Checking oil level
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 150
From: San Diego
Checking oil level
My Porsche "Good to Know" phone app says "The oil level can be checked after waiting for approx. 1 minute with the vehicle parked on a level surface and the engine at operating temperature." I does not say if the engine can be running or shut off. The oil level seems to read the same either way. My old school way with aircooled was engine at idle, warm and level.
My service guys do it with engine off. What do you do?
Would rather have a dipstick vice electronic measuring.
My service guys do it with engine off. What do you do?
Would rather have a dipstick vice electronic measuring.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 707
From: El Paso TX
981 clearly says engine has to be off, and exactly 1 minute after shut-off is better, for consistency... as well as same flat surface (garage, etc), and same oil temperature. That way, everything will always be consistent. Noticed I didn't say accurate, since each segment equates to 0.45-qt
. I've never had any issues with such sensors. I much prefer a dipstick, but once you understand how the sensors work, no issues.
. I've never had any issues with such sensors. I much prefer a dipstick, but once you understand how the sensors work, no issues.
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: El Paso TX
All cars I've owned with electronic sensors throw a number when oil reaches enough temperature to trigger the sensor (including my 981 GTS). Sometimes level stays the same after a proper check, but sometimes not. Bottom line is you shouldn't rely on that. Always force a reading the right way, and you'd know where oil level really is. Or at least within 0.45-qt.
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Instructor
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In regards to checking the oil level on a 981. The reading is always available engine running or not after the vehicle has reached operating temperature and has been shut off for about a minute. That reading will be available anytime engine running or not until the engine is run again and reaches operating temperature and then it will be replaced with the new reading. The only time the reading is unavailable is if the rear hatch has been opened for more than thirty seconds. This will cancel the reading as additional oil could have been added when the hatch was opened. You will not get a reading until the engine has again reached operating temperature and turned off for about a minute. If you never open the rear hatch you will always have a reading from the last time the vehicle was at operating temperature and turned off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 150
From: San Diego
In regards to checking the oil level on a 981. The reading is always available engine running or not after the vehicle has reached operating temperature and has been shut off for about a minute. That reading will be available anytime engine running or not until the engine is run again and reaches operating temperature and then it will be replaced with the new reading. The only time the reading is unavailable is if the rear hatch has been opened for more than thirty seconds. This will cancel the reading as additional oil could have been added when the hatch was opened. You will not get a reading until the engine has again reached operating temperature and turned off for about a minute. If you never open the rear hatch you will always have a reading from the last time the vehicle was at operating temperature and turned off.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,382
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From: El Paso TX
. I don't pay attention what the car says except when I reset it myself.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: On a pygmy pony over by the dental floss bush
Check this post I made in the GT4 forum and read the 2 page attachment I included in that post. More info than you ever cared to know about oil level display in 981 cars.
https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/9942...ailable-2.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/9942...ailable-2.html
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 707
From: El Paso TX
Thanks for that document. You should post it here. It checks oil level both ways (static and dynamic), but it's better to do it statically (more consistent). Based on that document, the best way to check oil level IMO (which I'll do from now on) is to open the hatch for a minute (>45 sec) while engine is at typical operating temperature after getting home (about 195şF, in my case), to erase previous oil level info. Check that oil level info was erased, close hatch, then start engine and shut it off. If engine is cold, it'd throw a reading around 158şF or so, which is not the same as 195, hence I wouldn't rely on a 'dynamic' level check, but to each his own. Apparently the system waits a minute before measuring level, so we CANNOT really force a reading ourselves. Interesting. The manual clearly says to wait a minute before checking level, but what it doesn't say is the DME is doing the checking automatically, which takes a minute, hence waiting a minute to see the results, I guess.
. It checks oil level both ways (static and dynamic), but it's better to do it statically (more consistent). Based on that document, the best way to check oil level IMO (which I'll do from now on) is to open the hatch for a minute (>45 sec) while engine is at typical operating temperature after getting home (about 195şF, in my case), to erase previous oil level info. Check that oil level info was erased, close hatch, then start engine and shut it off. If engine is cold, it'd throw a reading around 158şF or so, which is not the same as 195, hence I wouldn't rely on a 'dynamic' level check, but to each his own. Apparently the system waits a minute before measuring level, so we CANNOT really force a reading ourselves. Interesting. The manual clearly says to wait a minute before checking level, but what it doesn't say is the DME is doing the checking automatically, which takes a minute, hence waiting a minute to see the results, I guess.
Last edited by JCtx; Oct 23, 2017 at 11:16 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 801
Likes: 4
From: Houston, Texes
I just changed my oil at a small independent shop but they were not able to get the service indication changed on my 981 Spyder. They have the Computer for Porsche diagnostics but told me that Porsche is not allowing independent shops make changes to the service reminder. I still show the change oil notification. Anyone run into this and is there any way to fix this without paying the dealer $450 service charge?