Absolute bonehead
 

I have to swallow my pride and ask because I can't take it any longer. I went for a drive today, not far, about 25 miles. Before I left I checked the oil in my '72T and it was just right. Well, I guess I didn't get the oil cap back on very well because when I got home the left rear fender had quite a lot of oil on it (hence post topic). I am really paranoid about oil temp and pressure when driving so I am always looking at the gauges. I noticed the temp was only slightly high at 205 (max) and the pressure dropped to a low of about 55. Under load the pressure was above 60 (65-70) mostly but when just cruising and light on the gas it sat at 55. My question is. Do you think in the short amount of time and distance I drove the car any damage happened? Please tell me I haven't set myself up for a catastrophic failure in the near future. I can't afford a new engine and have only had the car for three weeks. Yes I am a bonehead, however I do learn, this will not happen again. The car didn't show any signs of problems on the drive home. Thanks

I believe to properly check oil on these cars, it has to be in operating temp. and while the car is idling this is when you
check the oil.

I would say you are likely going to be ok

You haven't set yourself up for a catastrophic failure in the near future.

"Before I left I checked the oil ..."

- how? Was it warmed up and had it been idling for 1 full minute? If it was warmed up then you shouldn't just let the car sit & idle -- drive it easy until warm.

Good News....
 

At least the fender won't rust anytime soon! Sorry, just could not help myself. Anyway, since the system holds so much oil, all you did was make a mess.

When I checked the oil before I left the engine was running and at operating temp. I don't let it (or any of my cars) sit at idle. It had been stable for 1 minute prior to the reading.

You know, I was actually so pissed off at myself that I was laughing about that very same thing as I was cleaning the mess up. Too bad it didnt get the underbody where that would help.

then you checked it the right way, so there has to be something else wrong

maybe the vagaries of the '72 tank? see the other current post on this

does it make any odd noises??

A little bit of oil will go a long way when it is spread thin. Check the oil again, replace the cap this time, and enjoy your car.

The car should be fine. Next time be sure the cap is on TIGHT before you drive it.:rolleyes: :cool:

Welcome to the club of Porsche drivers who've done stupid things. We're all members, even Jack Olsen:D

Randy, the "something else wrong" was me not putting the oil cap back on properly. I'm assuming the lower pressure was due to the open oil tank.

Ok, maybe I will sound like a bonehead again, I have heard of Jack Olsen, but I have no idea why he is so legendary. Someone mentioned his car was pretty sweet but I havent seen or read anything about him or it. Fill me in.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Check out this link:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177804&highlight=Jack+O lsen

sorry - I missed that.

Jack rarely posts any photos of his car... but you can ferret out something with a search.

Wash and rewax the area that got oil on it.

I just went for a short hop, very slow and easy. Got back and checked the oil...you guessed it, right in the middle of the two lines. Very happy indeed. Now my wife is the one calling me a bonehead for worrying so much about it. Maybe I should listen to her more often. Nah, on second thought, maybe not.

Jeeze...you're lucky that's the only boneheaded thing you've do ..so far..

How about repacking your CV joints just to find the axle retaining rings sitting in the bottom of the container used to clean the parts.

This after the wheels were put back on, the car dropped off the jacks and you have just spent an hour cleaning up after the mess of re-packing the CV's.

Talk about a grown man crying...

It's not the only boneheaded thing I have done. My seat belt retractor on the drivers side was a little slow so I thought I would get in there and clean and lube it. Have you ever been trapped in the back of a 911 (I'm 240 lbs BTW) with a six or eight foot spring uncoiling in your face. Not pretty. Again, all I could do was laugh at how unbelievably stupid I am. My wife again said to leave it alone. Now I'm in the market for a replacement retractor. But I'm having fun looking for my next fiasco.

Don't think the cap had any thing to do with the oil pressure since all of that is done by the pump. As long as you had pressure you had oil feeding the pump from the tank and you are fine.

Don't call your self boneheaded until you lock yourself in the front trunk of a 914 while you are trying to fit a new fiberglass hood.

I left the cap off recently. It has nothing to do with the actual engine oil pressure. Smog control, yes. There is nothing wrong with your car as a result of this, nor will there be in the future other than a drip or two from an unusual area.