Where is the oil drain plug on a 3.3

[steven polaski]

I can't seem to locate a oil drain plug on my 3.3 turbo. I opened the large center drain on the bottom last time I changed the oil but I was wondering if there was a drain plug. Sorry for the stupid question. Also should I drain the oil out of the resevoir tank ?

[Wil Ferch]

If it's like my 3.2 you should be draining from 2 places...
1.) the oil tank
2.) a side-entry plug on the bottom/center of the engine case. Note--side entry, so look over nearer the dreiver's side ( of center)....you'll find it.

On a cold engine...you'll likely get 6 quarts from the engine....3 quarts from the tank.

On a recently shut down engine...expect 6 from the tank....3 from the engine.

Do a "search" on this topic..it's been posted a number of times before with additional detail. It would also help us ( to help you) if you post more detail of your car...year/model, etc...

Wil

EDIt...nevermind....I now see the car's detail on the bottom of your post...sorry.

[ChrisBennet]

Like Will said, you should have a drain plug on the side at the lowest point but "large center drain" sounds like a sump plate motor. I think some of those did not have a drain plug. The cases changed in '83 from a big ~6" sump plate to just having a plug on the side so your '86 wouldn't have come with a sump plate motor.
-Chris

[WERK I]

Here ya' go. Midsection of sump, drivers side.

[Slant930]

By reservoir tank, do you mean the large one in the fender well or the small one under the turbo? Most of the oil will be in the large one, so I would definitely say to drain that. The little tank under the turbo will not have a lot of oil in it, but I would drain it anyways.

[steven polaski]

The bottom of my motor does not look like that. In the center is a large 6" circle with I think 8 small nuts that when removed the oil comes out and there is a screen on top, the bottom of my motor is flat. This is not the original motor or tranny ( 5spd) how do I tell what year?

[GeorgeK]

The center cover has lost its drain bolt over the years. Now the dealer won't sell the old type with the threaded plug, which is a dirty shame if you ask me.
Your engine got a new sump plate sometime in the past.

[Wil Ferch]

You have an 83 ( or pre-83) block....as ChrisBennet described....

Look near the fan support....on the right side...vertical surface....hard to read. You'll find something like 64XXXX

Near that...to *its* right....but now flat on the upper surface of the engine is another number...like 930/21

Get those numbers and some of us can do a trace....

Wil

[steven polaski]

Do you mean between the a/c support and the fan ?

[steven polaski]

O.K. I looked in my bentley manual where the #'s are supposed to be. The fan support has no numbers what so ever and the #'s on the tag near the oil sender are worn off. Where else can I look ?

[Wil Ferch]

They *are* there...but are often very faint....clean carefully and check with a high intensity , narrow beam flashlight.

If truly gone, there are no other meaningful numbers...maybe only side-of-case just above the oil return tubes....930.XX.XXX.XX...tells what kind of "basic" engine case you have...

Wil

[Emission]

Originally posted by WERK-I
Here ya' go. Midsection of sump, drivers side.

Purdy. Makes mine look like a mess...

[steven polaski]

Here are some numbers I found 930 1051112r mean anything ?

[WERK I]

Steven,
That is the engine case part number. The number Will was referring to is located in the photo provided.

[WERK I]

Here's the other number.

[Wil Ferch]

Thanks Dave...that's exactly correct and for those that have Bruce Anderson's Performance book....it may be clear from those pics, too.

Wil

[steven polaski]

I finally was able to get under my car, on the driver's side near the transmission is a 1" round slotted flated head screw facing down. Is this by chance the oil drain ? It is not alloy and seems near where you guys have pointed with the pictures.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by steven polaski
I finally was able to get under my car, on the driver's side near the transmission is a 1" round slotted flated head screw facing down. Is this by chance the oil drain ? It is not alloy and seems near where you guys have pointed with the pictures.

No, the slotted plug is an oil relief valve. Find the lowest point on the motor, in the middle of a large round plate should be a plug that takes a 15mm (?) socket. Some motors lack the plug and require you to remove the whole sump plate.
-Chris

[beepbeep]

Jeeez...you guys make it sound like a brain-surgery

Steven:

you need to open two plugs.

This one:




...and this one:



There lot's of oil (~11 quarts), be prepared. Don't check oil-level after refill without engine running! Use good full syntetic oil (whathever leakage-conspirationists say).

Clear?

[PorscheGuy79]

Originally posted by beepbeep
Jeeez...you guys make it sound like a brain-surgery

Steven:

you need to open two plugs.

This one:

What Steven is saying is that he doesnt have that drain plug, just the sump plate. Steven you might have to just remove the sump plate every time in conjuntion with the oil tank. Goodluck.