Correct Oil Level?

[CPBMD]

I am a new owner of a 1989 C4 with 79K miles. I understand that it is important to maintain the oil level so like the manual says I check the oil at every fill up. Tonight after a 15 minute drive while parked in the garage I noticed that the oil level guage was a few mm's above the red zone. I called my brother a Porsche owner, who told me to add a quart of oil . So I did. I just go back from a drive and now with the car is parked in the garage the oil level indicator is 3 mm below the top white bar of the oil level guage. Did I add too much oil? If so what should I do? I was told that it is not good to put too much oil in these engines because it can spill into the valves or somewhere like that causing serious problems. What should I do?

(The first thing I should do is stop obsessing over the car and leave well enough alone.)
Thanks for your help
Constantine

[kurquhart]

I assume the engine was running when you were looking at the gauge?

With the engine running, warm, and level, check the oil level with the dipstick. There are two notches in the dipstick that correspond roughly with the top and bottom of the gauge. Half way between the notches is what I shoot for, but anywhere between the notches is fine.

[bazar01]

When Kris says check oil level on a warm engine, oil temp gauge needle should be between 8 and 9 o'clock position.

[CPBMD]

Originally Posted by kurquhart

I assume the engine was running when you were looking at the gauge?

With the engine running, warm, and level, check the oil level with the dipstick. There are two notches in the dipstick that correspond roughly with the top and bottom of the gauge. Half way between the notches is what I shoot for, but anywhere between the notches is fine.

I did check the oil with the engine warm and running. I had trouble seeing the oil level because the garage was fairly dark and the oil is new not too dirty yet. I will check it again today. I was wondering about the oil level gauge on the instrument cluster. After I added a quart of oil the needle on the gauge spiked up to a few millimeters under the top white bar. Is that bad? I am concerned about too much oil sloshing around spilling into other part of the engine causing damage. Thanks for your input
Also any recommendations on oil brand? I put in Castrol GTX 20W50.

[Don Plumley]

It is a little high, but I wouldn't worry about it.

I think you should be running synthetic? And given your cold mornings, perhaps a lower weight range oil? If you have a few hundred hours to spare, you could read upon on oil here.

If you are going to stick with dino oil, Brad Penn is a good choice. For the synthetics, Mobil 1 is the common choice but there is a lot of discussion about changes to their additive package.

[CPBMD]

Thanks Don
I was wondering about the synthetic oils. I was thinking that there would be advantages to them. I think you are correct about the viscosity. I was adding the oil (20W50 Castrol) last night in 20F weather. It looked like I was pouring honey into the car. At the next oil change I am switching to a synthetic probably Mobile1 5W50 or something in that range. Thanks for the response. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't ruining my engine by adding too much oil.

I will take a look at the Oil thread.
Thanks
Constantine

[CPBMD]

Hi Don
Wow that Oil Thread is mind numbing. I need a PHD to understand it. Can you do me a favor and recommend an oil that I can use in my 1989 1/2 C4 with 79K mile. Preferably something I can buy right off the shelf.
I plan on running the car from April through November and putting it away for the winter. Temp ranges over those months would be from the High 80's in the Summer to the 30's in November with most of the mileage in between the extremes.

Thanks For your help
Constantine
BTW this is a great site! Seems like the people are very nice and helpful

[dan79brooklyn]

Hello,

Choosing oil is difficult. While 20-50 is fine in summer. I think you need at least a 10-40 in winter. I am running Mobil 1 MXt 10-40 (synthetic mototcycle oil) in my 964. It seems to burn a bit of oil, but no leaks that I have noticed. Most of the oils that people reccomend are not available at regular auto part stores unfortunately, but can easily be ordered.

Everyone seems happy with the Bradd Penn they make a 10-30 and a 20-50 oil.

[Don Plumley]

I warned you - it is mind numbing. Your first decision is dino or synthetic. If you are going to change the oil often (and you should) you might stick with dino and go with Brad Penn. Here's the summary from Steve Weiner:

For air cooled 911s:
Synthetic: Motul 300v Competition 15w50, or Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50
Non synthetic: Brad-Penn 20w50 or Swepco 306

I think you will be quite surprised at the price difference between syn and dino, and remember, you'll need around 11 quarts of it.

Do you know what oil (or at least if it is dino or not) is in there now?

[CPBMD]

I am pretty sure it is dino although I will have to ask the shop I got it from and get back to you. They changed the oil for me after I bought the car. I get my car serviced at an independent shop at the moment. Do I just ask them to put the specific kind of oil in or do I go out and buy it and give it to them to put it in. Maybe they just order it. I will find out this week. I am about to put the car away now, so this is something I will pursue in the Spring.

How often should i get the oil changed? Is it tough to do it yourself without a lift? As I get more familiar with the car I plan on doing some basic maintenance myself althoug I do not have a ton of tools. I figure I can get the basic stuff to do an oil change though.
Constantine

[CPBMD]

Don
Great pics on your Hippo website. That is cool lifting the right front tire off the ground on the corner. Man you must have been pulling some serious G's. Very nice! When the children get older and I get more time, I aspire to get a car for the track.

Constantine

[Don Plumley]

Oil change is a perfect first diy. You don't need a lift (I don't have one and have done a fair bit of work on my car), just four jackstands and a jack. Lots of threads on jacks and jackstands on the main 911 tech boards. You can get a nice starter set of metric tools from Craftsman this Christmas. Though I don't want to point you away, the 993 board on Rennlist is very active, and lots of first time oil changers there to lend support and advice.

There are DIY instructions on the Pelican site, and although specific for the 993, this is a great DIY site: www.p-car.com/diy

As for your shop and oil, ask what they recommend for normal fill. They might not be up on the big ZDDP issue though, and I wouldn't want to be the one to teach a shop about that. If they don't use what you want, just bring a case in for the change.

Don

[CPBMD]

Thanks Don
I will review all the threads and figure out how to change the oil this winter. This is a good project for the winter and a perfect way to aquire more gear.
Thanks Cons