Overfilled at oil change

[steve_964]

Have just had my C2 through a major service in preparation for possible track days this year.
The work was done by a well known and respected independant Porsche specialist who have been advertising in PP for the fifteen years that I have been a member.
The problem I have is that for some reason they have put 10 litres of engine oil in ,this results in a level gauge needle that is permanently off the top of the gauge,and a level about 30mm above the maximum mark.
I drove it 80 miles home from the garage and was baffled as to why it was like this until i started investigating.
Will it be ok to drive it back, or does anyone know an easy way to get a litre of oil out with out going for the drain plugs??

Steve

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Steve,

I've seen it suggested before that using a turkey baster through the filler neck will do the job. I've never tried it myself so I can't give you any more feedback than that. I'd guess you need a fairly long "spout" to suck up from the tank.

If you drain from the crankcase you'll get about 3 litres but you'll have to take off the undertray (if you've still got it fitted).

It's probably preferable NOT to drive it back but, having said that, I drove mine for quite a while with over 3 litres too much when I first got it. You do run the risk of contaminating the air flow meter but I suspect you may be OK as long as you don't cane it.

Regards

Dave

 

[steve_964]

Thanks Dave ,
I have already tried a sump pump which didn't work although i don't think the pump was man enough.
Incidentally I had to pass a metre of plastic pipe down the filler neck to reach the oil , does that sound normal to you ??
I'm going borrow a bigger sump pump from work on monday and see if that will lift the oil.

Steve

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Steve,

I'm wondering if you would need to have the engine hot and running in order to reach the oil. The oil level gauge and dipstick don't register correctly until the thermostat is open and the oil pump is scavenging oil back to the tank.

As I said before, I've never done this so I'm only guessing.

Regards

Dave

 

[steve_964]

Dave,
Thanks for your help ,I must admit i'd completely overlooked the engine running and hot bit, a condition you would require if checking oil levels normally.
I'll try it again tomorrow with it running at temperature and see if I can lift the oil out then.
Not sure I fancy being in there with pumps and hoses with it running though ,but will report how it goes.

Steve

 

[mbrands]

I wonder if siphoning would work. You can probably get a meter or two of plastic tubing from halfords or similar (the longer the better, as you really don't want to accidently swallow any engine oil). It does require you to be able to reach the storage tank (sump ?) by insering the hose through the oil filler cap, which I don't know is possible if there are lots of bends filters or corners to navigate.

Maybe approaching via the dipstick opening is the most direct route, but probably too narrow. I definitely would only attempt this with the engine off, as you don't want to run the risk of your plastic tubing getting chewed up by the engine.

 

[kevin]

Personally I would never go for the fill tube, ask yourself this...If I drop something in there, how will I get it out??

I would, and have done because I too have been overfilled by a well known independant...undone the oil tank drain and drained a couple of litres out.its not that difficult to be honest, and why put yourself in the way of something untoward happening, it isn't worth the effort doing it any other way, although that's just my opinion.

kevin

 

[steve_964]

The sump pump I had is a quality piece of kit and there would be no danger of losing any thing down the filler neck.
I tried it again today with the engine hot and running and drew a litre of oil out no problem.
So the panic is over ,but I'm a bit concerned that quality specialists put 10 litres in when the hand book says 9 and the Without Guesswork technical data book also says 9 litres.
Thanks for any advice or input,

Steve

 

[Melv]

ORIGINAL: mbrands

I definitely would only attempt this with the engine off, as you don't want to run the risk of your plastic tubing getting chewed up by the engine.

There's no engine bits in the catch tank.....[&:][&:]

You a '44 driver?[]

 

[bones]

[]

 

[Guest]

Don't panic!

Remember, you are dealing with a dry sump engine. A litre of extra oil is not much. The idea of contaminating the inlet system is plain nonsence. A litre is certainly is not going to overflow the oil tank. Really, there is no harm done.

Most people want a zero-maintenance car between services, and a bit of overfilling can help achieve this, normally without problem. In my many years of 911 ownership, I have always used the dashboard gauge and always over (rather than under) filled. In almost all circumstances, a litre too much is a lot less harmful than a litre too little!

If you are still not happy, if it really is a reputable specialist, then I am sure that they will sort your problem for you, without quibble and without charge! Have you tried talking to the people that did the service?

Most specialists get most things right most of the time, but since this is engineering, sometimes things do go wrong. It is the sign of a good organisation that when things do go wrong, they get put right quickly, efficiently and with no fuss!

A

 

[911sse]

I thought the total capacity for the oil was 13 ltrs?

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

ORIGINAL: eurgain

Don't panic!

Remember, you are dealing with a dry sump engine. A litre of extra oil is not much. The idea of contaminating the inlet system is plain nonsence. A litre is certainly is not going to overflow the oil tank. Really, there is no harm done.

I agree that one litre is no big deal - mine has been as much as 3 litres overfilled in the past. The issue of contamination is not nonense, BTW, although it's not a consequence of overflowing the oil tank - it's an issue of additional oil mist flowing through the breather system into the inlet tract. The oil mist ultimately will gather around the air flow vane and "gum" it up resulting in poor tickover and poor throttle response. No big deal - but best avoided.

Mark, the capacity IS around 12 litres, but unless you suspend the car from the nose with a crane it's pretty difficult to get the contents of the oil cooler and the pipes out of the car!!! Hence, a refill is quoted at 9 litres.

Regards

Dave

 

[Jeff Forsyth]

Dave's dead right about the gumming up of the air flow vane....

SIncerely

J

 

[steve_964]

Since my last post here I have talked to the people who serviced the car.They said there really is no problem with the oil level being high and they always use 10 litres on a 964 oil change.
I just felt that there is a minimum and maximum mark on the dipstick for a reason ,my oil level appeared well above the maximum mark also leaving the dashboard gauge inoperable which was not correct as far as i was concerned.
Now the oil level is at the maximum mark ,and the gauge works as it should .
I will still use these specialists as their work leaves opc's looking thoroughly incompetent,but will ask them to fill to correct levels in future.

Steve