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    Oct 31, 2006 10:53:40 PM

    bstew
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    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
    Posts: 1797, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005

    Oil Gauge....

    Funny thing happend the other day. I have about 4500 miles on my 997 Cab and the oil meter finally sid it was time to add oil. Well before I could put in a quart I went on a business trip for a week and upon my return the oil meter said the level was full. The next day it said it was low. Now this was without me even starting the car. Crazy....

    Oct 31, 2006 11:28:12 PM

    cibergypsy
    Pilot
    cibergypsy
    Loc: FL, USA , United States
    Posts: 366, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 21, 2006
    Reply to: bstew

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    I had a 2004 996 C4S that I bought new and then traded it in for a new 997S this past March. Porsche, while moving ahead in some areas of the car, also moved backwards in others that are inportant. It moved forwards in terms interior build quality, performance, design - moved to make the car closer to the air cooled ones in looks - etc. Great! Now, why did they do away with the spare tyre??? I can't believe they made the car less dependable than it used to be. My brother just got his F430 that he spec'd out at the dealer and he was given (and took) the option of having a spare tyre fitted as original equipment. Now, you figure that one out! Second, my 996 C4S had also a dipstick and in the manual it stated that the dipstick should be relied upon more than the computer reading. Why did they remove the dipstick from the atmospheric 997s? I knew the 996 Turbo lacked a dipstick already but not the atmospheric engines. This has made me err on the side of caution when it comes to relying on the computer and IMHO is a step backwards in their evolution of the 911 species. Before I receive any negative remarks, I love my car nevertheless and have fitted a spare tyre that I carry when venturing far from my area.

    Nov 1, 2006 5:19:52 AM

    MMD
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    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: cibergypsy

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Similarly odd, my oil guage sometimes comes on when I'm DRIVING. Sez the thing is full! Freaks me out. I jiggle the stalks and it disapppears and doesn't happen again for a few months (?)

    I guess in this case one must just think of it as a software glitch that's very minor.

    Nov 1, 2006 7:23:00 AM

    U Boat Commander
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    U Boat Commander
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
    Posts: 1250, Gallery
    Registered on: May 8, 2004
    Reply to: MMD

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    I also think the electronic guage is whacked. Instead of relying blindly on the guage, I just add a little oil (1/3 of a bottle) every couple months or so. I get different readings all the time on the guage. But this method seems to work well and I'm never worried that I have too little oil in the res.

    Nov 1, 2006 9:44:30 AM

    snarf
    Newbie
    snarf
    Loc: UK
    Posts: 49, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 20, 2006
    Reply to: U Boat Commander

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    I only adjust oil on the basis of a cold reading with the car level. I've read somewhere that overfilling is to be avoided and my dealer advised not adding any oil before level dropped two bars. However, as each bar on the guage is equivalent to 0.4l I add just 0.2l when the reading falls to one bar below full. Upto now this has always taken it back to full and never given an overfilled reading.

    Nov 1, 2006 1:00:45 PM

    911Fanatic
    Co-Pilot
    911Fanatic
    Loc: Alpharetta, Georgia
    Posts: 176, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 26, 2005
    Reply to: snarf

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    I have experienced the same with mine. Usually take cold readings before starting and only add oil after level has dropped two bars. I have found the consumption of oil has decreased over time.

    Nov 1, 2006 2:58:29 PM

    bstew
    Expert
    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
    Posts: 1797, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005
    Reply to: 911Fanatic

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    911Fanatic said:
    I have experienced the same with mine. Usually take cold readings before starting and only add oil after level has dropped two bars. I have found the consumption of oil has decreased over time.



    The sad thing was I all of my readings was when the car was cold as well. Hey if everything worked perfect what fun would that be right

    Nov 1, 2006 2:59:25 PM

    bstew
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    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
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    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005
    Reply to: U Boat Commander

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    U Boat Commander,
    That is one sharp looking car. What color is that and how did you get that shine. Looks great!

    Nov 1, 2006 4:46:41 PM

    MMD
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    MMD
    Loc: usa
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    Reply to: bstew

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    bstew said:

    Hey if everything worked perfect what fun would that be right



    Yeah, I guess... . Though I'd like to find the guy who started the fad of substituting the word "challenge" for [f-ing] problem

    Nov 1, 2006 5:21:53 PM

    snarf
    Newbie
    snarf
    Loc: UK
    Posts: 49, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 20, 2006
    Reply to: MMD

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    MMD said:
    Quote:
    bstew said:

    Hey if everything worked perfect what fun would that be right



    Yeah, I guess... . Though I'd like to find the guy who started the fad of substituting the word "challenge" for [f-ing] problem



    I prefer "solution opportunities"

    Nov 1, 2006 6:37:18 PM

    bstew
    Expert
    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
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    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005
    Reply to: snarf

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    I always say cars are made by man and nothing is perfect. But for the amount of money we pay it would be nice if it was...

