JGriff

Just curious as to whether the consensus is to check the oil (in the 944 line, and the S2, if it is any different) when the car is warmed up or when it is cold?

I've always checked the oil in my cars when it is cold... but I was just wondering if the Porsche 944 series (with a dry sump) is any different.

So... let's hear it... how do you check YOUR oil?

Thanks.

Germanicus

I always check when it's cold. I think you get a more true reading this way.

PorscheG96

Both. I just check whenever I feel like it. If there's oil then I'm good.

JGriff

Wow... only two responses.

Only three of us that check our own oil... hmmm... that's interesting.

adrial

I think the reason you're not getting a flood of answers is that most of us just check whenever.

I just check whenever...

I remember one person said its best to check it after a drive, after the engine cools off for a few mins...

Eric

Wait a minute, we are supposed to "check" our oil?? Everytime I have seen it, it is brownish. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Dave

If you check it "hot", make sure you give the oil enough time to drain back down to the pan. Over-filled = BAD!

Peckster

I don't think it makes any difference, as long as you give it a few minutes after driving to let it drain to the pan. Oil expands slightly when hot, but not enough to make a difference.

Renn 951

Click and Clack handled a question on this last week in their column. They said on a lot of newer cars the mfr's have recalibrated the dipstick for "hot" or "warm" readings since most people check the oil at the gas station when filling up. Older cars (i.e. 944's) would be calibrated for cold measurement. When they actually checked the oil on some newer cars both hot and cold, they found on some there was a significant difference and on other models virtually no difference. The oil seems to drain back to the oil pan quicker on some models, and they said do the same comparison on your own car to see if there is any real difference.

bs

[quote]Originally posted by JGriff:
<strong>I've always checked the oil in my cars when it is cold... but I was just wondering if the Porsche 944 series (with a dry sump) is any different.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

i thought a dry sump was when one pump scavenges the oil from the pan to an oil tank and then another pump generates oil pressure from there... or is that backwards?

either way the 944's work the same as most all other cars in that the pump that generates oil pressure sucks in oil from the crankcase.

i check my oil whenever i feel like i want to know how much oil i have in the oil pan... however i do take into account whether i just shut the engine off... if you check your oil all the time you will get a good feel for how much to expect to see under any condidtions and when to think that you've lost some oil. plus there's always the "low oil" light, which comes on way before the oil gets to the bottom of the marked zone on the dipstick on my car.

JGriff

Thanks everyone.

It seems as if there isn't any one specific way to check it on these cars i.e. these cars aren't really any different than any other car... as far as checking oil, that is... we all know that they are "special" otherwise...

I'll continue then to check it when it is cold, knowing that all of the oil has drained back down into the pan.

Thanks again.

schlag

What about coolant?


I get different readings when hot (high/normal), warm (middling) and cold (lowish )

MadMax

Just FYI, the 944 IS NOT a DRY sump oil system. It only has a pressure pump and is gravity feed return. Oil level on most "dry" sump engines require the engine to be running to check proper level. A dry sump system has a separate oil sump from the block and it requires a pressure pump and a scavenge pump element to function properly.

944/968's are just like most other engines, wet sump. The 993,964, and 911 were dry sump engined vehicles. The 996 is kind of a hybrid between a dry and wet sump design. Although, I think it is really a wet sump and Porsche just calls it a modified dry sump to keep from offending the diehard 911 fans.

Max

Z-man

Oil should be checked when it has returned to the pan. Ie: when it is cold, or as Dave said, after a drive and you've given it enough time for the oild to go back home.

-Z.

Manning

Based on what I have read specifically refering to our cars, the oil should be check after the car has been brought up to operating temp, but has been allowed to sit (off) for 10 minutes or so.