Quote:
Originally Posted by 88911coupe
Don't take this wront but just to be clear...since you state you're not a "car person" are you following the method for checking the oil level on a 911?
Checking the oil level on an air cooled 911 has thrown off a lot of people who ARE car people.
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Thanks for your reply! I won't worry about that bolt
And I will put your mind at ease about my oil-checking proficiency, I hope! I know that lots of people goof up on oil checking and changing - I have read the threads here and learned well!
I ran the car around a bit until I achieved normal operating temp (just at the first hash mark on the temp gauge). I left it idling while I opened her up and checked the dip stick. Definitely low, as I suspected from the lowish reading on the oil level gauge.
I added about 1/4 qt at a time, checking after each addition. I have found that even when my oil level gauge shows just above the red, it often takes less than 1/2 qt to "top it up" properly. And I know that it's a mess if overfilled. So I proceeded slowly, and ended up adding about 2/3-3/4 qt. On the dip stick, this put me about 3/4ths between the 2 indentations toward full.
My mechanic has suggested that I not keep adding until the oil shows all the way to the last indentation, as this often results in it being a bit overfilled and blowing around in there making a mess. He's also suggested that I slightly underfill when I am planning to run the &^%$ out of her at a track event
So that's what I've been doing, and I had not topped up since the event I did last weekend, so it was definitely time.
Thanks to everyone who worried about this - if I've committed a gaffe, lemme have it! I am not a car person, but I did learn how to drive "back in the day" on a car that had to be checked while running so it was an easy habit to resume. Even as a "not yet car person" I am getting better with the basics such as keeping my tires properly filled for conditions & keeping an eye on the oil. The rest, for now, I leave to the experts.
Just picked up a set of new brake pads today (basic stock pads) and will be having a session with a Pcar mechanic sometime in the next week or so to learn how to put my own brake pads on. I have a floor jack & jack stands coming for Christmas. I will feel much more self-sufficient at the track if I know I can do this for myself if I ever need to. I will have to be sure & take some pics of my grease monkey afternoon when it happens!