed to flow through because of pressure. On the other hand, less oil is also not a good idea.

According to him, if one is to choose, one would rather have less engine oil than excessive, because the engine can somehow operate optimally, albeit for a short time than having excess oil that will break the seals, leading to oil spillage.

“Even after the seals break, the oil pump continues to pump oil. Keeping an eye on the oil light on the dashboard should be enough to show a motorist where the problem is,” Lwanga says.