PAINT IN ENGINE OIL, HELP!

[Sp3ke]

This is going to sound like a very weird question.

I was filling up my car engine oil today, nothing unusual, until I soon realised that somebody had swapped the oil for black paint. I'm not stupid (I say this, after I just put paint in my car) so I soon realised what it actually was. Hardly anything got into it, and the paint that did manage to get in, I managed to recover some of it with a cloth. I'm talking about literally 0.1 of a litre, or a quarter of a cup that actually made its way into the oil. I haven't ran the engine yet, but I wanted to seek advice first. What would be the repercussions of running the car? I don't particularly want to pay to have it looked at, is there anything I can do myself?

[BritishRacinGrin]

Sorry.

Good on you for not running it, that's absolutely the right decision.

That said you have gotten yourself into a bit of a pickle here.

How long has it been since the paint went in? Is there a chance it has already dried? What sort of paint?

Secondly what is the make, model and year of the car?

Finally how sure are you about the amount you put in, 100ml sounds like a small amount but would be a decent glug of liquid to pour.

Personally I'd not run the engine until I've removed the engine rocker cover to see where the paint has gone. If I satisfied myself that it hasn't gotten into the valve gear or the timing chain etc I'd then consider an oil change and engine flush as s very minimum. All of this could be DIYable depending on the car and your skill / tools.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Just to emphasise, you do NOT want to be starting the engine- that could end very badly for any number of small but significant engine parts which will not appreciate being clogged / gummed up by fleks of dry paint.

[xjay1337]

Providing you've not started the engine simply do the following:

Drain oil
Refill with any oil meeting your grade requirements (cheapest stuff).
Run it from idle till it's warmed up then hold a fast idle for 10-15 minutes
Stop the engine and drain oil and change oil filter to your normal bits and pieces.

Easy.

[ShiningWit]

I once put gloss paint in my engine, it died soon after, but it gave a lovely finish.

[Defcon5]

I think you are going to have to do a lot of draining and refilling! Will the paint have stuck to anything or will the oil film have maid it run straight off the internal parts?

[Mr2Mike]

Bobby Shaftoe said:

Doh, A mate of mine who does pinstriping on the side stores his brushes in engine oil, so presumably it stops certain types of paints from drying

Enamel paints are oil based, and are traditionally used for pin striping etc. It's possible that non-oil based paint will form a horrible coagulated mess in oil though.

Short of flushing the entire engine with a suitable solvent, I don't see how all the paint can be removed for certain.

[Andy RV]

You're doomed!

I'd say drop the oil, flush with petrol a few times to remove the paint, refill with oil (is there a method to recirculate oil without starting the engine? Such as when you rebuild an engine). Run the engine for a short period, drop the oil and replace the filter a couple of times then cross your fingers!

[Ilovejapcrap]

If you've not etch d and primed first it won't stick

Sorry could not help myself, I'd drain it, mayb engine flush ?

[AW10]

Not sure there's any point in running the engine so early in the process? I would flush the engine with copious amounts of the cheapest "in spec" oil you can find. My rationale is that the paint has gone down the same passages as fresh oil - so the thing to do is to flush those passages with clean oil. Then drain the sump and if possible remove it and clean out any paint that might have settled in the sump and/or got into the oil pump pick-up. At this point re-fill, get the oil good and hot and then change the oil and the filter. Good luck!

[mr.man]

I think now is the time for an experiment.
Pour about 1/2 litre of new engine oil into a saucepan.
Add two tea spoons of the paint in question(guessing that's about the same ratio)
Heat to engine operating temperature.(about 110 deg C ?)
Reply to this forum reporting what actually happened.
Wipe out saucepan and return to cupboard under the sink(she will never know)

[Motown Junk]

Whoever puts BLACK engine oil in.....

[phillpot]

Motown Junk said:

Whoever puts BLACK engine oil in.....

Same person as keeps paint in an oil jug or can