120 degrees too cool to check oil level?

[tdskip]

I suspect yes, but as a newbie wanted to check.

[Joe Bob]

Yup.....unless it's 120F outside....%^b

[porwolf]

Isn't it important to have the oil thermostat to open at 180F in order to have the system oil level at measuring height? This way the oi lin the system fills all the cavities with no voids?

[Joe Bob]

Yes, the engine needs to be fully warm to check the oil. Idling and on flat ground. 180F is when the thermostat 'normally' opens.

[tdskip]

OK - so I clearly need to drive more!

The oil level will read low when it isn't properly warmed up, correct?

[Joe Bob]

Low? It will read the level that is in the system. No oil on the stick, put in a quart....read again....keep filling until between the two marks. Overfill and you run the risk of sucking it into the intake and smoking out the neighborhood.

Your oil gauge will read....if it's working, only when idling, warm and on level ground. I tend to ignore the gauge.

[tdskip]

I thought the level on the dip stick wasn't reliable until it was fully warmed up, no? Just for curiosity I was asking if it would low or high before at the dip stick if it wasn't warmed up.

Thanks!

[Joe Bob]

Sorry....I didn't read it right.....yes has to be warm. Cold....most likely nothing on the stick......long morning.

[GH85Carrera]

In the winter it can be a pain to get the engine up to temp. On Saturday I drove my 911 for 45 minutes and when I got home the front oil cooler lines were still cold. On Sunday after an autocross I finally got it warm enough to get the thermostat to open.

[tdskip]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Sorry....I didn't read it right.....yes has to be warm. Cold....most likely nothing on the stick......long morning.

No worries!

[will hung]

Yeah, I wouldn't go by the oil temp gauge. Just touch the oil lines that run under the passenger side door. If they are warm, then the thermostat is open and you get a true indication of how much oil is in the system.

[db_cooper]

It is a good idea to get to know where on the dipstick and when based on the temperature of the oil. After some time of ownership, you get to know your 911 and become familiar with how to read the oil on your dipstick and when.

We all know you won't find any oil on the dipstick cold. If you get the engine up to operating temperature and you are near the max (you know it is filled correctly)..give yourself and education and check it when it is running and still cold, then one quarter warm (temp needle just coming up) then half warm(120*).

It helps on the winter running when the engine really won't get hot and avoids overfilling the oil tank.

I find my 3.2 engine likes the oil level half way between the marks on the dipstick hot. It blows off the first 3/4+ quart and then holds the oil level between the marks for thousands of miles.

My old 2.4 did the same thing. If I kept the oil level at the max mark hot..the engine used a quart every one thousand miles.

If I kept the oil level half way between the min. and max. marks hot, the engine used a quart of oil every five thousand miles. I would add a quart when it got to the min. mark..or just changed the oil.

[Quickstep192]

Does the oil also expand as it heats up? Seems like I've checked mine right after it hit 180° and seen a higher level later after a long drive. Is there really that much expansion, or was it just my imagination?

[Joe Bob]

My guess is that on your first check the tank was still filling. Second check, you may have waited a bit longer.

[db_cooper]

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

Does the oil also expand as it heats up? Seems like I've checked mine right after it hit 180° and seen a higher level later after a long drive. Is there really that much expansion, or was it just my imagination?

Yes, the oil expands..quite a bit.

If the difference between the min. and max. marks is two quarts (approximately) on a 3.2 and you check and have nothing on the dipstick cold, running..then when hot (180*) you are the max. mark, or close..then the expansion was near two quarts.

That's how these engines get overfilled often.

The oil level will increase after a long drive and the running 180* check. If your long driving temperatures are 210* or more..there it is..more expansion with more oil, as the thermostat to the front cooler is open. Now all the engine oil is hot and circulating.

A good reason to keep the engine oil fill level at half way between the marks when checking.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by will hung

Yeah, I wouldn't go by the oil temp gauge. Just touch the oil lines that run under the passenger side door. If they are warm, then the thermostat is open and you get a true indication of how much oil is in the system.

Hmm, if my oil temp gauge was at the "normal" level then I was happy to check the level. I would be absolutely happy to go by the gauge. My car was daily driven, so I knew what the normal temp was and how hot things could get in different circumstances. The gauge is fine to use.

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

Does the oil also expand as it heats up? Seems like I've checked mine right after it hit 180° and seen a higher level later after a long drive. Is there really that much expansion, or was it just my imagination?

Yes, as much oil as these cars holds, the difference between warm and hot can be a lot. When I had my 911, I'd check the oil on especially hot days or after I had been stuck in traffic and the temp was at the high end of the normal range. Or, I'd not fill it all of the way to the top mark to leave some room for expansion.

[Joe Bob]

Diff between the DD and the weekend warrior is that you are more in tune with the nuances...mine works too. I just don't trust it....it's evil, like the VDO clock and my ex wife....

I tossed both...one made it into the ocean....

[tdskip]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Diff between the DD and the weekend warrior is that you are more in tune with the nuances...mine works too. I just don't trust it....it's evil, like the VDO clock and my ex wife....

I tossed both...one made it into the ocean....

Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask the obvious question.

[Joe Bob]

Unfortunately the clock is the only one sleeping with the fishes....