| Author |
Message |
James J. McGee (Dr_ferrari)
New member
Username: Dr_ferrari
Post Number: 18
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 8:59 am: | |
Bart,
when checking the oil, engine must be at operating temp and you must check the level immediatly after shuting off the engine otherwise the oil will drain back into the sump and give you a false low reading.
The best way to check the oil level really is to do it while the engine is running and as Lawrence says, remove, wipe the stick and recheck.
Oil level when hot should be between the min and max lines tending toward the max a little, that will give the oil room to expand when running hard.
Best regards, Jim |
Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member
Username: Lawrence
Post Number: 512
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 6:10 am: | |
This may not apply to your case because you probably have a dry sump. It happens on my 328. The sump slightly pressurizes when I shut the engine off and let engine sit for 10 minutes. This lowers the oil in the engine at the location where the dipstick is measuring. The dipstick on a 328 is sealed with an O-ring. I think the hot air and radiation from the exhaust manifold heat the tube slightly increasing pressure by expanding the air in it. This pushes the oil out of the end of the dipstick tube where the end of the dipstick is. So what I do is pull the stick out, wipe if off (it'll show 2 quarts low at this point), stick it back in and pull it out. Presto, the oil reappears.
Perhaps, something akin to this is happening to yours. |
Bart Duesler (The_bart)
New member
Username: The_bart
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 12:27 am: | |
I do not understand. After reading my manual on checking the oil of my 550, I started my engine. When it was warm, I turned it off. I let it sit for a few moments. Wow, it was down to the add mark. The manual says that means it is down two quarts. I added one quart.
My neighbor who had asked for a ride a month or so ago was out. I ask him if he wanted to go for a drive. He said yes. It is fun giving someone a ride in my beast.
I again check the oil. Bummer, it was over the maximum mark.
What is happening?
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