Help! Just changed oil and screwed up my car?

Hi, Probably a dumb question, but here goes: drained oil out of engine and sump (76 911S), reinstalled plugs, changed filter - hand tight + 1/4 turn, filled w/ 10 - 946 ML btls of oil, plus a little to get to 10 liters. Started and let idle till showed nearly 180 deg. Oil level gauage at first was rising toward 3pm position, then looked when slightly more than 180 and it was in the red at the bottom, as though not registering at all. No oil on floor. Plugs/filter looked fine. Dipstick hard to read w/ clear oil in dark w/ overhead bulb and flashlight. Something there, but could be low. Any thoughts? The OEL has always been reliable in past when I compared to dipstick. Have to drive tomorrow since other car in shop. Yikes!! Help .. thanks, Tony

[Rot 911]

First off you have probably overfilled it as it probably only needed 10 QUARTS to completely fill it up. That aside the oil temp may need to get a bit above 180 degrees to open the thermostat. Either way, warm the car up when you have some daylight and check the oil with the dipstick. I wouldn't worry about driving it. If you get a bunch of smoke in a sharp turn you will know you over filled it.

[Goth]

Like Kurt said...Be sure to verify the oil level by the dipstick in daylight if need be. If that is good; your oil level is fine regardless of what the oil level gauge says.

Regarding the oil level gauge: Check/wiggle the connector on oil level sending unit. If it's like my 84 Carrera, you can see it on the oil tank in the right rear fender well. This thing is exposed to the elements and may just have poor contact.

Hope this helps..

[strupgolf]

Dont worry, you might have overfilled it. My oil guage always shows low, temp is fine, oil is fine. Just keep checking the dipstick and dont worry.

Thanks, guys. Makes me feel better. I'll try the sensor and check the stick tomorrow in the light. Manual says 10 liters or 2.64 gallons. That 10 of the 946 ml/1 qt btls of oil, plus 540 ml (little more than half a bottle). I put in 10 qts, plus about a 1/4 btl to see where I was before I adjusted. Does the oil filter account for another quart? That could be the difference, but the manual doesn't say - yea or nay. Ah well, I'd say I'm w/in no more than 1.5 qts of full, but I won't overfill it. I've nearly done that once or twice and it showed on the OEL. I'll run it, as you say, and ck the stick and OEL on flat ground tomorrow when it is as near as possible to 176. Just odd the OEL plummeted tonight after it was rising nicely w/ the rising temp. Maybe it is the sensor. I'll check. Thx again! Tony

Followup: ran it to work, checked stick at a little over 180 deg while idling when arrived (no high revs on way in!). Stick was a sixth of the way tween min & max. Put a half qt in and the OEL came up to 4pm. Will ck. stick later when warm up again after oil settles. Thx for the help!! I really appreciate it. I'm just a little OCD when it comes to that little car. TK

[450knotOffice]

Yea, I read this thread last night and was going to chime in not to worry one bit but I was too tired. The initial amount to put in is approx 10 quarts. Then, after running the engine and getting it up to operating temperature (about 190 degrees F), let it idle for at least 30 seconds to let the oil level stabilize in the tank, then measure it. It's usually low, from what I've found, so you would normally have to add 1/2 to 1 quart to bring it up to the middle of the line on the dip stick.

Btw, the oil gauge can only be used while the engine is idling, per the manual. When the engine is revving during normal driving, the quantity in the tank will usually decrease as more oil is fed through the system.

It's not the best system in the world, but as long as you periodically check the dipstick properly and verify no leaks, you can be assured that the oil quantity is fine.

[DARISC]

Tip on dip stick;

Wipe the stick, dip it and lay it flat on a paper towel being careful not to move it in any direction after it comes in contact with the towel. You'll see a halo of oil immediately form on the paper towel, right up to where there's none on the stick.

Very easy to read, even in low light.

If you need to, pick up the stick with your thumb at point on the towel where there's no oil and carry it to better light where you can see where your thumb is relative to the marks on the stick.