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    Feb 26, 2008 6:56:14 PM

    ResB Offline
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    ResB
    Loc: Yorkshire, where roads are twisty... , United Kingdom
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    May have over filled the engine oil...

    Had the car parked on level ground today and noticed the electronic indicator show that I was two marks down on oil level!!!

    Anyway, not a problem. Rather than thinking, oh that's 800ml of oil, I put 400ml in which is supposed to equate to 1 mark on the electronic indicator and sure enough after 10 minutes 1 mark had gone, leaving me one left.

    Right, this time rather than putting another 400ml in I put 200ml. This time after leaving it for 10 mins I checked the display and it indicated that I had overfilled it!!! Damn, thing is so [Email]cra@p...[/Email]

    I've left it for a while now and I'm just going to check it but if it is showing too much oil, how do I remove some of it? Is it possible to do this without a visit to the OPC?

    Whilst in the engine bay I noticed my coolant level was below the low marker. Upon investigation the cap had not been tightened up after the last visit to the OPC and was almost falling off, how it didn't I don't know...

    Feb 26, 2008 7:09:22 PM

    Jim48
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    Loc: Virginia, USA
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    Reply to: ResB

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Three things.

    Yes, you can remove a bit of the oil by driving the car onto some wood planks, crawling underneath, putting a clean oil catch pan in place, and using an appropriately sized wrench (I believe our friends in the UK refer to it as a "spanner"). You have to be careful when doing this as the fitting may fall out of your hand into the oil catch pan, especially if the engine is still warm - the oil will be hot. I have done this several times to remove oil. I also have a device for putting in oil that I use to measure how many milliliters I have removed.

    The second point is that, as you have observed, the electronic oil measurement gauge must give a measure and then the on-board computer has an algorithm that rounds it up or down to the nearest 0.4 liter. To remedy this, I usually only add 200 ml at a time and let it sit for a for a day if possible before checking the level.

    I usually get my oil changes done at my dealer (OPC), and noticed that after driving home, letting it set, and then checking it again, the level is always at the mark above the "full" level even though when I left the dealer it registered "full." Don't know what causes this, but I have left it alone, as, in all likelihood, there is not more than a 200 ml discrepancy, which is minor in my opinion.

    Just a few thoughts on the subject and hope that they ease your concerns.

    Jim

    Feb 26, 2008 7:17:16 PM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: Jim48

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Thanks for that. I'll have a go tomorrow I think as I've just checked it and it's still showing over...

    Feb 26, 2008 8:36:22 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: ResB

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Wanna drain some oil?

    Here's My recommended procedure for draining oil (works like a charm if you're highly attentive):



    Get a short sleeve shirt and gloves on

    Put a pan under drain plug

    With a wrench loosen drain plug

    With your fingers start loosening drain plug

    NOW READ THIS: you are paying strict attention, you are feeling, looking, yearning, longing, for the tiny little "click" that means the end of the plug thread has hit the end of the drain hole thread. INORDER TO FEEL THIS: you must keep upward pressure on the plug as you loosen the plug.

    ***Listen OR feel for click by keeping upward pressure on plug***

    Keep UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE PLUG

    When you get to the "click" just tilt back the plug away from the hole about the width of a human hair.

    Oil will dribble out; let an estimated amount leak out. If you do this wrong oil will explode out and you'll get a bath.

    REPEAT: keep pressure on the plug, do not let it unseat from the drain hole.



    NOTE: sounds drastic but ONLY if you lose control of the plug. The only way to lose control of the plug is to stop paying attention. ANYBODY can do this if they pay attention.

    Rescrew and tighten plug.

    Add/Check oil to proper level.

    Check plug after a few days and a every few weeks for a while, because you necessarily reused the copper crush washer and the plug will have a greater though small chance of loosening.


    I never had a problem with loosened plug nor a problem with leaking.

    Feb 26, 2008 9:30:03 PM

    hatchback
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    hatchback
    Loc: USA
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Since you at most overfilled it by a tiny bit, this trick may work for you. Go for a long run so the engine is hot for a while. According to the manual, this will burn off any water that has condensed in the oil, which may lower your measured oil level.

    Feb 26, 2008 10:26:10 PM

    MarekN
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    Reply to: hatchback

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    May I also add that the oil gauge works correctly only when the engine has been thoroughly warmed by driving it for twenty minutes.

    Feb 26, 2008 10:40:55 PM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: MarekN

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Good tips guys. Should be fun.

    Feb 26, 2008 11:52:03 PM

    jeffbco
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    Reply to: ResB

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    ResB said:
    Good tips guys. Should be fun.

    I don't think that 200ml would be considered an overfill - you should be OK.

    Feb 27, 2008 1:30:29 AM

    CS
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    CS
    Loc: LA
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    Reply to: jeffbco

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    No smoke coming out, right?
    you should be fine...

    Feb 27, 2008 2:06:47 AM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: CS

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    CS said:
    No smoke coming out, right?
    you should be fine...



    A little on start up to be honest but cleared pretty quickly... What confuses me though is that at no stage did I notice the oil level change. It just appeared two points down all of a sudden. I should ahve been a little more alert as to why it is suddenly showing the level low by 2 marks having never noticed it getting to 1! If that makes sence. What I mean is I would certainly notice if the oil level dropped 1 mark, never mind 2?

    Feb 27, 2008 3:50:25 AM

    MMD
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    Reply to: ResB

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    I remember a credible post here saying with certainty that overfilling is NOT to be f'ed with (sorry for swearing). If you're in that overfilled territory there's no safe way out except to drain oil.

    Does anybody remember that post? You can blow some important seals in the engine with even a "small" overfill.


    Manual uses strong words:




    sorry to sound alarmist; just trying to help.

