Best way to check oil level??? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

MNBoxster · 02-20-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

...That is actually a gas gauge problem. There are some post about it. If this happens to you after filling up your car, then it can be corrected by having the gas gage re-calibrated. (Just another Porsche Boxster flaw) Otherwise it's just more of a neuwsence than anything else. Gas gauge needle should rise to full tank after you fill it up emidiately after you turn the ignition key.

Hi,

Sorry, but that's inaccurate. The problem is not an uncalibrated gauge, it is a shifted overflow tube in the tank. If this tube shifts, it will interfere with the proper movement of the float for the fuel sender. The fix is to pull the tube from the tank, zip-tie it in place to keep it from migrating toward the fuel sender float, and reinstall. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

porsche986spyder · 02-20-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Sorry, but that's inaccurate. The problem is not an uncalibrated gauge, it is a shifted overflow tube in the tank. If this tube shifts, it will interfere with the proper movement of the float for the fuel sender. The fix is to pull the tube from the tank, zip-tie it in place to keep it from migrating toward the fuel sender float, and reinstall. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Not according to this FAQ page I found. This is what it says.
Gas Gauge Out of Calibration

Diagnostic: The gas gauge on the dashboard reads low even when the tank is filled.

Cause: Miscalibrated gas gauge.

Details: The gas gauge can be calibrated using the PST2 (Porsche System Tool 2). The gas tank must be completely drained. Then a precise amount of gasoline is introduced into the tank. Then the PST2 is used to calibrate the gauge needle.

Time in Shop: One hour.

Repair Instructions: Requires dealer repair.

Notes: None.

I copied this straight from the board. This sounds more like what he is experiencing. Tank shows a low reading and then later slowly rises to correct level. I had the same problem. It is very common in older boxsters.

MNBoxster · 02-20-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

Not according to this FAQ page I found. This is what it says.
Gas Gauge Out of Calibration

Diagnostic: The gas gauge on the dashboard reads low even when the tank is filled.

Cause: Miscalibrated gas gauge.

Details: The gas gauge can be calibrated using the PST2 (Porsche System Tool 2). The gas tank must be completely drained. Then a precise amount of gasoline is introduced into the tank. Then the PST2 is used to calibrate the gauge needle.

Time in Shop: One hour.

Repair Instructions: Requires dealer repair.

Notes: None.

I copied this straight from the board. This sounds more like what he is experiencing. Tank shows a low reading and then later slowly rises to correct level. I had the same problem. It is very common in older boxsters.

Hi,

Sorry, is it possible for the Fuel Gauge to be out of calibration? Yes - definitely. But, if it is, no amount of waiting is going to automatically, or mysteriously, recalibrate it.

On the other hand, if you have a loose overfill tube obstructing the movement of the Fuel Sender Float, after you drive around, the tube moves again, away from the float allowing it to rise as designed, and the gauge then reflects the proper fuel level. This is what it sounds like the lister is experiencing...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

porsche986spyder · 02-20-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Sorry, is it possible for the Fuel Gauge to be out of calibration? Yes - definitely. But, if it is, no amount of waiting is going to automatically, or mysteriously, recalibrate it.

On the other hand, if you have a loose overfill tube obstructing the movement of the Fuel Sender Float, after you drive around, the tube moves again, away from the float allowing it to rise as designed, and the gauge then reflects the proper fuel level. This is what it sounds like the lister is experiencing...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Your probably right.

SC986 · 02-20-2007, 04:03 PM

I wonder if I have a issue with my digital oil gauge. Mine comes on for maybe a second and back off, I don't have time to read it. Can this be adjusted? Because it was so fast I had to look it up in the manual to see what had flashed up there.

idheaton · 02-20-2007, 04:27 PM

when you first turn you car onto accessory...you will see the a countdown of 5 secs before the digital gauge gives you a reading....the bars will go up and down during that time.

if you crank the car up the gauge display will go out in a couple of secs...

if you crank the car up then turn it off and back to accessory the countdown will now be 9 1/2 mins before it will give you a reading again...my guess it to let the oil settle back down

racer_d · 02-20-2007, 04:36 PM

Coming from an aircooled 911, the best way to check the oil is by using the dipstick. 911's had a mechanical "level" guage that, well, you learned pretty quickly to distrust and would get into the pattern of pulling out the dipstick. The newer electronic level guages may be better, but nothing beats puling out the stick. Not only can you check level, but also for discoloration as well.