How Much Oil needed in a CB Performance engine?

I have an IM built in 1996. Just had the oil changed. I typically run the oil between the two lines on the dipstick. When I checked the oil this AM cold it was about 1 centimeter or just under half an inch above the top line. The guy who changed the oil said he put four quarts in and when I picked it up it was reading right at the top line. Just wondering if anyone knows if running it this high is bad for the engine or how much oil an engine like this typically reqwuires. It is a 2110 cc. Thank you. P.S. I drove it this AM and it is running great like usual. Didnt notice any difference. Chris

It depends on whether you have an addition sump (probably), and or an external oil cooler and filter (also probably). If so, completely full is around 6 quarts, but you really can't drain it all without some sort of pump as the external cooler and plumbing will probably not drain. As long as the dip stick is in the right spot, you should be good to go.

If you have a remote oil cooler and or filter you need to strat the motor to allow these those fill then recheck the dip stick, best to leave the oil lever the half way between the upper and lower marks.

Lane, great minds think alike ~

Thanks. Is there a release or way to drain the engine that I could do myself. It is above the top line by a bit. I am not at all even close to knowing anything about this stuff beyond wash it, wax it and drive it. Any help would be great. Any opinion on if driving it will hurt it with the higher level?

OK, so it's not good to overfill it, but it's not the end of the world, either.

Can you drive it someplace to have it checked and maybe drained a bit?

Sure. No prolonged jaunts down the freeway, but bopping along to the Jiffy-Lube is fine.

On the bottom of the engine is a round "sump plate" about 5" in diameter. Held on with 6 or 8 studs and nuts. If you're lucky, there will be a drain plug in the middle of that round sump plate. Just loosen it, let some oil out and put it back. If you let out too much you can just put more in (preferably new). It's a messy job (oil gets all over your hands) but not that bad.

Or you could just drain everything and then measure how much you took out and then re-fill (preferably with new oil), starting with three quarts, and then add a little at a time until you get it to where you want it and write down somewhere how much it took.

Another alternative is to find a neighbor (or a Jiffy-Lube or something) who has a dip stick tube syphon pump - these are really common on inboard/outboard boats, 'cuz you can't drain the oil from under the motor when the motor sits right down in the hull. They put a small syphon tube down the oil dip stick tube and pump out as much as needed. Easy-Peasy. I would do that before using the messy drain plug.

gn

If you don't have a drain plug and have to remove the plate when you reinstall DO NOT overtorque. It is very easy to strip these out. Tighten opposite sides and check it out. Better to have a leak and have to tighten than strip one out.

Another thing to remember is that the sump plate has a gasket. If you have to remove the sump plate then remove the whole thing... Once the oil has drained, clean the mating surfaces with Brake Clean then apply a thin bead of RTV silicone around the circumference and re-attach the plate torquing the nuts to only around 10 pounds. That's snug then 1/4 turn. If it's a CB Performance sump, they have a minimum order if and you can't just order 1 gasket. The silicone will work great and is far less expensive.

All good thoughts. I will offer a few suggestions. Make sure that the car is level when checking the oil. If your car has a spin on filter just spin it off, dump the oil in it into a pan and spin it back on. Start the motor and let it run for 30 seconds,shut down. Wait about 5 min. and re-check oil level. It should have gone down some. Repeat spin off and on till the oil is at the correct level between the marks. Put big pan under the filter because it will drip oil all over you, your garage, etc. Have 2 rolls of paper towels handy.Good luck!

Well, at the risk of sounding like an ignorant redneck...oh wait, that isn't anything new for me.

If you determine that it is indeed just a little high, replacing the filter will cut your volume a bit. Yeah, I know the filter is new because you just had it serviced, but filters are not real expensive.

Probably holds at least a pint.

angela

I was thinking of that as well. A whole lot easier than fooling with the sump plate.

A lot of us would just drive around the block. It'll leak out fast enough.

David - my thought too. Find a friend with newly resurfaced drive or new concrete and park on it --- Speedie will surely want to mark virgin territory. Ya need to determine if you have extended add-on sump (add 1.5 qts), remote filter or cooler - 4 qts could be correct then. Normal VW T1 is 2.5 qts though.

brought it to Valvoline instane oil change. Has the guy unscrew the sump middle screw. The oil came gushing out. He replace it quickly. I checked the oil and it was dropped to right at the higher line level now verus half an inch above. Im good with this. Glad to get the oil back to that level. Im gonna have the car fully serviced next week with a valave adjustment etc. I will have my vw specialist change the oil again and make sur we are all good. Thanks for all of the responses! I appreciate it.

Yeah, now see, that is something I would never have done because all of the oil would have been on the ground - LOL!

Also, remember that oil does expand when hot, so your best reading is at temperature.

angela

Chris---you would think the place that just dumped 4 quarts in would put maybe three then keep checking as more is added until the desired amount per the dipstick is added. After you know the proper amount
(= or - a pint wether or not a new filter was installed)you then can be more aggressive with dunping in the oil. I know my numbers but I still check the dipstick as the last 1/2 quart or so goes in. Like you, I am very concerned about overfilling the oil.

At least you are good to go now.