What causes this?

rhaas · 10-17-2002, 04:49 AM

I went last night to change my S hose. The car has not run for about a week. When I went to drain the oil from the oil tank, only a trickle came out. The oil from the oil tank has drained into the engine. Is this normal or do I need to do something for repair.

Once the engine was started the oil level in the oil tank came right up.

I believe this is why my car will smoke at startup if I don't start it every few days. What do ya think?

AirCooledExcellence · AirCooledExcellence's Garage

NO!

It's definitely not normal. When I changed my oil last weekend I got 4 litres from the engine and 5 litres from the tank.

Sounds like you've lost alot of oil!

Cheers,

Tim.
____________
1983 SC Targa

rhaas · 10-17-2002, 05:10 AM

There is pleanty of oil in the car, when the oil is at 180 degrees the oil level is at the midpoint between low and high on the dipstick. The oil is draining into the engine for some reason.

T Bird · 10-17-2002, 08:51 AM

rhass
You describe a very normal condition. Oil will drain into the engine and out of the tank over a period of hours/days, leaving virtually nothing in the tank. Don't worry. As long as the tank fills up on start up, you are okay.

Many have speculated about the reasons for white smoke at startup, particularly if the car is left to sit for several days. One theory is as you surmise. If you check the archives, you will find many posts discussing the white smoke phenomenon, and the many possible reasons. As long as it clears up after a minute or two (or three!) you probably don't have a problem.

Good luck.

rhaas · 10-17-2002, 08:53 AM

Thanks John

That was what I was thinking, I just never tried to drain the oil without warming up the engine first, so I never noticed this before.

thanks again

Wil Ferch · 10-19-2002, 04:42 PM

Guys:
Hint...
for those systems that drop 9-10 quarts of oil during a change ( i.e ...those systems with 13 quarts total including front oil cooler)..it is normal for 6 quarts to come out of the tank, and 3 quarts out of the engine block...IF the engine was recently run. If however, the car sat for along period of time...the reverse is true with 3 quarts coming out of the tank.

Perhaps with this as backdrop...even more severe cases can be formulated.

---Wil