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Old 04-01-2016, 06:15 AM   #8
10/10ths
"50 Years of 550 Spyder"
 
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: The Road
Posts: 938
JayG......

.....I referenced the owner's manual in my post above.

The manual's assertion that the car needs to be at rest "for a few minutes" is not enough for an accurate reading.

These cars only give accurate oil level readings when cold, and after sitting, shut off, at least overnight and preferably two nights.

It's just a simple matter of the oil needing to drain back out of all those little passages into the big, flat pan. The flat engine configuration makes it slower to drain back to full pan than a "V" or an inline engine.

Last month's Car & Driver had a long term wrap up on their Cayman and THEY over filled the car due to false "low oil" readings on their computer.

Having an old fashioned dip stick is one of the reasons I bought my 2004 model.

Again, with the 8 quart plus capacity of the 986, if she runs a quart low, it's not a disaster. BUT, if you over fill these engine by a quart, it IS very bad for the Air/Oil Separator.

You have to convince yourself to not freak out if the oil level is at the "minimum" line on the dash readout after a refueling stop. You MUST check the oil level after she's been sitting at least overnight.

If the level is anywhere on the electronic display or there is any oil on the dipstick, you are fine.

If the dipstick is bone dry, or the display shows "Danger Will Robinson!!!", only freak out if that is showing after she has been parked for two days.

Then just add a quart.

Don't worry, be happy.
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