motor oil level

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by spark00

how accurate are the oil level sensors? my oil level indicator on 99 model always shows oil level to be within max and min level but it's always at different place. close to bottom or min level when putting the gas in but almost at max level during other times. not sure if i can trust the sensor.

Hi,

IMHO, they're not all that accurate, others disagree.

But, in any event there are so many conditions which must be met to insure accuracy - Engine OFF, Car on Level Ground (do you carry a Bubble Level with you?), sufficient time to allow Oil to drain, Oil at operating Temperature, etc. that if you're one of the lucky few who has a Dipstick ('97-'03), refer to it when determining when to add and only use the digi-gauge as a convenience...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[z12358]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

IMHO, they're not all that accurate, others disagree.

But, in any event there are so many conditions which must be met to insure accuracy - Engine OFF, Car on Level Ground (do you carry a Bubble Level with you?), sufficient time to allow Oil to drain, Oil at operating Temperature, etc. that if you're one of the lucky few who has a Dipstick ('97-'03), refer to it when determining when to add and only use the digi-gauge as a convenience...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Jim, wouldn't the dipstick be equally sensitive to these conditions?
Z.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by z12358

Jim, wouldn't the dipstick be equally sensitive to these conditions?
Z.

Hi,

Sensitive, yes - Equally Sensitive, no. With the Dipstick you can actually see the Oil Level and false readings, while possible, aren't as easy. Porsche, by eliminating the Dipstick, have apparently decided that Convenience is more important to their Customers than Accuracy - that the Digi-gauge makes a greater superior technology statement...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[z12358]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Sensitive, yes - Equally Sensitive, no. With the Dipstick you can actually see the Oil Level and false readings, while possible, aren't as easy. Porsche, by eliminating the Dipstick, have apparently decided that Convenience is more important to their Customers than Accuracy - that the Digi-gauge makes a greater superior technology statement...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I'm not familiar with how the sensors measure the level (how many and what locations), but why would a single observation point (dipstick) be more reliable (or more robust) than multiple observatios points (strategically positioned to minimize outside effects) whose inputs are digitally processed (averaged?) and presented on the dashboard? At the minimum, one could have a single sensor where the dipstick is and "see" whatever level the dipstick "sees" -- thus making it as good as a dipstick. Right?
Z.

[spark00]

thanks MN. another stupid question here but when is the best time to measure the oil level? before starting the engine, just after engine warm up, or some delayed time after engine is shut off after operating?

[Brucelee]

I miss the dipstick. Of course, that used to be my nickname, at least to my brother it was.

[SD987]

N4Ally2, I think JWilson provided the first and best response to your post...check your manual.

Some corrections to the other responses.

On your 987, the difference between the min and max marks on the segment display is 1.2 liters, with each segment corresponding to approximately .4 liter (which is 1.7 US Cups). Never add more engine oil than required to reach the maximum mark as noted in bold font on page 112 of your manual.

The factory fill on the car is 10.4 liters and the oil change quantity without filter is approximately 7.5 liters or 7.75 with filter. That being said, it will probably take more (obviously depending on how long and under what conditions that the engine is drained). On my previous 987 the dealer added 9+ liters. This dealer has little motivation to misstate the figure as a) I was watching them change the oil b) oil changes are free at Pioneer if you bought the car there.

It's pretty amusing that one would try to argue that a dipstick is a better way to assess oil levels than electrically. The level-ground condition obviously isn't a factor in a comparison and the engine off, oil drain/temp are accounted for more precisely using the electronic gauge in the 987. It won't allow a check if the engine is running and if you've ever tried performing an oil check after the car has been run awhile you'll see a mighty long wait time. That's the whole point of having the countdown feature which tells you how long you're going to be waiting to get an accurate reading. Obviously the nicest feature of the electronic gauge is that it actively monitors the oil levels, letting you know if it's low. I've never had a dipstick alert me to low oil levels.

N4Ally2, don't be surprised if your 06S is a heavy oil consumer. I don't know how many miles you have on yours but both my 987s consumed oil until about the 15k mark. Also keep an eye on the coolant. As I've posted elsewhere, the 987 can also be a coolant consumer during the first 15k and the low-coolant sensor doesn't seem to work so well.

[eslai]

I concur with SD987's remarks. My car used to drink oil quite fast.

27000 miles now and my car has stopped consuming oil, coolant levels seem fine. It actually stopped consuming oil around 13,000 miles so again, SD987 is on the money, as far as I can tell!