Tips for draining excess oil from crankcase

So, I'm an idiot. I was doing my first oil change on the Speed3 and I added too much oil. I drained the old oil out. Put the drain plug and new filter back in. Dropped the car off the jacks.

I then added 5.5 quarts as suggested by Mazda. I started the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes. Came back after another 10 and I was reading just below the "MIN" line. I then proceeded to add a little more until I reached the "FULL" line. I ended up putting about 5.9 quarts total.

I then checked the oil level later in the day after a drive and now I'm over full. I'm right at the "X" in "MAX."

There's plug in the oil filter cap I could pull out. I'm thinking that's my best choice. Any other suggestions? Should I even worry that it's less than 0.5 quarts over?

I don't know the first thing about that particular engine, but on BMWs a full quart over is standard practice to avoid starvation in autox. I wouldn't worry about it.

I overfilled a Honda because I checked the dipstick when it was parked on a hill....

I had success of draining about a half quart (messy success) by simply pulling the drain plug out and immediately putting it back in. There are about a thousand things that could go wrong with that plan, but it worked for me one time...

Under 1/2 a qt over, don't even worry about it.

I would not worry about it either.. I used to run my fiats half a quart over to avoid starvation in hard corners.

Everyone should have a Mityvac Fluid Evacuator. That's what it's for. If not, turkey baster and a length of 1/4' rubber/vinyl/PVC/urethane/silicone tubing. Snake it down the dipstick tube, suck away.

But I run my E36 M3 and Miata above full and they're fine.

it's fresh/new oil …. get a clean catch can, drain the oil, re-install the plug, add oil back to the desired level, save the left over oil …….

I always ended up putting ~6 quarts in my Speed 6, and it never went over the Max line. You should be fine if you are over at all.

If it worries you that much, just loosen the drain plug for a second like others have suggested.

The way I've done it is to keep the oil filler cap on, put a drain pan under the engine and remove the drain plug by hand with the engine cold, and very quickly re-thread the plug into the hole. If you do it right only your hand will get covered in oil.

There is a company named Jabsco that makes manual pumps that are used for draining oil from engines in marine applications. They come in a variety of sizes with the smallest one moving 3oz per stroke. They come with different diameter hoses including one that fits down the dipstick housing. I have one that I use for oil changes in a sailboat diesel. They are pretty efficent but I always seem to make a mess trying to clean it after using it. I recently used it to remove some transmission fluid through the dip stick housing so I could add a conditioner.

Like he says, the best way to do it with this car (if you want to do it), is to just use the oil filter drain plug. It's there to empty the filter before you remove it so it shouldn't drain out too much. A lot easier to regulate then the pan drain plug anyway.

Plus one for the Mighty Vac and you can measure the exact amount of oil removed from the crankcase.

for that matter.. just pull the oil filter, drain it, and reinstall

Always allow time for the oil to drain back into the pan before checking the level.

Factory listed amounts are pretty close.