Oil Fill/Quantity Options

[Tom1394racing]

I have been enjoying my freshly restored 914-6 GT Tribute and now it is time for the first oil change. The car has Ben's oil tank and a front cooler.

I assume the process is similar to that on a 911. The system should hold 10-12 quarts of oil. I added about 9 quarts initially. Now I need to warm the car up and with the car running and sitting on a level surface, add oil until the dipstick shows oil about midway on the clear section of the dipstick.

Sound about right?

[930cabman]

Great question

I am running the aluminum oil tank from PMS (assume it's very similar) and are still looking for the answer. When I get enough oil in the tank to have anything show up on the dipstick, she smokes bad. I'm thinking the correct amount will be somewhere in the 9+/- range. Seems as though 10 is too much

Can you get a measurement of the dipstick not including the loop? I am away from my shop, but recalling around 16 1/2" is the length of what I have

[Ninja]

On a 964 (with front oil cooler) warming the engine oil didn't really happen without 20-30 minutes of spirited driving (really beating the shit out of it).

That car had an oil level gauge in the dash that almost always read stupid low until the oil was really hot. It was VERY easy to overfill it.

Does your car have an oil temperature gauge?

The 964 didn't and that would have helped me...

[fixer34]

Great question

I am running the aluminum oil tank from PMS (assume it's very similar) and are still looking for the answer. When I get enough oil in the tank to have anything show up on the dipstick, she smokes bad. I'm thinking the correct amount will be somewhere in the 9+/- range. Seems as though 10 is too much

Can you get a measurement of the dipstick not including the loop? I am away from my shop, but recalling around 16 1/2" is the length of what I have

With a 'dry' sump system, you theoretically could fill the tank to the top and it wouldn't make any difference. In reality, you need room for expansion when the oil gets hot and have the return line outlet be above the oil level. Does it smoke bad at startup or while running? If startup, you may have leak-back past the pump. If while running, is oil spray getting to the breather line going to the air filter?

Stock tank dipstick is 13", but I understand Ben's tanks are deeper.

[mb911]

Oh gosh I explain this no more then a few dozen times a year.

A stock system with no front cooler takes 9 QTs. My tank takes 9.5. This will be a fresh system meaning no oil in the engine. Warm the car up to 180 an check volume and mark the dipstick. That is your full point. When charging oil you should always measure the qty to measure how much was removed so replace at least that much.

For a front cooler you do the same just calculate the amount that should fill the lines and cooler and you will know your qty.

[Tom1394racing]

The way I always do this on a 911 is as follows:

1. Warm the car up so that the thermostat to the front cooler is open and then quickly drain the oil in the engine sump and the tank.

2. Measure the quantity of oil that drained out. Then put the same quantity of fresh oil into the tank.

3. Drive the car, get it completely warmed up and then park it on a level surface. Leave the engine running and add additional oil to the tank, quart by quart, until I see the oil level indicator start to tick up. Then add additional oil until the dipstick reads halfway up to the fill line.

I would assume that the same process would work on the 914 however, with no oil level indicator on the 914, I’m a little hesitant to add oil until I see it registered on the dipstick for fear of overfilling.

BTW…. I never did check the dipstick level when I first added about 12 quarts and fired up and drove the car for 1000 miles.

[930cabman]

Somewhat new to the /6 conversion oil system workings. I have seen on several threads a "T" fitting installed to drain some remaining oil in the return line. I have not incorporated this mod

Also, even though these are dry sump systems, any oil in the system will seek it's own level? possibly raising the oil level in the crankcase too high

[Steve]

Do yourself a favor and install a puke bottle versus connecting the tank breather to the air filter. If or when you overfilled the tank, you will not create a smoke storm. Your neighbors will thank you.

[mb911]

The way I always do this on a 911 is as follows:

1. Warm the car up so that the thermostat to the front cooler is open and then quickly drain the oil in the engine sump and the tank.

