Adding Oil to the right level on 6, My car also has a 911 oil Gauge Options

[burton73]

So, you guys may not know, but my 6 the 30th one down the line in Dec 1969 had a few mods from back in the day when it was a test mule for a Socal Porsche high performance shop in the South Bay.
One cool future was a 911 oil level gauge and 911 sender in its factory 914-6 tank. Today I added a quart, and this was done in the way the factory manual says to do it. Now my car has and a GT oil cooler up front and it takes more oil.
I warmed it up with a 1 mile drive and then checked it on level ground and it needed one quart to bring it between the min and the maximum line. As shown in the photos.

Just so you know.
Its kind of hard to see the oil level when the oil is very clean as it is a transparent gold against a goldish plated dip stick.

Best Bob B

[Dave_Darling]

Interesting, it looks like your speedo is on the left, so I'm guessing your combo gauge is on the right?

It was not unheard of back in the day for Six conversion cars to run a 911 combo gauge (oil temp/press) in place of the 914 one, and the 914 one added to the center console so you have the warning lights and fuel gauge there.

Cool idea to have the smallest 911 gauge in the dash like that.

--DD

[rgalla9146]

Your oil level has to be checked at full operating temp. with the front cooler thermostat
open.
I'm not sure one mile would be enough to be there especially with a front oil cooler.
I'd check that the thermostat is open by listening for flow and touching both supply
and return plumbing. If one is cold I'd drive it more. And hard.
After that, as you said, level ground, at idle, mid-way between bottom and top marks
on the dip stick.

[mepstein]

Adding to what Rory said. It takes at least 15-20 minutes of hard driving before you can really check the oil. It has to be over about 180 degrees for the thermostat to open (don’t quote me but it’s close). The engine and oil need to be HOT.
I get the engine warmed up enough that I can then start really revving it up some long hills. The difference in the oil level between warmed up a bit and hot is significant. 10-11 quarts of oil takes a while to go from 70 degrees to 190+.

I don’t trust the oil gauge on a 911 one bit.

Bob - it would be interesting to see where your current oil level is after a hard drive.

[rgalla9146]

Adding to what Rory said. It takes at least 15-20 minutes of hard driving before you can really check the oil. It has to be over about 180 degrees for the thermostat to open (don’t quote me but it’s close). The engine and oil need to be HOT.
I get the engine warmed up enough that I can then start really revving it up some long hills. The difference in the oil level between warmed up a bit and hot is significant. 10-11 quarts of oil takes a while to go from 70 degrees to 190+.

I don’t trust the oil gauge on a 911 one bit.

Bob - it would be interesting to see where your current oil level is after a hard drive.

Bob your oil cooler and beautiful plumbing, along with many of the other performance
modifications on your car were done in the earliest days of 914 6 enthusiasm.
As Mark and I know, and certainly you too, Peter Dawe did that work way back then.
You've done a great job restoring and preserving a very worthy car.

[mepstein]

Peter still builds race winning engines and cars. He’s one of the all time greats.

[Cairo94507]

On my Six, with the extra large (PMS) oil cooler and GT hard lines to get the oil there and back, I have about 12 quarts in my system. I need to drive a good 15 minutes to get the oil hot enough for the thermostat to open and get oil circulating. I can usually, (if paying attention) see the oil temp climbing and then the thermostat opens and I can see temperature drop and then stabilize. I usually check my oil whenever I return from a long drive and it is nice and hot. I pull into the garage, open the engine lid and let it idle for a good 2 minutes and then check the level.

Bob is 100% correct with how difficult it is to see the oil on the dip stick. Mine is yellow cad plated and my oil stays clean too. I lay a paper towel downed lay the dip stick on it and that is the only way I can see the oil level on the dip stick. Works like a charm. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[FlacaProductions]

looking forward to seeing you again later today, Bob - and getting to see your 6!

I'm new to my 67 911 and still getting used to checking the oil - and have the same issues of being able to actually see the oil on the dipstick. That's a good paper towel tip, Cairo - thanks.