I just changed the plugs

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by isabellecarr46

I searched the forum but couldn't find this topic. My wife and I stopped for dinner tonight after an hour's drive and when we returned to the car I had a concerning event happen.

I started my 04 S and had a loud tapping sound occur with the oil light illuminated. I turned off the engine immediately and then turned on the ignition to look at the oil level. (It was full.) I restarted the engine and it sounded normal. I drove home (2 miles) and the car performed normally with no tapping or warning lights.

I just changed the plugs 90 miles ago and the old plugs looked normal. The Boxster has 33,700 miles on it.

Any insight into this would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thank you for searching, avoids a lot of clutter on the forum.


When you turn off the engine some of the oil remains in the heads so it can not be measured electronicly or with the more accurate dipstick. To obtain the most accurate oil level drive slowly before you arrive at your stop & or idle for a minute before turning engine off. It is better to keep the oil level a quart below max.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

It is better to keep the oil level a quart below max.

Say what??

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Say what??

Overfilled oil leads to all sorts of issues, from unintended “smoke bombs” due to oil being pulled in thru the AOS, to AOS failures, and even hydro lock. We fill customer’s cars to two bars below the max level as a standard procedure.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Overfilled oil leads to all sorts of issues, from unintended “smoke bombs” due to oil being pulled in thru the AOS, to AOS failures, and even hydro lock. We fill customer’s cars to two bars below the max level as a standard procedure.

Ok. But a whole quart low would make me uneasy.