How to get your oil level PERFECT after an oil change

I service my own car, and I've learned the eccentricities of service though trial and error. Most of my friends with Ferraris, however, do not service their cars and many love to have that dealer stamp, regardless of the price. So, my friend calls me while waiting for a tow truck after his 360 broke down a few miles after service at the dealership. Turns out, they overfilled the oil, which in turn created an oil slick in the intake, which in turn made the intake tubes slide off the manifold with an explosive sound, with the car smoking out the exhaust.

This happened to me also after service in the past, before I started servicing my own cars. How does this happed at a factory-trained dealership?

Well, I was told that the proper procedure is to put about 6-7 qts in, then idle the car until it reaches normal temp., after which you check the levels and top off.

That is wrong.

The problem is that the "normal temp" assumed by the dealer refers to coolant temp, otherwise, you'd be idling your car for 2 hours to get the oil up to proper driving temperature. Once you think the temp is normal by looking at the coolant temp, the oil still hasn't expanded and it reads low. Then you top it off, after which the customer drives away and the sump is now overfilled once the oil reaches 200.

Here's how to get it right all the time:

1. Drain the sump and block and replace plugs/rings (obviously). Change the filter, but that makes no difference on oil capacity as it's inverted on the 360.

2. Refill cold, 8.5 quarts. This will bring the level to the bottom of the stick, below minimum, once the oil is hot.

3. DRIVE THE CAR. Go on a 20 minute drive, or until the oil temp reaches operating temp, typically 1/3 the way on the needle. This takes time, as you know. I generally don't drive over 3500 rpm during this period, although 8.5 qt should be adequate oil to sustain normal operation and pressure.

4. Stop, grab a thick rag or falconer's glove, check the sump level and top off.

Regardless of how hot the engine bay is and how hot it is outside, or how long it's taking, TAKE YOUR TIME topping off with little increments each time you pour and check. The level will go from minimum to maximum in NO TIME lol.

Once at the proper level at proper oil temp, the level will be perfect until the next oil change.

 

My car will not take 10 quarts. I'm at about 9.5 ish. That's after draining both sump and block down to a drip.

I check my oil when hot/running btw. The level stays directly in between min and max when hot. If I put 11 quarts in, then the level will be way above max when hot. I change mine every 2-3 months/3-5K miles.

 

You are correct - I forgot to use that option at the beginning of the thread.