How to check oil level ?

[MileHighBoxster]

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.

[shlim8]

Yup, my dipstick and e-gauge don't agree.

This morning, I checked the dipstick - it shows oil level all the way up the red portion of the plastic (ie way above full mark). The e-gauge shows full (1 mark below max). Measurements taken at my driveway which is pretty flat.

But this is probably the first time the e-gauge has registered at the full mark in the time I'd owned the car, so it's probably got less oil than it's always been filled (usually it reads 1 mark above full).

Strange thing is that after reducing the oil level, the last service probably took only 8.1 litres.... Originally it was filled with 8.9 litres, but was smokey starts all the way. I thought the correct amount should be 9 litres ?

[shlim8]

Originally Posted by MileHighBoxster

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.

My car's dipstick actually reads higher in the morning when the car is totally cold vs hot after the car has been sitting around for 2-3 hours. The e-gauge on the other hand, is more consistent. Showing "full" (1 mark below max) at both times.

I guess the oil takes longer to drain back to the sump - but that doesn't explain the e-gauge ??!!

Anyway the smokey starts are gone and as both show sufficient oil level, I'm just going to let it be.