Car always ran great, always started and ran perfect- no problem. Had a quick-lube change the oil & they put in 5-1/2 quarts into an engine that hold 3.2 quarts. Car drove home from lube place & ran great. Sat in driveway 2 days then would only crank/no start. Got it to start by holding gas pedal down while cranking. Got a backfire then car ran - but only with the gas pedal down. Checked & found the oil level too high. Fortunately no foamy oil on dipstick or on oil filler cap. No smoke from tailpipe. Removed the excess oil & got the car to start & run normally - no backfire. Started car every day for 2 days, even went to Costco - car started & ran fine. Car sat for 2 more days & back to crank & no start - but won't even start with gas pedal down, but did get a backfire noise?? ** Since the car started and ran fine after the excess oil was removed, I did NOT change plugs or the oil filter. Also, even though the engine oil was new, it was pretty black when we drained it.
What makes this problem better or worse?
Just started happening
How long has your 1995 Toyota Corolla had this problem?
RepairPal Certified shops can diagnose and repair your 1995 Toyota Corolla. They provide transparent pricing with a minimum 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on repairs and services.
Hi, this is Bo, an auto expert on RepairPal's Car Genius team!
Overfilling the oil in your Corolla likely caused some temporary issues, but the no-start condition might be from something else lingering. Too much oil can flood the crankcase, causing oil to get into places it shouldn’t—like the spark plugs or intake—but since you've drained the excess, I'd start by checking your ignition system. The backfiring hints at a misfire or timing issue, and fouled plugs could still be causing trouble. Also, keep an eye on the oil level, and it might be worth changing the oil again to clear out any residual gunk that turned the oil black so quickly.
If you need any further advice or if you'd like help finding a trusted RepairPal shop in your area, please feel free to call us at 877-913-1554!
