I feel a bit embarrassed posting this, because I actually have been working on my cars for some years. Anyway, in December I did an oil change as the last step of my winter storage. Drained all the oil out, filled with 2 gallons of 20W-50. The sump capacity is 2.64 gal/10 liters (US spec 3.2), so the level should be on the low side. So I took it out for its first drive today, ran it up to temperature, shut it off, waited 15 minutes, and the wonky Mondial dipstick reads well over the second metal ring/max level. I understand that over-filling is potentially very bad, leading to frothing and bearing starvation (although maybe not for the relatively gentle kind of driving I do). So does the dipstick reading sound right, that is, is it typical for 0.6 gal. or more to remain in the sump when I drain it? And, if so, would I be advised to drain a bit of the excess oil out? I know this shouldn't be complicated! Thanks in advance.
That capacity specification is for filling a new (completely empty) engine lubrication system that has never had any engine oil in it. During an engine oil change, removing about 8 qts and reinstalling about 8 new qts is typical on the V8 models.
Thanks, Steve -- that makes sense. So I drained out about as much as put in (8 qt/2 gal). I wonder if I should drain some out if I'm half a liter or so over?
I would drain out excess and bring to correct level. When changing oil, drain the oil, then put in 7 quarts. Start the engine, run for a few minutes. Shut down, wait 15 minutes, check level. Top up to level with about 1/2 quart, maybe a tad more. The idea is these cars definitely take less than 8 quarts, so best to fill conservatively and be a bit below max and add after driving, and letting sit for 15 minutes, and doing the topping again in small increments up til you are near the max. Being below the max (and above the min) is fine. My car takes about 7 2/3 quarts of Redline consistently each change, with a new filter, and burns very little oil between changes.
I wouldn't worry much about just 1/2 a liter above MAX (especially in rational street driving) -- many who track these engines have reported adding an extra liter (in order to try to prevent oil starvation in the corners) without any ill effects noted, and the lubrication figures in the 308GT4 WSM and Mondial8/QV WSM seem to indicate a fair bit of distance from the dipstick markings to the crankshaft rotating components. If I was going to try to remove some, I'd use some sort of hand vacuum pump gizmo putting a small tube down the dipstick tube rather than removing the (messy) drain plug -- JMO.
If the car in question is not a "t" Steve is right. For track driven cars overfilling by a quart is SOP to prevent oil starvation in RH corners.
Thanks, everybody. There's always something new to learn about these cars, even with things you think are simple and straightforward ...
