Filling the oil question

[wareaglescott]

79 SC

Had the car completely dismantled and all oil lines and cooler completely drained.

I am a little unsure how the oil distribution works in regards to filling it back up.

As I put oil back in the car obviously it will need some revolutions to get the oil distributed into the lines going to the oil cooler. Also I understand I can’t get an accurate dipstick reading prior to the car actually running.

What is the best method to go about filling the oil? I am thinking I don’t want to pour the entire quantity in straight away. Is that correct? My plan was to put 7-8 quarts in and rotate the motor some without firing it up to distribute oil around then add more. How many total quarts should I have in there prior to first start attempt?

[creaturecat]

9. that's my guesstimate.

[Mark Salvetti]

I wouldn't hesitate to go with 10 quarts. That's a typical oil change, which doesn't drain the oil lines and cooler. Since your engine hasn't run in a long time, then circulate the oil around without starting. You can pull the fuel pump relay to do this.

Once the car heats up, the oil thermostat in the right rear wheel well will open and start circulating oil to the cooler. You'll probably need to add another 1.5 quarts at this point to show the right level on the dipstick.

Mark

[GH85Carrera]

When I did the same thing for my engine rebuild and I replaced some old weeping oil lines, the entire system was drained. My initial fill up was 10 quarts. Until the thermostat in the fender well get hot enough to pump oil to the front it will remain empty. When it opened and I checked the oil level is was over a quart low and under the bottom mark on the dip stick. I added 1.5 quarts and it was about perfect. So have a full case of oil on hand.

To be a quart low on a 911 in street driving is no big deal at all. Not recommended, but there is lots of oil in the system.

[wareaglescott]

Great info! Thank you all very much!!

[mike sampsel]

When totally empty, I took me about 13 qts to get to the halfway point (on the dipstick) at warm.
So 9 qts while a good start will likely show nothing on the dipstick.

[Locker537]

A normal oil change in my 79 takes roughly 10.5 quarts. This puts the level on the dipstick right above half way between the marks.

I would use 10 quarts, pull the fuel pump relay, and follow the procedure listed in Wayne's engine rebuilding book.

[Flat6pac]

I would consider the lines forward to be about 3/4 quarts in line.
You need at least 5 quarts in the engine to run at idle. Id install 10-11 quarts on startup.
You need to come up to 180 degrees to open thermostat in the fender and begin to fill the oil lines.
When the temp comes up, watch your oil level gauge and top off a quart at a time.
Continue to watch oil level between the dash and the stick.
At 180 you still need oil half way on the stick. As temperature rises so will level on the stick.
Bruce