Oil Leak? 2005 Porsche Boxster

[justchill]

Hello everyone

I have a 2005 Porsche Boxster that seems to be dripping oil somewhere between the mid and rear of the car. All winter long it has been stored. My question is how do I check the oil after storing it in the winter for so long. I didn't want to start the car since I don't know how much oil is really in the car still. I turned the key just so that the electronic oil level reader would show up which it did, it showed 3 bars which is good but I know that can't be right. Towards the end of last year I did have to top up oil but I didn't bother to get it checked out since we got a heavy snowfall early and the season was over.

Also if it is just dripping oil, can I just drive it and top up as needed? I will have it checked out to see what the problem is once I make sure I can safely drive it without having to worry that the car has little to no oil left in it. I assume at this point a dip stick option would have been nice than an only digital one?

If my engine is cold how much oil does 3 bars really mean?

Thanks everyone,
Signed,
Vin

[Timco]

Car holds about 10 quarts of oil. What does your dip stick show? Why don't you trust the bars?

[justchill]

My boxster doesn't have a dipstick. It is digital only.

I don't trust it due to checking it on a cold engine after storing it for winter. I'm afraid to start it and warm it up with little to no oil to cause possible damage. But I assume there is some oil since on a cold check it shows 3 bars.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by justchill

My boxster doesn't have a dipstick. It is digital only.

I don't trust it due to checking it on a cold engine after storing it for winter. I'm afraid to start it and warm it up with little to no oil to cause possible damage. But I assume there is some oil since on a cold check it shows 3 bars.

could be that your car is dripping hydraulic fluid from the power steering / automatic transmission or gearbox oil?

If you have three bars on the dipstick, perhaps IMHO you should warm it up and check the other systems mentioned above...

[san rensho]

If it has 3 bars, it has enough oil. How much oil dripped out? A quart of oil on the floor makes a huge puddle (ask me how I know), so unless you have a lake under your car, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are really concerned, just change the oil before you start it.

[thstone]

As San Rensho said, unless you had to use a mop and a bucket to clean up the lake of oil all over your garage floor, you should have more than enough oil remaining in the sump to start the car and get a good electronic reading of the oil level.

[justchill]

Originally Posted by san rensho

If it has 3 bars, it has enough oil. How much oil dripped out? A quart of oil on the floor makes a huge puddle (ask me how I know), so unless you have a lake under your car, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are really concerned, just change the oil before you start it.

Yes 3 bars on a cold engine - I didn't start it
It took like 3 seconds to give me that reading btw

[justchill]

Thanks for the advice. I don't have a huge puddle at all. Last year I put in about a cup or a cup and one half twice I think it was towards the end of summer

[justchill]

I can't change the oil. I don't know how to do that myself