Oil guage lies?

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

The 2003 owners manual still says to not allow the oil level to drop below the min mark or rise above the max mark on the dipstick.

Well, that seems to be an incongruity between the manual, the TSB and the PET which does NOT denote a change to the dipstick PN# (which Porscher does in every other known upgrade or supercession) through all the model years that use dipsticks... it's the same dipstick (PN# 996.107.014.02)... same calibrations.

I would suspect that in the face of this evidence, that the owners manual is incorrect.

It says the exact same thing in my '99 owners manual:
"The Oil level must in no case fall below the minimum or exceed the maximum oil level on the dipstick..." Now we know this has to be incorrect in my manual (at least) due to the TSB revision. And, if they haven't recalibrated the dipstick in subsequent years (and there's NO indication that they have), it must be incorrect in later manuals as well.

I suspect that in subsequent owners manuals, it's just a carryover from previous ones. They do not re-write the entire manual every year, probably only revise it where applicable. It's easy to see this as an ovesight.

No matter though since that notation in the manual will keep you in the OK range. The difference between the MIN/MAX marks represents 1.6 Qts., so there's plenty of cushion there.

But it only stands to reason that if you add an additional amount of oil (as directed in the TSB) that the level will show higher on the dipstick, unless the dipstick has been recalibrated to reflect the added oil, which it apparently has not.

I guess the point is to not obsess about keeping it FULL because of the risk of overfilling, just aim for the upper end of the OK range.

[Topless]

Ouch! Overfilling with oil can kill the AOS pretty quick.
I use Econolube for annual oil changes but not without a Porsche inservice seminar with the service tech first. I assume they no nothing about a Porsche.
1. I supply the oil, filter, crush ring and specialty tools .
2. Drain for 20 minutes warm.
3. Required torque settings.
4. Fill with 8.5 qts only, I will top off tomorrow.
$20 bucks

I prefer this method to doing it myself in the garage and then disposing of the used oil later.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Topless

Ouch! Overfilling with oil can kill the AOS pretty quick.
I use Econolube for annual oil changes but not without a Porsche inservice seminar with the service tech first. I assume they no nothing about a Porsche.
1. I supply the oil, filter, crush ring and specialty tools .
2. Drain for 20 minutes warm.
3. Required torque settings.
4. Fill with 8.5 qts only, I will top off tomorrow.
$20 bucks

I prefer this method to doing it myself in the garage and then disposing of the used oil later.

Disposing of used oil is free.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Disposing of used oil is free.

Overstating the obvious?

[funkdefino]

OK... let's say this happens to someone either by their own doing or by a 3rd party accident.

What is the best way to remove the excess oil?

Let's also assume you don't want to go back to the 3rd party that made the mistake.

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by funkdefino

OK... let's say this happens to someone either by their own doing or by a 3rd party accident.

What is the best way to remove the excess oil?

Let's also assume you don't want to go back to the 3rd party that made the mistake.

See my 1st post to this thread.... ↕

[chitowndad]

I fixed my issue last night. I first tried siphoning oil through the dip stick and that didn't work (wasted $5 on a siphon pump).

So I raised the rear of the car and removed the oil filter. I had to restart the car and remove it 2x to get enough oil out. Now I'm within the range bars (2 ticks above the low setting) so the oil guage wasn't lieing after all. What was weird was when I took the car back to the guys the dip stick was within range but the guage said over filled but when I let it sit over night the dip stick said that it was too full.

So word to the wise, change the oil yourself!

Thanks for the tip Lil Bastard.

-Steve