Oil level rise

I checked the oil level in my 2000 4.7 today and the oil level has risen over the full mark where it used to be just at the full mark. What would cause that?

 

Was the engine warm both times you checked it?

 

The last time I checked it, a couple of weeks ago, it was cold and read on the full mark. Today it reads overfull, and it was cold. It has been really hot here if that means anything. 106 yesterday.

 

How far over the full mark?

 

Make many short drives under say 5 miles?

 

What does the oil smell like? Does it smell like fuel? Does it have a sweet-ish smell? What color is it? Is there weird goo under the oil fill cap?

 

Are you checking the oil in the same parking spot, or is there an incline or decline in either of the parking spots you checked at?

 

The oil looks and smells OK. No goo under oil fill cap. Lots of short drives and it reads about 1/4 inch overfull. Check it at the same place usually. I just replaced some leaky vacuum lines and it runs better than before. Could it be the pcv valve?
Also, the check engine light for an O2 sensor is on.

 

How bad is it running? I think I would be pulling the plugs and inspecting them for one that's not firing. You would see it being wet with gas, and it would smell like gas. If that's the case, you would get cylinder wash which would explain the rise in oil level. Do you have a CEL? Does the light work? I would check to see if there are any codes indicating a misfire. You might not notice a loss of power or misfire because of excess short trips.

 

Check both sides of the dipstick. I've owned cars where there was almost a 1/4 difference between front and back.
Get into a consistent habit when checking the oil. I check mine while filling up. Get the gas flowing, open the hood and check the oil. Or check it cold before starting. You will see if there is a difference. Mine reads about the same either way.

 

Fuel can get into the oil. Coolant can get into the oil. Have the oil analyzed if it’s truly rising.

 

What's your coolant level and color like?

 

O2 sensors aren’t some treehugger federal conspiracy shit to inconvenience you. The upstream specifically are critical for your truck to properly set fuel/air ratio, good gas mileage, keep plugs clean, and avoid cat clogs. Fix your shit.

Denso brand sensors only. Never order from scAmazon or fleaBay. Replace in pairs on the affected bank (i.e. upstream/downstream at same time). www.densoautoparts.com to look up your part. NEVER buy universal sensors, always the “exact fit” part. You don’t want to cut the O2 harnesses.

That’s beyond the oil rise issue.

 

You must have added this in an edit after some responses yesterday. Key piece of critical information. You need to get this fixed.

 

Yes, I added it later. I checked the oil level this morning and it was about a 1/2" too high. The oil looked OK and didn't smell like gas but there must be gas in it as the coolant level is the same as before. I check the oil every week so the problem must be recent.
It has about 170K on the engine. I went to a shop and asked about it and he said it couldn't be the O2 sensor. He said bring it in next week and they will look at it. I will let you know what the problem is.

 

Are you 100% positive it didn't get an extra quart or something at your last oil change? and/or something stupid happened, like the oil filter didn't get changed, but it still got a full 6.5qts?

 

I changed the oil myself and the oil level was right at the full mark until just recently.

 

I think you need to keep an eye on it for little while longer before jumping into paying for more diagnosis from a shop. If you're really super worried about it, change your oil again and fill to the proper level.

 

I was going to change the oil but it smells like gas and is way high, maybe an inch too high. Any ideas?

 

Do as he suggested.

 

It runs great.

 

Could maybe try a quick blotter test to point you in the right direction too. Take some clean cardboard or an index card and drop some oil from the dipstick on it. If there's a dark center with a surrounding ring, that would suggest fuel in the oil.

http://media.noria.com/sites/pdf/Bonus1.pdf

 

Man, I'm not sure how much more clear I can be. Did you even read the post #9 for what I suggested? If you keep going down this road and ignoring it, you're going to totally lose that cylinder(s), if you haven't already damaged it/them.

 

You can only lead a horse to water, and teach them to fish……

 

OK, OK, OK. I'll pull the plugs. According to the decal on the engine the timing belt was changed and only has 40K on it. Usually, they change the plugs when the timing belt is changed but maybe they didn't.
I've only owned the truck for about 6 months.

 

I would say this, if you think you're pulling the plugs to only check if the plug is bad then stop. Take the truck to a mechanic and have the truck diagnosed and repaired.

 

I'm not saying this to be rude or mean, but you sound like you might be out of your depth on this one. I agree with @KNABORES, get it to someone who knows how to diagnose. I also would caution you on continued driving until you have it repaired. Engines aren't cheap.

 

If you have the ability, remove each sparkplug and take multiple pictures of the business end. You are looking for a plug that is either very dark and sooty or wet. A good plug should be free of deposits and a gray to tan color.

Regardless, you should stop driving it until it's fixed.

 

I have another car and haven't been driving the Tundra and the shop I go to is only two blocks away. I am just baffled as the last time I drove it, three or four days ago, it ran fine and the oil level rise is just recent as when I checked the oil, maybe two weeks ago, it was at the full mark.
It would have to be something catastrophic to cause the big oil level rise. I could change the plugs, but it doesn't appear to be a spark plug problem.

 

Not necessarily. It could be something as simple as a bad plug or ignition coil pack. Where are you garnering your information to make this statement? It could lead to something catastrophic, such a hydro-locking. Research that. It should make you worry.