2. Measure the quantity of oil that drained out. Then put the same quantity of fresh oil into the tank.

3. Drive the car, get it completely warmed up and then park it on a level surface. Leave the engine running and add additional oil to the tank, quart by quart, until I see the oil level indicator start to tick up. Then add additional oil until the dipstick reads halfway up to the fill line.

I would assume that the same process would work on the 914 however, with no oil level indicator on the 914, I’m a little hesitant to add oil until I see it registered on the dipstick for fear of overfilling.

BTW…. I never did check the dipstick level when I first added about 12 quarts and fired up and drove the car for 1000 miles.

The dipstick is irrelevant until you have a baseline. You have to know what is full based off of your individual volume. You have to math it. That gets lost on so many of the builds. I come from the aviation world how this is the norm. Fill to calculated volume, note level in log book , measure volume at each oil change and replace with same amount

[Tom1394racing]

The way I always do this on a 911 is as follows:

1. Warm the car up so that the thermostat to the front cooler is open and then quickly drain the oil in the engine sump and the tank.

2. Measure the quantity of oil that drained out. Then put the same quantity of fresh oil into the tank.

3. Drive the car, get it completely warmed up and then park it on a level surface. Leave the engine running and add additional oil to the tank, quart by quart, until I see the oil level indicator start to tick up. Then add additional oil until the dipstick reads halfway up to the fill line.

I would assume that the same process would work on the 914 however, with no oil level indicator on the 914, I’m a little hesitant to add oil until I see it registered on the dipstick for fear of overfilling.

BTW…. I never did check the dipstick level when I first added about 12 quarts and fired up and drove the car for 1000 miles.

The dipstick is irrelevant until you have a baseline. You have to know what is full based off of your individual volume. You have to math it. That gets lost on so many of the builds. I come from the aviation world how this is the norm. Fill to calculated volume, note level in log book , measure volume at each oil change and replace with same amount

Ben

Thanks for your replies. I understand the calculation method. However, I do not know how much oil drained out of the cooler lines and cooler.

Before I drained the oil, I had no indication of the oil level on the dipstick indicating to me that the oil level was too low. When I drained the oil, I got 8 quarts out. I added 9 quarts of fresh oil back in and drove the car to warm it up. Still no indication of oil on the dipstick. I am guessing that the dipstick is relevant as you approach the correct volume, so I plan to add oil, one quart at a time, until I see oil on the dipstick and then mark the dipstick. I can then use the mark to monitor oil usage and for future oil changes.

Sound right?

[Tom1394racing]

Great question

I am running the aluminum oil tank from PMS (assume it's very similar) and are still looking for the answer. When I get enough oil in the tank to have anything show up on the dipstick, she smokes bad. I'm thinking the correct amount will be somewhere in the 9+/- range. Seems as though 10 is too much

Can you get a measurement of the dipstick not including the loop? I am away from my shop, but recalling around 16 1/2" is the length of what I have

Ben's dipstick. Here you go.

[930cabman]

Great question

I am running the aluminum oil tank from PMS (assume it's very similar) and are still looking for the answer. When I get enough oil in the tank to have anything show up on the dipstick, she smokes bad. I'm thinking the correct amount will be somewhere in the 9+/- range. Seems as though 10 is too much

Can you get a measurement of the dipstick not including the loop? I am away from my shop, but recalling around 16 1/2" is the length of what I have

Ben's dipstick. Here you go.

Thank you Tom, I am out of town until next week, will report back then.

I'm not sure if I am the only member who has a question with /6 oil level

[Montreal914]

A stock system with no front cooler takes 9 QTs. My tank takes 9.5. This will be a fresh system meaning no oil in the engine.

For a front cooler you do the same just calculate the amount that should fill the lines and cooler and you will know your qty.

@mb911
Simple, thank you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Questions:

- I assume little to no difference in engine alone capacity between 2 liter-6 and 3.2?

- Is there a recommended sweet spot level in the tank (baseline idling warm) to allow enough time for air to separate and avoid oil starvation (obviously with minimum of 9 qt. + cooler network volume)?

Thanks!

[930cabman]

I am running a 2.7 / 6, no external cooler and PMS tank, they recommend 9 qts