Oil consumption problem?

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

There's nothing accurate at all about either the Digital Oil Supply Readout or even the Dipstick - you'll get different readings every time. But, with a 9+ Quart System, accuracy isn't all that important.

How do you know you're down a Quart? The Instrument Gauge only has a range of 1.6 Quarts. The Dipstick isn't graduated beyond an extremely generous OK Range. Keep it in there and you'll be OK...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

Agree with Jim here. If I had to choose, I would use the dipstick. Always measure in the same location and after the car has had plenty of time to drain down.

Perhaps in the morning before start up.

Good luck!

Parked on a level surface too!

[rteichman]

Well I was going by the digital guage, but then I checked the dip stick and it was low too. Unless I have a different dip stick than you guys, I would hardly say it has a large OK range. More like a 1/4" between low and full. Not what I would considere "large". This morning after tha car had been sitting all night, I checked the dip stick and it was low, so I have added a quart and now the digital guage is at the top.

As far as the measurement goes, I actually had not been looking at it. I have only owned the car for a month and did not think I had to check it that closely. I relied instead on the digital guage after fuel ups. This would usually be after about 20 minutes of driving, and then the fill-up.

I guess my bigger concern is where is the oil going, as it definately seems to be going down over time.

rteichman, what's your coolant level doing? Could the oil be going there??

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

rteichman, what's your coolant level doing? Could the oil be going there??

Hi,

Yea, Head Gasket leak always possible. Pull the Coolant Cap and check the underside for a Mayonaise type Goo. Oil + Coolant will emulsify. Hope not...

BTW, the Dipstick is generous. The volume difference between the Top and Bottom OK Marks is 1.8 Quarts. No need to add if the level rests between these two, OK means OK...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[rteichman]

Oh, please say no! I just saw this and now I will worry about it all week. I don't get back home till Friday and thus won't be able to check this till then. I sure hope its not a Head Gasket leak. Wouldn't something like that have been caught in the PPI?

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Head Gasket leak always possible. Pull the Coolant Cap and check the underside for a Mayonaise type Goo. Oil + Coolant will emulsify. Hope not...

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by rteichman

This morning after tha car had been sitting all night, I checked the dip stick and it was low, so I have added a quart and now the digital guage is at the top.

Be careful. If you look closely, the top of the digital guage is overfull. There are two lines on the digital guage, one toward the top and one at the bottom. Before you leave each morning, check and make sure it's between those lines before starting the engine. Never use the oil check when you stop for gas as a reason to add oil, it needs to sit for at least two hours before it is really checked to see if it needs oil added.

As far as losing oil, check your intake lines that go into/out of the oil separator and see if the separator is going bad.

[rteichman]

Oh great, now I have to worry that I overfilled the oil! Luckily I have not driven it since I put in that quart

To everyone else about my measuring it correctly. I guess I did not understand you, sorry. I used the digital guage while stoped for gas. I believe this is what the owner's manual says to do. The only time I checked the dip stick, it had sat overnight and it did "seem" low, although its sure hard to read with clean oil (it was changed about 1,200 miles ago). After I added the quart (the car had been driven for about 20 minutes), the digital guage did show "over full"

Well I guess I'll see on Friday. You know I usually don't bother with any of this kind of stuff and just "use the car". Its only from reading this forum that's got me paranoid about checking every little think to make sure its right.

Originally Posted by deliriousga

Be careful. If you look closely, the top of the digital guage is overfull.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by rteichman

Oh great, now I have to worry that I overfilled the oil! Luckily I have not driven it since I put in that quart

To everyone else about my measuring it correctly. I guess I did not understand you, sorry. I used the digital guage while stoped for gas. I believe this is what the owner's manual says to do. The only time I checked the dip stick, it had sat overnight and it did "seem" low, although its sure hard to read with clean oil (it was changed about 1,200 miles ago). After I added the quart (the car had been driven for about 20 minutes), the digital guage did show "over full"

Well I guess I'll see on Friday. You know I usually don't bother with any of this kind of stuff and just "use the car". Its only from reading this forum that's got me paranoid about checking every little think to make sure its right.

Hi,

I once overfilled my Boxster, when it was new to me, just like you. Rather than open the Drain Plug (where controlling the amount of Oil drained would be impossible), I got some Poly Tubing thin enough to run down the Dipstick opening and, using a MityVac and Catch Cup, was able to extract it. The Catch Cup was a Brake Bleeding attachment, so it only held 1 cup, so I drained it into an Oil Bottle with graduations so I could measure the amount.

If you own these tools this is the way to go. If not, it's not worth the expense, so you will have to drain it from the bottom. Use a clean container and you'll be able to re-use the Oil, minus 1 Quart of course... Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99