Hi, the dealer overfilled the oil. The display shows an oil level filling the entire gauge. I've driven around on it for about a week and I'm bringing it in to get checked out tomorrow. What should I tell them to check for specifically?
Hmm...I'm not sure I understand. Is it not enough to tell them that it is overfilled and ask them to correct it? The dealer probably knows what to check for...
Make sure you're taking your measurements in a dead-level spot, even small inclines can make a difference. If you're sure you've done it correctly, then Kim is right - take it in and tell them you think it's over-filled. They'll figure it out if indeed it is overfilled.
brad
I have a feeling they're just going to drain it and not check for any damage. I guess I could just ask them for proof that they did this in case anything crops up in the future.
I kinda wish there was just an old fashioned dip stick
It seems like it would be easier to check.
I very seriously doubt there would be any damage resulting from the oil being overfilled... unless you've been out on the track (or street) tossing it around to the point where oil has been ingested into the intake - which really looks a lot worse then it actually is. If they drain off the extra oil, all should be fine.
brad
Good to hear Daniel - take a quart of oil with you to the track and take some measurements after your runs. Make sure you're on level ground, and take them just before you start the car to warm it up for your next run, but with still enough time to top it up if necessary. You probably won't need to add any, but it will be good to have just in case. How much oil you'll burn at the track will depend on how many miles you have on the motor... the fewer miles, the more likely you'll be to burn some oil while the rings are still seating. It takes about 8k miles for the rings to fully seat.
Have fun @ VIR!
brad
beez, why does it take to 8k mi for the rings to fully seat and how do you know that? The reason I ask, I have 6k mi on my cs now and it seems to keep getting stronger. Track days seem to improve the performance. Is it my imagination or some reasonable expectation, perhaps based on rings seating?
Naybor - Mechanically or technically, I don't know why it takes that long. I heard the 8k figure straight from Bruce Anderson - and I've read it on several answers to questions on the pca.org tech Q&A forums, where Joel Reiser, a 911 expert has written that. One of the real unsung benefits of PCA membership is to be able to ask questions to this panel of
real
tech experts, and they will answer them. I've asked several over the years, and have written Joel directly with questions I had regarding the PCCB option when I ordered my car, and a quick-break-in method when I got the car.
I think it's reasonable to expect the car to get stronger after it has a few thousand miles on it - my guess is that things just begin to "figure out" how to all work well and wear-in together, for lack of a better way of putting it. There's another thread on the site here talking about that very thing - publications that test their long-term test cars, seem to show evidence that they perform better after a good break-in period and a few thousand miles on the clock. I'm sure the rings seating properly is just one aspect of that.
brad
Naybor, it takes 8,000 miles for the rings to seat because we are running synthetic oil, which cuts down the friction significantly. In the days of non-detergent oil, the wait wasn't so long ...
With regard to overfilling the oil, the dealer did that for me also!! I had them remove some when I arrived to pick up my car. I checked the oil after noticing that they charged me for 10 quarts. They drained some out. It still is over full; but isn't a problem. The service manager stated that it would have to be 2-3 quarts overfilled to be a problem.
I have found this to be a common problem in general. My truck takes 4 quarts with a filter change. But the dealer always charges for 5 quarts, regardless of whether they overfilled it or not.
I thought all of these folks were ASE certified mechanics. If they can't service oil right, it makes me leary about letting them in the engine ...
