Oil Circ Issues

[frosty2]

Hi everyone I'm looking for some advise, took my car out for a drive Easter weekend for the first time this year and it started and ran just great. Put it back in the garage until this weekend took it out again and it ran terribly.
Looking at the engine I noticed there was oil splashed up on the oil hose by the thermostat and it was all wet around the triangle of death.
I cannot find were it sprayed from but also noticed that the oil tank stays full of oil
even when cold so when you turn the key on with a cold engine the gauge on the dash shows full.
Would this indicate a faulty thermostat that is maybe not opening?

Thanks in advance
Mike

[frosty2]

Anybody

[brighton911]

Sounds like it might be overfilled. Maybe there is an issue with the sender for the guage. Can you warm it up and check the oil level via the dipstick? How's your oil pressure when running?

[frosty2]

Oil pressure gauge is not working it just pegs to the top when I turn the key.
Yes if I check the oil with the engine warm it Shows just below the Max line were it should be.
It seems to me that when I start the car when cold the oil gauge is normally showing
Empty until it Starts to warm up a bit and then when the Thermostat open the oil is pumped to the tank and then the gauge rises.
I believe the oil pressure if normally fine as it runs at a good Temp with no real ticking issues.

[brighton911]

The engine thermostat controls the oil through the engine cooler only, nothing to do with back to the tank. The scavenge part of the oil pump picks up the excess oil in the crankcase and sends it back to the tank, totally independent of the thermostat. You are right about the level part. In my 86, when cold, the level guage is way low rising to full as the engine warms up. So, seems like more of a problem with the oil level guage or sender unit.
As far as the oil leaks, the so called triangle of death is well known for trouble. Search it out, lots there. Hard to get at area though but possible with the engine in, just a pain. While you are back there, this would be a good time to take care of the oil pressure guage not working. If it pegs, then either the sender is cooked or there is a short in the wire. If the wire is grounded, it will peg the guage. Where are you located?

[frosty2]

Thanks brighton I'm in the Trenton area and changed the oil gauge sending unit as well i addressed the triangle gaskets and the Thermostat o-Ring last year while I had the engine out.
I think the oil sending unit and gauge are fine because if I check my oil at the dipstick now while the engine is cold the oil is right up and the oil tank is still full.
The oil is not migrating back to the engine.

Thanks
Mike

[The cap'n]

Just below the full line is about a quart too much, maybe a little more. I would never run a 911 with the oil level, as read on the dipstick, more than midway between the lines. In fact, that bit of knowledge was imparted to us way back when I was in P-car school. It is normal for both the gauge and the dipstick to read way low until the pump has time to scavenge the drained down oil and put it back in the tank. BTW, "triangle of death" is a term new to me, and I've been working on 911s for more than 40 years. What does it mean?

The Cap'n

[frosty2]

Thanks Cap'n i just changed my oil during. The Winter and i believe i have only put 9 1/2
Litre in so far as I start with 8 and just keep an eye on the level.
My dip sticks only has one line on it that say's max and it is about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch
Below that.
The triangle is a Term i have picked up off this forum and it is used when guys are chasing
All the oil leaks around the Thermostat, pressure switch and oil breather hose.
My concert is the oil is not migrating back to the engine when cold and the tank stays full.
I don't think there is to much oil in the System but I can drain it and start over to be sure.

Thanks
Mike

[brighton911]

Yeah, I thought "triangle of death" was a little overstated. Anyway, I still think it is a simple overfill issue. Why not clean the T of D, drain a liter out, drive it some and see what you get. Too bad I moved up to Ottawa, my username came from where I lived before, next town to you.

Dave

[frosty2]

Thanks Dave Brighton is a very nice little town. I will try that to see if it helps its any easy try anyway. It seems weird that the oil does not drain out of the tank when cold and the oil that sprayed up on the hoses in the engine compartment from some
were is like it built up pressure and blew off. But I'll try removing a liter or two and
see what happens.

Thanks
Mike

[BoxsterGT]

frosty2-

Any news on what you found? Was it a bit too much oil?

Len