How much oil after line and cooler removal?

NoLift911 · 11-16-2010, 07:57 AM

84 Carrera - removed oil lines and fender mount cooler for cleaning and refurb. So I am refilling the car, usually go with the 10.5 but the lines and cooler are empty so I put in 11 and left it at that. Then I am thinking the lines probably hold a quart and the cooler a quart and....but I didn't want to put in another 1.5 and have an oily, smoky mess on my hands. Would that be safe enough to run it and then go from there once it is warm?

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

I believe the correct amount is 11 quarts total.

To warm the motor up enough to check oil level you don't need to have the oil tank full.

Go with what is in there and once the motor reaches operating temp, check and fill accordingly.

Remember there is oil in the sump, @ two quarts I think. Unless you drained that as well.

Half way between low/high marks on a level surface, check while motor is running.

Wil Ferch · 11-16-2010, 10:45 AM

The total amount with front cooler is 13 qts......cars with front oil coolers have a change-out volume of about 10 qts...give or take. Add the remaining slowly, and make sure the right-rear thermostat is "open" ( hot) to allow front cooler oil to communicate with the rest of the system.

NoLift911 · 11-16-2010, 11:00 AM

Ok so it seems 11 is ok to start - let it warm up and get to operating temp, check to see the thermostat has opened and oil is getting to the cooler in the front then slowly add to get to the right spot. Thanks.

KTL · 11-16-2010, 11:19 AM

I agree with Wil- at least 13 qts. has been my experience.

As an aside to the fill amount question, when change oil I add 8 qts and crank the engine over to draw it into circulation slowly. I do this with the DME relay disconnected so the engine doesn't fire. My reasoning is to avoid oil being sucked into the intake when the engine fires and the tank is overly full of 10-1/2 quarts. On a 3.2 the oil then resides in the intake "sump" and incoming air pulls that oil into the combustion chamber on occasion. Not a big deal, but technically that oil introduced reduces your octane. Too much oil and you can have some detonation if you're running the car hard (like at a track day) on a regular basis.

Call me paranoid but I hate it when a 911 is overfilled.......

A solution to this oil-in-the-intake problem is to use a catch can instead of the factory design of the oil tank relief line connected to the throttle body's rubber elbow.