OMG. I didn't check my oil

The difference between the "min" and the "max" indicators on the dipstick is two liters, which are equal to about 2.1 quarts.

If your oil level had ever gone too low, warning lights on the dashboard would have illuminated. Your engine should be fine.

 

Just a quick question, did you run the engine BEFORE checking the oil as cold there will be almost no oil in the tank any way?

Dont want to tell you how to suck eggs, but the WSM procedure is:

1. Run Engine at tick over for several minutes.
2. Alow oil to reach 70 degc.
3. Switch off engine.
4. Check oil imediately.

The first time I did mine, I just filled to max started the engine and........ oil everywhere..... should have been on "Funniest Home Videos"

 

I havent checked my engine oil for a while also until the other day.

I dont know how much top up it needs, but I slammed a 1L bottle in there to keep her happy.

 

It would take another 2 qts missing to "get near the edge" with a dry sump set up. Had it been a wet sump you would be the acting bartender for the mechanics at this point.

 

+1. I know this rimoore character... he's quite suspect.




Rick -- you sure the engine was hot before checking?

 

It'll be fine. Worst case scenario? You slide that big wad of cash over to Luca's college fund, and I send you new pistons, liners, rings, rods, bearings, heads, gaskets, and a few other assorted bits.

 

You didn't say how many miles you had driven it since you last checked the level, but if you only drive it about once a week, and it isn't leaking ANY oil, then it must be burning quite a bit (blue smoke out the exhaust?), or else you didn't check the level correctly LAST time and it wasn't full all along. You need to use exactly the same procedure to check the oil level each time, so that you are being consistent.

 

Just as a matter of interest I checked my oil before starting and it was zero.... nothing... not on the stick... could see a little in the bottom of the tank but thats about it.

Started and did warm up procedure as per WSM and came up to 10mm above max so all OK.

 

I've checked my oil with the engine idleing and just after shut off and they both read the same.

 

I have done the same, and it reads the same as well, but would like an explination as to why that is...in our dry sump system, does the oil in the tank drain out once the engine is turned off (it must) but how long does it take, and would there not always be some in that tank where we measure it?

Jump in anytime here Rifledriver or Fatbillybob

 

I seem to recall "normal" oil consumption was surprisingly high on this motor when I looked it up last time. Anyone have the figures?

Edit: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233724&highlight=oil+consumption

About .5 qt / 600 miles or so. Probably varies based on percentage of time with foot firmly planted on accelerator and how long you let your motor warm up before putting it under load.

 

The scavenge and pressure pumps are not positive displacement pumps ie. they are a pair of gears running in a housing with a very small gap around the outside of the gears.

Because the 348 the oil tank is HIGHER than the oil pickups in the bottom of the engine the oil slowly drains back through the small gap in the pump gears and basically fills up the bottom of the engine when the engine is turned off.

The engine needs to be run for a while to pick up all this oil from the bottom of the engine and deposit it back in the oil tank to register on the dip stick.