I have a 2001 Legacy Outback with 69K healthy and fun-filled miles and a
week ago some ignorant mechanic at a local dealership overfilled my engine
oil. I mean overfill by substantial amount - the oil level was indicating at
least 4 inches above the normal high line. Unfortunately or fortunately, I
noticed it after driving about 120 miles - 3 days later (not continuously
though). The first symptom was that when I started the car there was the
initial puff of bluish smoke and then there was persistent burnt oil smell
in my vent and finally, I noticed oil dripping at the bottom. Not sure where
it was coming from but it was leaking. The next day I took it back to the
dealer, who after acknowledging that it was their mistake, promptly refilled
the oil to the correct level and also in the process, it seems, replaced air
filter and cleaned the air intake manifold (as it was wet with oil etc....).
Suspecting that some gasket must be shot, I had them degrease the underside
of the whole engine and idle it for 20 minutes, while it was still on the
lift. Luckily there were no further visible leaks, at least to my eyes.

My questions to the Outback fan club is

a) What damage could it have done - that I haven't yet come across
b) I still smells some burnt oil from the dashboard vent, whenever I am
stopped at a traffic light - I could not find any visible trace of oil
leak - Could it be from the oil that got splashed in during the overfill and
the cleaning they did wasn't enough?
c) I have captured the incident in a detailed letter to the dealer and am
thinking of sending a copy to the Subaru Corp. of America, Customer
Service... Should I do anything else more...

Thanks,

Anil