Oil

[cobalt911]

Well, if over-filled then it can be a problem! The best way to know is to find a flat place, keep car running until it is REALLY warm (over 20 minutes from cold minimum is my experience) leave the engine running (do not wear a tie, lots of spinning parts in the back ha ha) and then check the dipstick. While idling for a few minutes the oil level meter in the car should sit about 2/3 up the scale (I never fill to the top of that marker) and the dipstick should be self-explanatory. I think many folks have dodgy oil level gauges in the car so the dipstick on a warm, running engine (that has been at idle for a few mins) is the gold standard... So - if worried over-full run the procedure above and if over the dipstick markers then you need to lose some! Good luck... Mark

 

[green]

New owner paranoid about checking oil. Topped up 1 ltr as not comfortable with interpretation of all the checks. Now concerned that I may have over filled. Should I be?

 

[Gordon Attar]

As Cobalt911 said checking the dipstick whilst the car is hot and idling on a flat surface is the only way to be certain. Likewise no more than 2/3rds on the dashboard gauge, and likewise on the dipstick, remember oil will expand when very hot and 911's run a lot hotter than those water cooled thingy's.

 

[Mark Elder]

Similarly - I don't go to the top of the gauge on the dash. I've learnt that 100% on gauge = slight overfill on stick. On the other hand I do run the gauge right down to the red because top of red = half way between "min" and "max" on stick. Don't even think about checking either gauge or stick until oil thermostat has opened (temp gauge has risen to 8o'clock mark and then dropped for first time)

 

[Porker993]

Yes, my dash guage is pretty accurate, and gives a pretty good indication of where the oil level is on the dipstick. This is something I have learnt to trust over time. Knowing how the sender in the tank works, (I've seen one removed), I figure if the engine is hot and the stat has opened, and the oil level guage is showing slight wobbly movement, it must be working ok.