How much oil in a '76 911?

[JP911]

I did my first oil change in my "new" '76 911S and I'm just wondering approximately how much oil this thing takes. I did the oil change by the book:drained the tank, drained from the sump, replaced the filter, crush washer, sump gasket, sump washers and nuts. I started with 9 quarts of 20/50 synthetic and started the engine. I drove the car to warm up the oil then checked the dipstick with the car running on level ground. The reading was at "min" so I added another quart. The level was just slightly above "min" afterwards. So, I drove the car some more to circulate the oil and checked it again. Still seemed low, so I added another 1/2 quart. Didn't do much. I'm nervous about overfilling, but also concerned about not having enough oil. Any suggestions?

[stinkpot]

Fill it to right between the min and max marks. 10-11 quarts usually.

[Adam]

Depends on the specification of the car. Is it a manual or a sporto? Do you have an external oil cooler (trombone or Carrera type)?

My '76 manual has an external Carrera cooler and takes approx 12-13 liters during an oil change. Before when it had a trombone, it took a similar amount. When draining the oil, you never really get it all out of the cooler assembly, so in effect you're always recycling a little bit of oil.

I typically put 10 liters in and then warm the car up. Once warm, I top it up as necessary.

[JP911]

The car has manual transmission (5-speed) and no external oil cooler. Is it usually difficult to read the dipstick? When I pull it from the tube to check the oil level (after first wiping it clean) it's kind of hard to read the level. Am I doing something wrong here?

[Adam]

Just make sure that when you're checking the oil, the car is upto proper running temperature 185-190ºF and it is idling on level ground.

Don't check the oil when it's cold. It'll be way off.

Also be careful not to drop your dipstick into the oil tank, as many others have done.

[JP911]

This may seem like a stupid question, but here it goes anyway. When I check the oil, should I be putting the dipstick into the "keeper sleeve" in the oil filling tube where the dipstick normally sits, or should I dip it into the bigger part of the tube where I place the funnel when I put in oil?

[Adam]

I usually put it in the "keeper sleeve". There's less chance of dropping it into the tank and it limits the depth you can dip the stick, giving you consistent, controlled readings.

[IROC]

One trick I use on all the vehicles I change oil on is to pour the used oil into 1 gallon milk jug containers (my recycle people take those) before I put the new oil in. This way I have a pretty good idea of how much oil came out and can put approximately the same amount back in.

Mike