    Feb 27, 2008 5:05:04 AM

    WC996
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    WC996
    Loc: Solana Beach, CA USA
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    too much oil is bad. There's a simple solution that every Indy DIY should have.

    Oil Evacuator. Simple, inexpesnive.

    http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&sear...ator&page=1

    Feb 27, 2008 11:38:58 AM

    easy_rider911
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    Reply to: WC996

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    @ResB: if it was 2 blocks down, the way I interpret that is that it means your oil level was 401ml < x < 800ml.

    Basically you know that it's at least 400ml plus part of another 400ml.

    In practice, I err on the side of caution so I would add 200ml then 100ml then only 50ml at a time leaving it overnight between each addition.

    The bottom line is that, provided you have at least more than the minimum oil level, then you can take a few days over it with no harm, getting it just right. That way, I always manage to fill it up to the maximum level without going over. And if, by chance, you do go over, it's only 50ml which is used up fairly quickly.

    Feb 27, 2008 11:43:55 AM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    easy_rider911 said:
    @ResB: if it was 2 blocks down, the way I interpret that is that it means your oil level was 401ml < x < 800ml.




    Absolutely. I feel a little stupid actually as I was thinking along the same lines by only adding 200ml the second time...but I must try harder and engage brain first in the future...not looking forward to draining it today as I've quite a bit to do...

    Feb 27, 2008 1:41:10 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: WC996

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    WC996 said:
    too much oil is bad. There's a simple solution that every Indy DIY should have.

    Oil Evacuator. Simple, inexpesnive.




    http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&sear...ator&page=1



    Yup, good product.

    I have one - they work okay IF you have a dip stick hole that will allow the tubing to shoot straight down. I don't like them for "draining" because in my applications they leave a fair amount of oil in the engine.

    I did try to snake the tubing down my 997S engine's oil filler hole: did not work.

    Feb 27, 2008 3:42:54 PM

    percymon
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    percymon
    Loc: Chester
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Despite what the handbook says i always check mine cold - its the only time i can be certain that all the oil is back in the sump. Everytime i have checked on a warm engine, after refueling for example i get a multitude of readings.

    Even checking from cold i occassionally get the first bar of overfill showing, about 1 check in 8. I can't see the gauge is that accurate, on the 9x6 series cars we all relied on the dipstick as the definitive check, after the gauge reading.

    Feb 27, 2008 3:58:11 PM

    easy_rider911
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    Reply to: percymon

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Exactly I always, always check the engine oil only when it's cold i.e. when it's been left overnight to go back into the sump.

    I ignore oil readings at the petrol station etc...

    Feb 27, 2008 4:52:32 PM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Okay....the car has been stood all night with no movement other than the earthquake reaching 4.7 on the Richter Scale. And I've just checked the oil before I attempt the sump plug removal and this is what I got!....this is confusing the hell out of me it really is. The digital indicator is unconvincing at best. So do I take it that this is acceptable as the oil is cold....

    Feb 27, 2008 4:59:40 PM

    jeffbco
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    jeffbco
    Loc: Denver
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    Reply to: ResB

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    ResB said:
    Okay....the car has been stood all night with no movement other than the earthquake reaching 4.7 on the Richter Scale. And I've just checked the oil before I attempt the sump plug removal and this is what I got!....this is confusing the hell out of me it really is. The digital indicator is unconvincing at best. So do I take it that this is acceptable as the oil is cold....



    It's OK - stop worrying - well within the tolerances designed by Porsche and within the accuracy tolerances of the electronic measurement.

    Feb 27, 2008 6:26:26 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: jeffbco

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Agreed. Time to relax.

    Unlike a _FREEKING DIPSTICK_ (You listening Porsche?!) too bad the "guage" gives ZERO indication about the oil level when it's above maximum.

    Feb 27, 2008 6:38:02 PM

    cag64
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Are you kidding me .... Dipstick will add way too much weight to the car!!!

    Feb 27, 2008 7:37:51 PM

    CS
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    CS
    Loc: LA
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
    I am going to do mine now.
    I have only 2 bars left.
    How many quarts I should put in? American don't use ML.....

    Feb 27, 2008 10:52:10 PM

    jeffbco
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    Reply to: CS

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    CS said:
    wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
    I am going to do mine now.
    I have only 2 bars left.
    How many quarts I should put in? American don't use ML.....

    You'll find ml markings on the side of the oil container - each bar represents 400 ml.

    Feb 27, 2008 11:32:38 PM

    SonOfStig
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    Reply to: jeffbco

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    I have occasionally plonked (technical term) a bit more oil in the engine than probably should have been there and had no problem at all. I reckon it's only when you have overfilled by 1/2 litre or more that you need to cry... Think of the amount of oil that is in the engine as standard - several litres? Can't imagine the odd 100ml extra will make any difference whatsoever.

    Also I haven't heard any "stories of doom" for the engine as a result of overfilling so I would just go for the "thrash and burn (off)" advice given a few posts ago...

    Feb 28, 2008 1:16:04 AM

    MMD
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    Reply to: SonOfStig

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    No stories of doom but this advice from PCA tech site:

    Feb 28, 2008 1:29:11 AM

    ResB Offline
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Going to drop the 200ml of oil out tomorrow and add back in small increments and see what the outcome is. (Just to be sure). You never know I might have to add back the 200ml..

    Feb 28, 2008 2:19:17 AM

    jeffbco
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Quote:
    MMD said:
    No stories of doom but this advice from PCA tech site:



    Not much substance to their answer - it would be nice to know what they consider to be an overfill amount that could damgage the cats - 200 ml too much cannot be a problem.

    Feb 28, 2008 4:02:11 AM

    MMD
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    Reply to: jeffbco

    Re: May have over filled the engine oil...

    Jeffbco, you may be right. Here's more:
     
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