My 1972 cutlass I just changed oil I put 5 quarts in there is that the right amount or to much because I have a leak coming from my rear main seal

55

Asked by Murphy368 Nov 08, 2015 at 11:00 PM about the 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

12 Answers

What does your oil dip stick show? 5 quarts should not overfill it and it might take 6 or more. It depends on what oil pan you have. Bummer about the leaky rear main seal.

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More information - http://www.supercarsunlimited.com/info/tech/oilpans/oilpans.htm

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224,145

For the leaking rear main seal, there are oil additives you can put in to soften the seals as they get hard after a long time. This at least would slow it down or if not stop the leak. Like the guys say above, run the engine and check your oil for proper level.

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My Oil Stick is showing to much oil , thats why I was wondering was it forcing it out through the rear main seal. I have heard that too much oil is more harmful than not enough.

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224,145

But did you run the engine first before checking, and did you change the oil filter? Like F.o.R. says 5 quarts in that one should not be over full.

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I didn't change the oil filter because I just had changed the oil , but when I compare the oil pan it looks like the smaller oil pan that holds 4 quarts they say. Question do you think that if it is to much oil is that why its forcing it out the rear main seal

224,145

And I don't care how many miles are on the oil filter, be wise and always change it...

1 people found this helpful.

Don't break your engine while saving $5 on a filter! Murphy - you are right that over filling an engine with oil is bad. If the oil gets whipped up into a froth you can end up with oil starvation and over filling can make the rear main seal leak more! I run my 62 Jag a 1/2 quart low to keep the rear main seal from leaking but it holds around 12 quarts!

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55

12 Quarts dang, Okay Mark I kind of figured that thanks.

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