Track Day Oil Levels - 993

[993C2EX]

Ive checked and I can't find this topic covered previously so hopefully Im not repeating an earlier post.

Castle Combe on the 2nd Sept will be my first Porsche Club track day and my first in my 993.

I ready the notes....
Lubricant levels Engines used at high revs may consume more oil than under normal use. If necessary, bring a can to topup if you know the engine is consuming oil. Do not over-fill the engine oil and, for earlier 911 models, keep it no higher than 3/4 mark on the dipstick when hot. Any higher and it may overflow when the engine is hot, and the oil expands. The resulting mess is embarrassing (for the driver) and may lead to the car being taken off-track. It is also advisable to check the transmission oil before the event.

I am aware that following a 2000 mile trip to Scotland and back to Devon that I topped up my oil level and it is at the top.
According to the advise above I have to much oil in the engine. So what is the easiest way to remove a bit.
Plug down by the filter near right hand rear wheel ? (dirty knees?)
Suck it out of the dip stick pipe ? (oily lips)
Other suggestions ?

Track day prep advice appreciated.

 

[Mark Elder]

One of the reasons I abandoned the indy I used until about 2010 was that, one service just before a track day, his "apprentice" had overfilled my car with oil. They had removed some, I assumed sufficient, apologies were accepted and off I went.

No problem until the track day.

Once I'd warmed myself and the car up: Huge amounts of smoke as I exited a high speed, tight, right hand bend - assumed I'd blown a gasket. Parked in the pits and inspected. Oil everywhere, around and below the oil filler cap. Total mess, but luckily no real damage and no other participants "found" my oil on the track.

That incident had "disposed" of enough oil to solve the problem. I cleaned up as much as I could and took it gently for a while. But it didn't happen again.

I really think my oil was too high - not just full but over full. That's the problem with our gauges and how they work. I've not hesitated to fill the oil to full on the gauge since - but I'd definitely be cautious about a track day if you think it might be over full.

I only ever top up very gradually, with the engine warm and running, while watching the gauge through the rear window.

 

[993C2EX]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for your comments and the story of your experience.
Though I never really relied on my oil level gauge as they seem notoriously unreliable.
However, this last service at SCS it seemed to be reading the level correctly so when it was showing low after my Scotland trip I thought Id best check the dip stick and sure enough it was at the bottom.
I topped up with one bottle and a little more and that took it right to the top so now I think its over full having read both the advice and other posts online.
The question is how best to reduce the level ?

 

[tallmat]

Geoff

• The correct oil level is where the needle is at 4PM, with the car on flat and level surface, at operating temperature, and engine idling. This is stated in the owners manual. It's OK if slightly higher - mid-point on the gauge at (3PM) but no higher.
• The amount of oil needed to top up is usually 3-400 ml max; a whole bottle (i.e. 1 litre) will usually over-fill by some margin.
• It was described as the "cream on a pint on a pint of milk" - I quite like that analogy
• For a track day, even using higher revs that normal on UK roads, the engine shouldn't use or need any more oil. Remember these engines have inbuilt tolerances for a day flat out on the Autobahn...
• If you've overfilled, which sounds as if you have, the easiest way might be draining some oil (when the engine is cold..!). I believe it's possible to suck out of the tank, but not particularly easy.

Enjoy the track day. I was just too late applying.. []