986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post

MileHighBoxster · 02-13-2012, 08:51 AM

Oil expands when heated. Your reading will be lower cold than when hot, unless you are checking the two readings on two different grades/surfaces. Check it hot or cold but be consistent. Hot, it should show level somewhere just below full. Or, using the dip stick, just like every other car you've owned or driven.

From Rennlist: Check oil level with the engine off. Cold or hot. If cold be aware oil will expand maybe 1/2 quart's worth in volume. If hot be aware oil being hot has expanded and reading will be higher because of it.

Generally the "rule" is to add oil when oil level below half way down. And each bar represents around 1/4th quart of oil. IIRC the entire range of the bars is 1.6 liters.

Avoid running oil too low cause if oil consumption goes up cause of the way you're driving the oil level can drop to too low. Avoid running oil level too high cause this leads to excessive smoking upon startup and increased oil consumption.

To check the oil level from inside the car turn key to on -- but do not start engine. If you forget and crank engine forget about checking the oil for a while.

There should be an in-dash display that counts down and then displays a graphic of the oil level.

Max, 6 or so short bars, then Min.

If seconds counter reads more than say 5 or 10 seconds engine hasn't sat long enough for oil to drain back and in-dash oil level gage "computer" knows this.

Engine must have been off some time. How long depends upon how hot the oil got. If engine up to operating temperature by the time you can get 10 gallons or so of gas in the gas tank is enough time.

If engine not up temperature it can in 30 minutes or so.

Car must be level. Even a bit of a tilt can affect the oil level.

Before you put it off too long check the oil level with the dipstick and then compare the in-dash oil level to what the dipstick "says". If they disagree Porsche says to go by the dipstick. Fortunately, my 02 Boxster's dipstick and in-dash oil level "gage" agree. Still every so often I double check the dipstick just to make sure the in-dash oil level reading valid.

02-13-2012, 08:51 AM	#3
MileHighBoxster Matt Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 284	Oil expands when heated. Your reading will be lower cold than when hot, unless you are checking the two readings on two different grades/surfaces. Check it hot or cold but be consistent. Hot, it should show level somewhere just below full. Or, using the dip stick, just like every other car you've owned or driven. From Rennlist: Check oil level with the engine off. Cold or hot. If cold be aware oil will expand maybe 1/2 quart's worth in volume. If hot be aware oil being hot has expanded and reading will be higher because of it. Generally the "rule" is to add oil when oil level below half way down. And each bar represents around 1/4th quart of oil. IIRC the entire range of the bars is 1.6 liters. Avoid running oil too low cause if oil consumption goes up cause of the way you're driving the oil level can drop to too low. Avoid running oil level too high cause this leads to excessive smoking upon startup and increased oil consumption. To check the oil level from inside the car turn key to on -- but do not start engine. If you forget and crank engine forget about checking the oil for a while. There should be an in-dash display that counts down and then displays a graphic of the oil level. Max, 6 or so short bars, then Min. If seconds counter reads more than say 5 or 10 seconds engine hasn't sat long enough for oil to drain back and in-dash oil level gage "computer" knows this. Engine must have been off some time. How long depends upon how hot the oil got. If engine up to operating temperature by the time you can get 10 gallons or so of gas in the gas tank is enough time. If engine not up temperature it can in 30 minutes or so. Car must be level. Even a bit of a tilt can affect the oil level. Before you put it off too long check the oil level with the dipstick and then compare the in-dash oil level to what the dipstick "says". If they disagree Porsche says to go by the dipstick. Fortunately, my 02 Boxster's dipstick and in-dash oil level "gage" agree. Still every so often I double check the dipstick just to make sure the in-dash oil level reading valid. __________________ Matt 2004 Boxster S, Guard's Red, 6 Speed Last edited by MileHighBoxster; 02-13-2012 at 08:57 AM.