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So as part of the 60k service I recently had completed on my 98’ 993, the oil was changed. The oil level gauge prior to this service being done worked fine. It would read about 1/4 when the car was warmed up, running, and on a flat surface. It would show nothing when the car was under load and being driven. However, since this service, the gauge has been doing some weird things. Once the car is warmed up, running, and on a flat surface, the needle pins at the top of the gauge. Under load the needle fluctuates between 1/4 and 3/4 on the gauge, averaging around 1/2 I’d say.
The car runs perfectly fine, no smoke, no burning smell, no oil on the ground. I’d be pretty surprised if they overfilled it. The work was performed by a certified 993 mechanic.
I’m thinking a gauge issue, perhaps wiring, sensor, etc. I thought I’d throw this out to the much more technically savvy folks on the forum to see what thoughts are out there on what the cause of this may be?
It sounds high on oil to me. Have you checked the dip stick to compare?
If I’m honest, I didn’t check it prior to taking it back in to them Thursday. I have barely driven it since the 60k service was performed about 2 months ago. I drove it for an hour on Wednesday and it ran just fine.
So let’s assume it’s overfilled...putting aside from the questions it raises in my head regarding the shop that performed the work for a moment, would the car perform normally as it did? I’d assume there would be smoke, etc?
It's overfilled and by quite a lot. If you have a Mity-Vac or means of siphoning off a quart by way of a tube down the filler neck into the tank, please do so, then check the oil level by the dipstick at idle after the car is at full operating temperature. The dipstick level should be at the half-way mark and the gauge, if calibrated correctly, should read likewise. If you need to remove more oil to get it at half-way, do so. If you don't have the equipment or the inclination, then take it back to the cretins who did the change and tell them to get it right. Leaving it as is will create problems.
It's overfilled and by quite a lot. If you have a Mity-Vac or means of siphoning off a quart by way of a tube down the filler neck into the tank,.
Maybe overfilled but don't stick a siphon tube down the filler neck as you may knock the oil level float out of adjustment or damage its arm. I would drain a little oil from the drain plug on the engine case and if needed put some of it back in so the dip-stick reads 1/3 or so with a HOT engine running at idle.
Also if your oil level checks out at less than 1/2 dip stick range may be the servicing mechanic tried to use a siphon tube and damaged the oil level sender.
Andy
Andy, I appreciate your concern and, if someone has never done much "wrenching", it's probably not a good place to start but I've used small ID tubing with a MityVac numerous times to adjust my oil level with no problems affecting the sender arm or float. You just don't ram the tube down...you ease it down and if you hit the float, you back it up a little, twist the tube and try again. I'm sure you'll agree that the best method is to add oil a little at a time rather than to overfill.
Sounds like the oil is overfilled. The range of the gauge, from top to bottom, is only 1.5 liters, same as the range from top to bottom mark on the dipstick. IMHO, the sweet spot is midpoint of this range. Higher than that, the engine tends to burn it off, and create the impression that it is using oil excessively. If the oil is at the bottom of the range, that means "add a pint".
under load...if the float is operating correctly the gauge should be pinned at the bottom NOT THE TOP!! It's overfilled! BTW Check your Dipstick Level.
Off topic, does anyone think an overfill condition can be severe enough to actually bend the float arm the wrong way or otherwise affect the calibration.
Just looking for a cause.
I'm not sure I believe the theory that they were all off from the factory.
I don't think so. The wire is pretty stiff, took some force to bend it.
I think it's just manufacturing tolerances and for legal reasons they need to err on the safe (underreporting) side.
Seems the consensus is an overfilled situation. I’ve dealt with this shop a number of times and I’ve been pleased with their work in the past. I won’t pass judgement on them until I have an answer and the issue rectified. I’ll report back on what happens.
12-22-2018, 11:09 AM
Oil Level Gauge needle rising while driving?
