Mark Hubley

Look very carefully at the attachment in post #10. Make absolutely sure that you're straight on the drain plug and the fill plug! If your car is level, then oil should not be "pouring out" when you remove the fill plug. The oil will expand some when heated. However, I still don't think it is appropriate for that much oil to come out of the fill plug, especially if the car had been sitting for a couple of hours. If you're in Denver, then I think that's plenty of time for the tranny to cool.

You said the oil looks clean. That may be, but if you've got new oil ready to go in, and your car is due for the oil change, then I suggest you go ahead and do it. Drain the old oil, replace the drain plug, and add new oil just to the level of the fill plug (as per the post #10 attachment).

Are you absolutely sure you removed the fill plug, and not the drain plug???

ENG1NERD

Haha I knew this would be the first question. Yes, I am sure. 24mm bolt that faces the front bumper of the car and says something to the effect of "Please read owner's manual before filling." That's the one I took out, and oil starting coming out. And yes I am sure the car was on level ground.

I ended up waiting until the morning so the oil had completely cooled, then I took the plug out again and just let it drain until it stopped, therefore (hopefully) reaching the proper level of right below the fill hole. It wasn't overfilled by too much. I'm terrible at estimating volumes, but maybe only 1/4 of a quart came out. Again, the quality of the oil is very good, so I won't replace it for now.

From the research I've done, this shouldn't have really negatively affected my car. But now it's got me wondering whether it came like this from the factory, happened at a dealership, or the previous owner did it. At least I know it's correct now though!