Maverick1

I was just curious if Porsche is the only auto manufacturer to have an electronic oil level indicator, rather than the traditional dip stick?
I think it's a great feature, which allows you to check your oil every time you get into your car......brilliant.

exponential

While the electronic oil level indicators are easy and keep your hands clean. I miss the dip stick that am not only know the oil level but could see the color and feel the viscosity of the oil.

todd92

Many other manufacturers have electronic dipsticks.

Why is the color of oil important? How do you judge viscosity by feel?

gota911

If the oil is the color of honey, it is probably new oil.
If it is the color of maple syrup, it has been in the car a while and starting to collect contaminates.
If the oil is the color of tar, it's overdue for a change.

todd92

Wow, between your color scale and calibrated fingers, who needs laboratory oil analysis?

rnl

I miss the dip stick too at times. After oil is changed the car will not show oil level until it's warm. I've resorted to checking the level before I drain the oil, measuring the volume of oil drained and replacing that about of oil. It's annoying but it works.

I do appreciate the convenience at other times

LexVan

What about sniffing. Did you ever sniff the dipstick?

gota911

That's a good one! I like it!

exponential

Yes, I did sniff the dip stick sometime. If the oil burned, you can smell them too. In this case, no need to take time to send the oil to laboratory. Just change the oil immediately.

todd92

In 40 years of owning cars I've never 'burned' oil. Never saw anything odd about the oil on the dipstick. Oil is supposed to discolor, even turn dark, that's the detergent doing it's job. It doesn't mean the oil is used up or needs to be changed.

Some serious barnyard, very old school thinking here.

exponential

I have been racing for 37 years and did burn oil a few time. In the old days some xxW50 oil lost their viscosity so quick after a few hard laps. It is better if we have an easy excess to inspect oil.

You may call me barnyard but I have that bad habit to (primary) inspect oil at spot (in the pit). Can not send them to lab all the time.

todd92

In an air cooled engine with conventional oil, maybe. Water cooled engine with synthetic, impossible without a cooler failure.

exponential

Also on the high boost turbo engine.

For street use, electronic oil level indicator is O.K. But as said, I got my bad habit and feel I miss something. That's it.

drmatara

so is the electronic dipstick working with engine on or off? I checked my level the other day with the engine on and it did not complain at all...it just told me that level it's ok

LexVan

Car level

Oil hot

Engine off ( about 1 minute).

Ignition on.

Then check oil level with the MFD.