My 8 wouldn't start the other day. Battery was fine.
I had topped off the oil the night before and I think I might have added too much. Could that have prevented it from starting?

I tried it the next day and cranked very sluggishly and started. I drove it around for 15 minutes to get it warm and recharge the battery, and it's been fine since.

you would have to put WAY too much in to make a difference so I doubt it .

What are you doing out of the lounge NMO - not like you ?

Topping off/overfilling the oil pan will not cause this. I have done it several times myself. You may need the upgraded starter and battery if you have an '04 model.

I was worry about doing the same...how do you know how much oil to top up with??

when it gets to the bottom line on the dipstick you need to add 1 litre (1qt approx.)

1/2 way between the two lines = 0.5 litres

I think the lower mark on the dipstick is 1 qt. low? I don't remember because my injection oil is separate and my pan oil doesn't drop as I drive.

you would have to put WAY too much in to make a difference so I doubt it .

What are you doing out of the lounge NMO - not like you ?
Thks, Brettus... :whipping:

LOL - you won't let me forget that will you ....

:rollingla:Nope... About the oil...how often should I top her up?? I do my oil at every 3000km.

You should check the oil every couple of fill ups and top up whenever it gets below 1/2 way between the two marks on the dipstick .
And if you don't do it .........
:bottom:

Funny... Lets not go there again!! :) I've never gone below the 1/2 mark. Could it be because it's AT??

No AT and MT should use the same amount . If you are changing the oil every 3000 miles you should not need to top it off more than once or twice in between .

Just change your oil more often, you dont really need to check it.

I change mine around every 3K miles or less. I never check my oil b4 that, last time I checked it b4 my oil change, I still have about 1/2 left there.

Topping off/overfilling the oil pan will not cause this. I have done it several times myself. You may need the upgraded starter and battery if you have an '04 model.

Thanks. I didn't think the oil would cause this, but it seemed like a coincidence that I had just filled it. I do have an '04 and will discuss the starter and battery when I take it in on Monday.

you would have to put WAY too much in to make a difference so I doubt it .

What are you doing out of the lounge NMO - not like you ?

I know, but I actually had something to say about the 8. Imagine that!

The oil gauge (which I know is not all that acurate) is two lines to the right of center. I doubted this would cause a problem, but it did happen the next time I tried to start it after topping off the oil.

I
The oil gauge (which I know is not all that acurate) is two lines to the right of center. I doubted this would cause a problem, but it did happen the next time I tried to start it after topping off the oil.

oil guage just tells you that you have oil pressure - that's all .
How far above the top mark on the dipstick did you fill it ?

It's cold now, so I'll check it the next time I drive it. It could be I assumed it was an over-fill when it wouldn't start -- but now it sounds like maybe the problem really is the battery and starter.

No AT and MT should use the same amount . If you are changing the oil every 3000 miles you should not need to top it off more than once or twice in between .

Only if the Car has 2 oil coolers.
If not its a AT with 1 oil cooler and will use 4 & 1/2 qts of oil. But if the car has 2 oil coolers its 5 qts of oil.
Ask me how I know ;)

The problem is.............

It's not an Oldsmobile!

any update?
Oil overflow wouldnt' do it, maybe the battery? (as CRH mentioned)

The problem is.............

It's not an Oldsmobile!

Precisely!

I drove my 100,000+ mile Olds today rather than risk getting stuck somewhere with a car that won't start.

Bless them Oldsmobiles. You just can't kill them.

any update?
Oil overflow wouldnt' do it, maybe the battery? (as CRH mentioned)

Update coming Monday, after I take it to dealer. I didn't even bother starting it today. This thread has convinced me that topping off the oil probably wasn't the problem. Sounds much more like the starter/battery issue.

From search the board and reading links, it sounds like the starter/battery upgrade is done for "crank, no start" conditions. But the day my 8 didn't start, it didn't crank at all. I hope I can convince them to give me the upgrade.

Use Jedi's magic wand.

I don't know if this is related... Sorry for thread jacking... But my car recently (and considering this is the first times it's seen this cold) seems to have a completely f***** up idle and sound when the temperature reaches below 35... I just hope nothing is broken :(

Update: Took it in for six-month maintenance. Oil was not over-filled. They said the battery was fine. I'm not happy with that response. I told them the DSC/TSC light stayed on for a while when I got it to start (the day after it wouldn't start). The light later went off.

They said it was normal for the light to stay on after an incident like that -- that if it had stayed on, it would have needed to be towed in.

They said battery and starter are fine. But they noted that it didn't start on a cold day. That indicates a problem to me.

Car has driven fine since then, but the days have been a lot warmer.

Sounds like a combination of the cold +a little flooding + slightly discharged battery . I'm going to agree with your dealer ....

Sounds like a combination of the cold +a little flooding + slightly discharged battery . I'm going to agree with your dealer ....

I hope you're right -- though there was no way it was flooded. It had been driven a half hour before being shut off. Plus, I've been very conscious of flooding from the start, and I never shut it off before it's warm.