Oil Rising in Crankcase
#1
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Thread Starter
Oil Rising in Crankcase
My 2007 Chrysler 300 has about 105K miles and has been well maintained with the exception of a check engine light that indicated an EGR code. My service center tech said that because this car is just just used for back up when My wifes 2017 model needs service that the EGR valve is stuck in the either the closed or open position, and the one mine is stuck in is ok to run performance wise. i have driven it about a year with the check engine light glowing on the dash, but it went out a few months ago. I figured it probably burned out the bulb and didn't worry about it. Car has been starting and running fine. I had to pull it out so wife could drive it for a few days, and when I started it, the check engine light came on for a bit and went out when I reved the engine a bit. and stayed off. Thought I better check fluid levels and found the oil was a quite bit over full in the crankcase, Could the stuck EGR valve anything to do with this? I am used to ADDING oil to this engine occasionally between changes not subtracting excess oil. I am the only one who services this engine for normal maintenance, and at 300 dollars to replace the EGR at the time and a new car on the way for her I thought I would be ok, Her Car had a wreck and now I need the old one running safely I am probably wasting
my stuff but I am going to change the oil and filter and watch it closely.
my stuff but I am going to change the oil and filter and watch it closely.
Last edited by WML13; 11-18-18 at 08:21 AM. Reason: verbage
#2
Look at the oil..... is it frothy or have light brown mixed in.
The only thing that could make the oil rise is antifreeze or water leaking in.
The only thing that could make the oil rise is antifreeze or water leaking in.
#3
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Well the good news is that the oil doesn't look like it has any foreign fluid in it, and I don't smell anything like gasoline coming from it. (I had an intake float on my Cushman Golfster stick last year and THAT did fill up the crankcase with gasoline on that vehicle, I can assure you! Not being an expert on emissions control parts, I wasn't sure how the plumbing on the Chrysler EGR valve impacted the fuel flow (if gasoline was the culprit, which doesn't seem to be the case. Thank you for your reply (always good to have a Jedi Master in your corner!)
#4
It's easy for a carburetor to overflow and dump gas into an engine. With a fuel injection system.... the gas is metered and there isn't extra that could contribute to increased oil level.
#5
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The EGR valve stuck open means your car runs too lean (not enough fuel to the air ratio) at cold start, you will have less power, more emissions til the car warms up. Should have no impact on the fuel flow, its about the air flow. It is a a bit of work to get access to the EGR valve, it is below the front windshield area and some things need removal to gain access,, so not unreasonable to leave it be for a while til you can justify the repair cost against the limited use of the vehicle if the car is otherwise running ok.
If you are driving very infrequently and then for short trips, you can get condensation in the oil which can give the impression of a higher oil level. You need to highway drive the car to burn off moisture, then measure the oil level after about 5 minutes of the car sitting. You need to compare oil levels measured under the same procedure, or you can get quite different levels measured. Consistent approach is key. Sometimes a good highway run getting engine temperatures nice and hot will blow out EGR valve deposits and solve for that clogged up component.
But if we assume you are measuring consistently, then as noted coolant in the oil from a head gasket leak would cause the oil level to rise. Could be small leak, you would only really know for sure by draining the oil and taking a close look, and/or pressure testing the coolant system. If you get the milky look to the oil, or cream white deposits, that's the coolant mixing with oil. Since you don"t see any signs of this coolant intrusion, then you are probably ok.
I think you are likely just measuring the oil level under different conditions.
But in the end, your basic question as to whether this has anything to do with the EGR valve, the answer would be no, the oil level rise if happening is an independent issue.
If you are driving very infrequently and then for short trips, you can get condensation in the oil which can give the impression of a higher oil level. You need to highway drive the car to burn off moisture, then measure the oil level after about 5 minutes of the car sitting. You need to compare oil levels measured under the same procedure, or you can get quite different levels measured. Consistent approach is key. Sometimes a good highway run getting engine temperatures nice and hot will blow out EGR valve deposits and solve for that clogged up component.
But if we assume you are measuring consistently, then as noted coolant in the oil from a head gasket leak would cause the oil level to rise. Could be small leak, you would only really know for sure by draining the oil and taking a close look, and/or pressure testing the coolant system. If you get the milky look to the oil, or cream white deposits, that's the coolant mixing with oil. Since you don"t see any signs of this coolant intrusion, then you are probably ok.
I think you are likely just measuring the oil level under different conditions.
But in the end, your basic question as to whether this has anything to do with the EGR valve, the answer would be no, the oil level rise if happening is an independent issue.
#7
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Thread Starter
Coolant level seems to be ok. Check engine light went out for awhile, then came back on. Need to take it to Autozone and check the trouble code again to see if it is still for the EGR. Not looking forward to the challenge of taking out the EGR on this car in an Unheated Garage. Followed a Utube video on the replacement and you are sure right about not being easy to get to.