Oil consumption problem?

[RandallNeighbour]

Don't freak out over "what if's". It take a loooooong time for all that oil to work its way back down to the car's oil pan, and that's probably why you're getting the low oil reading. You're reading the stick or the dash before it's time to take a reading.

Take a deep breath and try to not worry about catastrophic engine problems that aren't really happening! (Geez, you remind me of me!)

I have found the best time to check my oil is first thing in the morning. I turn the car's key to the "on" position and wait 5 seconds for the dash gauge to show something. This is the "cold oil amount. It will only get larger in volume from this point when the engine is hot (as heat expands the volume a bit), so this will give you a safe level from which to measure in the future when you check the engine oil cold.

I also check the engine hot by bringing the engine up to temp, parking the car for one hour and then turning the key to the on position and watching the dash measurement thing.

I no longer use my dipstick, and I see why Porsche doesn't even have a dipstick in the 987's. If you use the dash thingy properly, it's quite accurate. Each bar is about a cup of oil per what I read by our fearless Boxster Guru, Jeff (ToolPants).

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Yea, I didn't want to Freak You Out, but you were so insistent that you checked the level properly (which I still am not sure of) that if that's eliminated, there has to be another cause. The Oil won't simply Vanish. Somewhere on the list of possibilities is a Head Gasket and I was merely adding to what bmussatti inferred.

Yes, a proper PPI should have caught that if they did a Leakdown Test, but I suspect there's a lot of variation in the PPIs done out there. It should take a minimum of 3-4 Hrs. to do a proper one and if paying $200-$300, that's sufficient time if the Shop Rate is $45-$60/hr., but if the Shop Rate is more, they're scrimping somewhere. I have done proper PPIs for people buying Lotus Cars in the area, while I don't charge them, I do invest at least 3.5 Hrs. and check it all out, never had a single complaint over several years.

Like Randall says, I suspect it's a measuring problem. But, each graduation on the Digital scale is worth more than a Cup. I believe it's best to keep the Oil level consistently in the middle of the Digital Readout because of the inaccuracy. Unless the Readout stays on constant (meaning you're low), anything in the OK range is OK. It's a quasi Dry Sump system with active scavenging rather than a gravity return, so there's plenty of Oil in there, even on the lower end of the OK scale. Too much Oil is a BIG problem because it can damage the Cat(s). Hope this eases your anxiety somewhat...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[denverpete]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

If you use the dash thingy....

Randall, I'm struggling to follow you with all your technical lingo.