OIL DIPSTICK LEVER QUESTION

You need proper oil tempreture before checking the oil. If the ambient is low the oil may well not be warm enough....

 

As Eddie says, the oil needs to be hot - you wouldn't believe how much it expands when it heats up.

You need to be very careful of overfilling the oil as it can find its way up into the air intake system and into your engine - this is usually followed by clouds of smoke. The problem with overfilling is that you need to clean out the entire intake system and check your MAF's for damage. This is why I like to measure what I take out and put back in a little less to begin with.

 

RTFM

I didn't check the oil correctly shortly after I got the car and in a panic added a liter.
No smoke though.

Then I read the manual and found out the oil had to be hot (not just warm) when you check it. I don't have the manual in front of me, but I seem to recall a 20 minute drive as the way to bring up the temperature.

Ouch.

I spent an hour with a turkey baster extracting the overfill.

No residual damage other than there seemed to be some slight seepage which dried up after the excess oil was removed.

 

Anthony- if it's not a warm or even hot day drive it for even longer than 10 minutes..I'm no expert on what temp it should show on the gauge, but get the oil as hot as you can driving (within reason- I'm not saying you need to go for a 3 hour drive ). Even then, aim for no more than the oil level between min and max...on a really hot day with some vivid driving it will expand even more so may as well leave some room! Being between min and max is plenty of oil anyway.... That's also what I shoot for with my 360 and also shot for in prior 911's I owned (which are also dry sump motors that held lots of oil like the 360- no point trying to get all the way up to Max and then have no room for further expansion...)

 

did you consider how much oil was in the filter??????

If you drained the oil properly and you changed the filter - putting in 8 quarts is not enough. Whenever I have had mine changed - and been there watching the tech do the work at Wynn (Dealer), it has always taken about 10 quarts. Always.

And really - does oil expand that much when it gets hot. I think not. In fact, these high tech multi-viscosity oils claim to get THICKER as they heat up. Getting thicker and also increasing greatly in volume sounds quite impossible to this guy.

So, run the car up to operating temp...park on level area...leave the engine running - wear a glove or use a rag - it be hot...remove the cap...and wipe the oil...DO NOT screw the cap on - just sit it on the filler neck - (no screwing!)... and pull it off and take your reading...if OK, then you can screw the cap back on...if not, add some oil ...or remove if you really messed up.

 

The filter doesn't hold much oil in it due to the orientation.

I have tried to explain the importance of the oil level here: Link

 

If you added 8 quarts, it's safe to drive the car and let the engine warm up. For ///M & Porsche cars (equipped with dry sump), it takes about 5 miles of driving to be able to do readings on oil level through the computer. As for oil additives, why would you want to use it? Major motor oils have their own additives in the oil already and there is really no need to add any other aftermarket stuff to it. I am doubtful that you will see any benefits, and there is the risk that you will do more harm than good. I say no.

 

This happen to me when I changed the oil in my Scud. You will have to drive it longer then 10 min. I had to go for a long drive (45 min.) before mine warmed up and showed a reading between the lines. Scared the crap out of me, but I knew I put the right amount of oil in.

Go for a good spirited drive!

Later

 

Monitor the oil temp gauge. I like to read oil level when it is at least around 190 F (90 C).

 

The oil needs to be HOT before you check the level. HOT.

 

If you are sure you are taking the reading correctly then add some more to get the level half way between the "max" and "min" marks.

 

I know you probably checked the oil with the engine running correct? The reason it takes so long is because it has a dry sump. Once it warms up a valve opens to the oil tank and all the oil; circulates not just the oil in the engine. As everybody states it takes a while. On my Porsche when the temp. is 40 it takes 15 minutes for the sump to open before I check the oil level. Even longer for my Ferrari be cause of the coolant circulates before the oil .

 

Since the engine is running when checking the oil there is a known foaming issue of the oil which makes it difficult to get a true reading just have to diligent and remove the dip stick slowly.

 

FWIW my records show that the oil change on my '07 F430 takes 10 qts with a California oil filter. The level then reads about halfway between the marks on the dipstick when the oil is hot (200 F) and after screwing the dipstick cap down before unscrewing it again and withdrawing the stick to read it. I have never checked the oil without screwing the dipstick cap down first and it is possible that it will read low if you do not do so.

 

You aren't supposed to screw the cap on to take the oil level. It is taken with the cap sitting on the tank.

 

Then reluctantly one must conclude that you are slightly underfilled, possibly due to not fully emptying the oil containers into the tank.

Suggest a conservative approach of adding 1/2 quart, driving and remeasuring. That should give you a sense of where you are at without overfilling.

 

It's late, and I'm not 100% sure, but I believe it takes 10-10.5 quarts for an oil change. Look in the owners manuel and it will tell you what it takes.

Later

 

I believe that's right. If so he is running slightly low and will not risk overfilling by adding 1/2 qt to start with and remeasuring.