    Nov 1, 2006 9:37:11 PM

    911Fanatic
    Co-Pilot
    911Fanatic
    Loc: Alpharetta, Georgia
    Posts: 176, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 26, 2005
    Reply to: bstew

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    maybe they did it on purpose to keep you looking at it!

    Nov 3, 2006 8:37:00 PM

    Jim48
    Senior
    Jim48
    Loc: Virginia, USA
    Posts: 639, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 24, 2005
    Reply to: snarf

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    snarf said:
    I only adjust oil on the basis of a cold reading with the car level. I've read somewhere that overfilling is to be avoided and my dealer advised not adding any oil before level dropped two bars. However, as each bar on the guage is equivalent to 0.4l I add just 0.2l when the reading falls to one bar below full. Upto now this has always taken it back to full and never given an overfilled reading.



    Snarf,

    I do the same thing, adding only 200 ml when the gauge level drops 1 bar. I think that the measuring device puts out a signal that is rounded when converted to the display, that is, if the oil level is down more than 200 ml, it will show that the level is down 400 ml. And if the level shown is full, in fact the level could be down, but by less than 200 ml.

    For cars that burn a bit of oil (and most of the 997's do), you get some gasoline mixed in with the oil. If the engine stays hot for a while after driving, a "full" reading might later become a reading of "down 0.4 l", as the gasoline mixed in with the oil evaporates, which leads to a lower reading. I have had this happen to me many times, as I park the car in a small garage that has little ventilation. The engine retains a lot of heat for a long time, thus leading to the evaporation of the gasoline. Usually after several days, when the engine is definitely cooled, the gasoline vapors condense and thus raise the reading of the oil level back to "full."

    Jim

    Nov 3, 2006 10:17:13 PM

    Paul S in TX
    Co-Pilot
    Paul S in TX
    Loc:
    Posts: 259, Gallery
    Registered on: Jun 20, 2002
    Reply to: snarf

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    snarf said:
    I only adjust oil on the basis of a cold reading with the car level. I've read somewhere that overfilling is to be avoided and my dealer advised not adding any oil before level dropped two bars. However, as each bar on the guage is equivalent to 0.4l I add just 0.2l when the reading falls to one bar below full. Upto now this has always taken it back to full and never given an overfilled reading.



    I agree with the cold and level reading. However, I have always been told that as long as the reading is somewhere between the full and add marks on the guage, to not add oil and that's what I do. My Club Coupe dropped one bar around 1,000 miles and never used any more oil up to 2500 miles when I had the oil changed.

    The point is, you shouldn't be stressing about the guage reading one bar down from full.

    When a car sits for awhile the condensation can be enough to give you a full reading; drive it some and the reading drops back down. I suspect that is what the original poster observed.

    As far as the dipstick (or lack thereof), I could never read the darn dipstick in the 996/986's I had prior to my 996 Turbo and 997 which have none. So I don't miss it.

    Nov 4, 2006 3:46:10 AM

    U Boat Commander
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    U Boat Commander
    Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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    Registered on: May 8, 2004
    Reply to: bstew

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    Quote:
    bstew said:
    U Boat Commander,
    That is one sharp looking car. What color is that and how did you get that shine. Looks great!



    Thanks Bstew. It's minight blue, with metropol blue top and sea blue interior - triple blue. I use Zymol wax for shine. But I'm about ready for a full detail at the new Zymol shop in Bev Hills.

    Nov 4, 2006 4:49:12 PM

    MMD
    Rennteam VIP
    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: U Boat Commander

    Re: Oil Gauge....

    FWIW, I only put oil in the car in this specific way. I'm figuring my guage has it's particular quirk like TPMS has it's particular quirk for each car.

    In my garage I wait for the indicator to show it's down TWO bars. The moment it shows it's down two bars I add exactly 800 ml of oil (each bar supposedly is .4L).

    Works for me... .

    Try it when you change your oil. Add the last few quarts of oil slowly and then check what the guage sez. Mine said two bars needs 800 ml to appear full ***after I've added exactly the required nine quarts***. To make this accurate you must the trick of slowly and completely filling the oil filter "cup" before screwing it in.

     
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