seacliff

I purchased a 1995 Carrera 2 recently and I can't tell you how thrilled I am with the car. About two weeks ago I took it in for its first oil change under my ownership. Priot to the change, the oil level guage had been reading per the owner's manual, meaning that I am aware of the drop to the redline area as the car gets up to speed, and the subsequent rise after returning to a stop and idle.

Ever since the change the oil gauge now almost NEVER moves from the redline area to the are area of the gauge where it should be at a stop and idling. I check the oil level at least once a week (only drive the car 3 times or so a week anyway) and the diptstick reads right where it should. The car is in great mechanical shape and I have not detected any signs of leaks (oil smell, spots on ground, oil on heat exchangers, etc.). I remember reading somewhere here that the oil float device that indicates oil level in the reservoir can age and not work properly. I think I may have this oil float problem. Does any one know how to check this, and how to fix this? Could something have happended during the oil change to make the float somehow "stick" and cause these readings? Seems to me that this may be a quirk others may have learned to live with, but to me this a basic but important function for such a high performance car, although I agree there is no substitute for manually checking the oil level.

Thanks to all posters. Lurking around here prior to purchasing convinced me a 993 was the way to go!

JasonF

It could be any number of issues with the gauge. I know the sender on my gauge was replaced (under warranty), but the symptoms of a failed sender are similar to what you're experiencing. Good Luck!

P.S. - I'm assuming you are looking at the gauge when the engine is nice and warm, and on a flat surface. It takes about 30 seconds once you're on level ground for the needle to get a good reading.

seacliff

Thanks for the suggestion re: the oil sender. I'm pretty careful about checking it on level surface warmed up.

Any idea of how much a new oil sender + install would cost?

JasonF

Sorry, the PO had the sender replaced under warranty so I don't have a price, and the invoice doesn't list a dollar cost for warranty work. A quick call to your local dealer may give you a (high) ballpark figure.

deltajetfixer

It sounds like what mine does when it gets down to the "minimum" mark on my dipstick.

Try adding half a quart and see if you get some more movement.

I think whoever changed the oil just didn't put as much in as what was in there to begin with.

ca993twin

I think that deltajetfixer has the right idea. A very small increment of oil gets quite a bit of movement on the gauge. 1/2 quart may be all she needs.

Edward

Which is exactly where on the dipstick..1/2, 5/8, 3/4???

Anywhere on the stick is, for all practical purposes, ok. As Deltajet and Steve point out, just a little extra oil moves the needle quite a bit. Assuming the car is HOT, on a level surface, and idling for at least 30 seconds, AND you're not beyond 3/4 full on the dipstick, I'd go ahead and add 1/4-1/2 a quart and see if the needle comes up. If not, your sender is most likely bad.

Edward

seacliff

Thanks deltajetfixer, I took your suggestion to add 1/4 - 1/2 quart of oil and that did the trick. It actually took a little more than 1/2 quart. Oil level gauge reading like it should and I am not overfilled..............still curious as to how much in parts and labor replacing the oil sender on a 1995 Carrera 2 would run. On a previous car of mine (older Honda Accord) I had to do this and I recall it not being too much $$$.

seacliff
1995 Guards Red Carrera 2