gridlock61

I don't understand what is going on. It appeared that the oil level was down a smidge (see https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...the-place.html for odyssey on my first attempt at adding oil ), so added about 1/2 quart. Ever since then, once the engine gets fully warm, some oil has been leaking and burning somewhere, which gets quite smokey. Some smoke even comes into the cabin through the heater vents. After taking the car out and leaving in the garage for a while, several small small puddles of oil form on the ground near the engine. The oil pressure is reading slightly above 5 during running, and the temperate seems normal.

Another strange and maybe related issue is that after adding the oil a few days ago, I can no longer get the oil filler cap off!

Any idea what might be going on?

Quadcammer

hmm, lot of issues here.

1. Most people run the oil level below halfway on the dipstick as running it higher can risk overfilling and higher consumption. I'm not sure what your level was, but you may want to take that advice.

2. If you have oil dripping down onto the heat exchanger, you will get smoke, smell, etc. Do you have oil spots on both sides or just the pass. side?

3. Oil pressure should only be five bar above say 2200rpm. At idle, it should be between 1.5 and 3 bar depending on oil temp/viscosity, etc.

4. Oil filler issue should be unrelated. Is it possible you put it on wrong and even more oil is spilling out since its not seated properly?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Sounds to me like the system is overfilled.

You might consider changing the oil & filters and simply adding 10 qts back in the system to reset your baseline. Naturally, you will need to clean up the oil leaks under the engine with lots of brake cleaner.

Remember, the dipstick is the "Gospel" for showing you correct oil level and its only accurate when the engine is hot.

gridlock61

Thanks for the responses.

When I checked the oil before adding, it appeared the level was on the low side on the dipstick twisted zone. That in combination with the oil level gauge measuring in the red at idle led me to believe that it was down a bit. Maybe the oil level gauge is not measuring correctly; is that something that is common to these cars?

I do notice oil on the ground on 2-3 spots (left to right) under the engine. The biggest puddle forms on the right side near the filler tube.

At most I added half a quart. I'm surprised that after several days of leaking oil, the level hasn't gone down enough not to leak anymore, but is still doing so.

It is entirely possible I put the filler cap on wrong (although it certainly seemed to go on fine). I also thought about the idea that oil may be spilling out the cap, although I didn't notice oil dripping out down the oil filler tube.

gridlock61

I also forgot to mention, that all the smoke seems to be coming from under the rear-passenger side fender.

ca993twin

Just to make sure you are hearing this: your engine must be FULLY warmed (hot), at idle, and on level ground when you check the oil level. My guess from your symptoms... you dribbled some oil on the engine when you added oil. Its really easy to do that.

zenithblue993

See if oil is dripping on the heat exchanger on the passanger side. It's right behind the wheel (engine trey removed). If the metal heat exchanger looks black from dried oil, then the seal is gone on the valve gasket which needs to be replaced. I got smoke coming from that area due to the oil leaking. Maybe from to much oil.

Quadcammer

lets go easy on the absolutes, huh?

oil puddling on the heat exchanger, especially on the passenger side, can be from other things.

vincer77

Filling the oil above the half way point on dipstick caused my car to burn oil off manifolds/heat exchangers. Ever since I started keeping it at around half, it has stopped consuming oil. Do not rely on the oil level gauge until you are convinced of the relationship between it and the dipstick.

gridlock61

What did you do when this happened? Did you take some oil out once you realized it was overfilled, or did you just let it burn until it stopped? Did you clean the manifolds and heat exchangers? If not, did it eventually stop smoking and smelling of burned oil?

Thanks

gridlock61

Well, yes, I absolutely DID dribble some oil on the engine, since I initially didn't have a funnel with a long neck (yes I certainly learned my lesson!). I thought I had the car level and the engine hot when I checked the dipstick, but will be more careful next time about checking. Wow, this car is different and quirky!

NC TRACKRAT

Once you get the oil filler cap off, look down the filler tube. Do you see oil? If so, use a Mity Vac or a turkey baster and suck out that half-qt. you put in. As others have suggested, check on the topside of the passenger heat exchanger for trapped oil. If so, clean it up. Yes, they're quirky. The sooner you learn their idiosyncracies, the better.

ble2011

I've been able to open the oil drain plug when cold and let some oil drain out and immediately screw it back in. Kindy tricky, but it worked for me on an overfill situation.

gridlock61

Will do (as soon as I figure out how to get the oil filler cap off, that is!), thanks.

Ok, thanks, good to know that is possible. I would hate to have to drain all the all since I just got it changed.

Mike J

I suspect that NOW you know that adding oil to a 911 when the tank is almost full is a slow and tricky process. I usually put a rag down and around the fill spout in case it overflows, and then fill it S-L-O-W-L-Y, otherwise the oil backs up the fill tube, overflows, runs down the fill tube onto the upper sheet metal, leaks through, drip on the exhaust or pools on the ground on the passenger rear corner.

See it happen lots of times. Its does NOT mean you overfilled the oil tank, having oil backup on the filler when filling has nothing to do with the oil level, other than your tank is getting full. The best way of checking the oil level in the car is to have the car warmed up (min 1/3 up the temp gauge) and use the dipstick while the engine is idling, and on a level surface. Only if the oil is over the twisted section of the dipstick are you really overfilled and need to drain. Conventional wisdom is to put the oil level 1/3 up the twisted portion of the stick, this allows for oil expansion and leave plenty oil in the engine.

So, have you truly overfilled your tank, or you just overflowed the fill spout when filling the tank? Overfill may mean removing some oil, overflowed means just a mess. I hope that you get that these are very different.

Cheers,

Mike