StratfordShark

Wanted to fill tensioner with oil after re-tightening belt and as last job before putting belly pans back on (thanks to my wife here - it's a tricky job without help when the car is just on ramps).

Mindful of advice here I removed both bleeders and tried to fill it.

I never saw any oil drip out of the hole nearer the centre, but quite a bit came back out of the hole I was filling (just pressing conical end of oil can pipe against it).

I know the bleeders can get blocked which is why I removed them, but is it possible for any other section of the oil chamber to get blocked as I was concerned not to see any oil come out the 'exit' hole.

The car was just on ramps at the front at the time - could this have anything to do with it?

Anyway all buttoned up now and ready for the national meeting tomorrow of the UK's TIPEC (Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club). Had a test drive with fresh coolant, fresh oil and the retightened belt and she was running beautifully.

Garth S

If concerned that the bleeders are blocked, it is easy to run a wire through as a clean out: reinstall the outside fill bleeder and connect to the oil can with a section of plastic tubing. This way the tensioner can be filled under slight pressure .... until all air is chased out the inner bleeder: snug up and go.

davek9

I filled mine without the bleeders installed, as it is a PITA just getting oil in the tensioner.
I used a pump oil can and kept squrting it in untill I saw oil comming out the bottom, then I installed the bleaders. However mine was totaly dry as I had just rebuilt it.
It did leak a bit out the top seal when I first started it up, but as Bill Ball said it most likely would settle down and and it did just that.

Mrmerlin

Dont try to pressure fill the tensioner, it should be easy to add oil to the fill port without pressure. if you do have to pressure fill the tensioner the most likely result will be the inner snap ring popping off the boot, then oil leaking from the boot to inner shaft on the tensioner then you will have to remove the tensioner to refit the snap ring this will involve removing the large outer clamp ring BTDT. Try putting a small piece of wire into the fill and exit holes this should clear out the passageways. I foud that using a small eye dropper type bottle that holds about 2 OZ of oil works really well here and you wont be able to over pressure the fill hole with the small plastic squeeze bottle