What is normal oil level in tank and engine when cold?

[movin]

Curious about this because I think excessive oil level in the engine can cause smoking at startup. When I drained my tank and engine cold I found the volume to be about the same in each. Is this normal?
'87 3.2 Carerra

[Wil Ferch]

If the engine is warmed before an oil change ( the normal way we do things...don't change oil when cold, for example)...there is about 6 quarts in the tank and 3-4 in the crankcase. However, if the car is cold, these values reverse....about 6 comes from the crankcase , and only 3-4 from the tank. Another factoid: for cars with front oil coolers the total capacity is about 13 qts with 3 always staying behind...a 10 quart or so change-out.
---Wil Ferch

[movin]

Thanks, I realize that the oil should be changed when hot. I was trying to diagnose the reason for smoking during startup from a cold condition and thought that an excessive accumulation of oil in the engine case would be the reason. Do you think 6 quarts in the engine case might lead to oil being splashed onto the cylinders?

[jthwan22]

smoking from cold start is usually from seepage from valve guide. It is normal to do this.

[Bill Verburg]

Check the breather hoses from the tank to the intake. If they are loaded w/ oil then the smoking may have been from overfilling. Other very likely causes are valve guides followed by, and much less likely, rings.

An occasional puff is normal, regular occurance at every start is a sign the the guides are on the way out.

[Wil Ferch]

I would *think*...as you view the entire oil system and their relative positions ( tank elevated above engine, etc)...that there is a reasonable argument saying that as the 6 quarts collects in the crankcase ( the "cold" condition we spoke about)...there is more likelihood for oil to weep past various areas causing a puff on start up. If so...do a check when "warm", instead, and see if it routinely smokes then too, or not.
---Wil Ferch

[movin]

No, it never smokes upon startup when hot or warm.