oil overflowing

[MCC371]

I recently bought a used 2006 Mercury 25 hp 4 stroke motor. I checked the oil a few times and it was right on the full mark. I pulled the dipstick out today and oil ran out the hole and all over the garage floor. I tilted the motor up to the first notch and pulled the dipstick out again and although oil didn't run out, it was well above the full mark on the stick. I scooped up some oil off the floor and stuck a torch to it to see if there was gas in it and the oil didn't burn, so I'm assuming it didn't have gas in it. Where could it have come from? I've never added any oil to this motor.

 

[gss036]

Re: oil overflowing

It has to be gas, thats the only other liquid in the motor. Check your float if it is a carbed model.

 

[MCC371]

Re: oil overflowing

I went out this morning and made sure the motor was in the straight up and down position. I checked the oil again and it was over the full mark almost up to the rubber plug on the dipstick. Like about a half inch above the full mark. I drained the oil and then carefully poured it into an empty oil bottle that has the gauge marked on the side. It was just a hair less than 2 quarts. The sticker on the motor says capacity 2 quarts. I assume that's with a new filter. I removed the filter and it is empty. Is it supposed to drain when the motor isn't running? I'm still puzzled as to why it's suddenly showing over full when it never has before. I've never added or changed oil in this motor since I got it and it's always shown right on the full mark when I checked it. The oil didn't look diluted either and didn't smell like gas. The boat has been sitting in a cool basement garage. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[MCC371]

Re: oil overflowing

One more question. Could it be that maybe a valve in the oil filter has let the oil run out of the filter into the oil pan to make it look like excess oil in the motor?