Maintenance of T350

[TVR Dan]

Ok Just a few Quick Questions to ask can't find the answers anywhere so can someone point me in the right direction or just help me out really?

- When doing an Oil Check on the T350 i find it can be at all types of levels? any hints for getting it right as i don't want to over fill?

- When filling the oil do I need to drain of old oil or ust top it up? and whens the best time to do it when its hot or cold?

- I can't see into the cooling cylinder is there any other way of checking the level? (someone mentioned using a wooden spoon upside down to check the height but what height should it be on the spoon or stick?

Thanks for any help you may be able to give.
I just want to make sure its properly cared after and i can't find anything on the internet or otherwise to help me.

Dan.

[grumbledoak]

Between services you should only need to top the oil up.

Dry sump, so when she is off all the oil will drain into the engine. You need to give her a drive to pump the oil out before you measure it. You also want the oil to be hot to get a stable reading. But, then, you burn your hands! The advice given to me was:

"Let us burn our hands at service time." So, drive her for a bit, until the oil is 40-ish and the water 70-ish. This should be 'hot enough' to trust the reading for a top up. Open the bonnet and get everything ready while the engine is still running. Then, switch off, run around, and take a reading. Maybe do this a couple of times to be sure.

If the car is new to you, do this every journey until you get a feel (they do drink some oil, but some much more than others). Also, remember, though you'll aim for "middle", anywhere above "min" is enough. Above "max" and you'll risk her spitting some out! These days I check every 500 miles, but mine doesn't drink much at all.


The cooling system should be sealed, so as long as she is behaving I leave it alone! You should be able to tell from the instruments and hearing the fans. Ain't no 'right' level for the coolant, they all find their own level...

HTH

Edited by grumbledoak on Sunday 28th September 16:30

[TVR Dan]

Thanks Very much for the advice. It was full the other day and today i had a long run out and it was close to min? It was at around 78 degrees once i shut it off. but i tried a few times and it was up and down? Do i need to screw it right in once i have cleaned off the excess or just push it in and pull it back out? also i know what you mean by the hand burning. ouch! Also is Mobil 1 0W-40 ok for an engine on 30,000miles?

Thanks.

[grumbledoak]

My reading is (seems?) pretty stable, but the oil starts to drain out as soon as you switch off the engine, so faster is better. I just push (not screw) my oil cap in for the measurement. As long as that is above 'min' I don't worry - the 'other' measurement would be 1cm-ish higher...

[astonman]

Try checking your oil when hot after leaving it on tickover for 2 minutes. Then try it after holding it at 2000rpm for a minute or two and then cutting it(try stopping it on the clutch as you turn off the key to stop any risk of runnig on).On my car this makes a massive difference to the oil level, it will be full on the initial go and not even showing on the dip stick using the second method!This suggests to me that the tank is too small.The oil level in the tank will generally be quite low at anything other than tickover, so I set the tank level using the 2nd method and avoid leaving it on tickover , otherwise it will overflow and be sucked into the inlet box.Simon.

[TVR Dan]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am going to try this in a little bit and i'll let you know how i get on.
If i need to top up is mobil 1 0W-40 ok? 30,000 mile engine?

[grumbledoak]

Mobil 1 0-40W is generally recommended (I'm on it, at 15k). Also some variants like Mobil 1 5-50W, though hard to find here, IIRC. Any idea what is in her now, so you don't mix types?

Edited by grumbledoak on Sunday 28th September 18:16

[TVR Dan]

Not sure whats in her at the moment but i can ask the previous owner? is an oil change on a t350 difficult? for someone with limited knowledge that is?

[grumbledoak]

I leave proper oil changes to the regular services, so I'm not speaking with any authority here, but... I believe there is a plug; you would need to ensure you empty the tank and the engine and then re-fill. No idea if there is a specific procedure, I'm afraid.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along...

[TVR Dan]

Well I might just leave it for the pro's unless someone can point me in the right direction on how to do it? Its the sump that worrys me?