ABCar

The oil gauge on the dash is a really nice looking peice of old school technology...and looks functional too. However, it cannot be trusted. Even though I always check it with oil completely warmed up and on level ground, my gauge seems to be affected by heat/cold...(and who knows what else!). This error recently caused met to overfill.

After adjusting the amount of oil in the engine to about 80% (as confirmed on the dipstick) the gauge read about 20%. As others have wisely recommended in the past, use the dipstick to check your engine oil, even if you have previously calibrated. I was sure mine was correct but, no.

timothymoffat

So true Andy, SO true.

The gauge on my 97 works exactly as it's supposed to. I still confirm with the dipstick. The gauge on my 95 however......

I've found that when the oil gauge on my 95 is "in the zone", it won't be for long. For this particular car, top of oil gauge (running, level ground, FULLY up to temp) is above the twisty part of the dipstick. I've discovered that it finds a "sweet spot" on the stick about 1/2 way down the twisty part. At this level, the gauge just barely moves under ideal check conditions (running, level ground, FULLY up to temp). There are threads on recalibration but in all honesty, I've learned the car's oil consuming habits and am quite happy relying on the old dipstick.

Just remember, EVERY car's gauge is not equal.

Quadcammer

I haven't checked my dipstick in a year and rely solely on the gauge, which has performed well.

You can feel free to dick around with the dipstick if you like, but I see no reason to.

ABCar

I did that method...and indeed, it did work quite reliably...until....

Every Porshe owner must trust in his or her own methods.

AOW162435

With around 12 quarts of total oil capacity, I use the same approach. I think my gauge and the markings on my dipstick are in sync, so I may go an entire year without pulling the damn thing.


Andreas

ilko

In the 3 aircooled 911s I've had the oil level gauges have been flawless. YMMV.

NC TRACKRAT

Both mine are spot-on. Just gotta give 'em time to get to temp, get level, then time to stabilize at idle.

No HTwo O

My gauge is very accurate, too. But the oil has to be hot-hot. Very level ground.

The electronic dipstick in my 987S is also very accurate. No dipstick.

Edward

Between my 993 and the 911SC, the oil level gauges have yet to prove inaccurate. You have to learn how your particular gauge correlates to your dipstick, but once done, it's consistent IME.

How many here would tolerate a wonky fuel level gauge? ...my guess is not many, if any. So why tolerate an oil gauge that is completely useless ...IMHO, anyway. Either get the gauge or the sender (likely the latter) fixed, or ignore it completely (which is, of course, the OP's stated intent ).

I think the best way to "view" the gauge is that a properly functioning one gives you a reading on where abouts your oil level is. And once the guage needle "bottoms out" without ever popping back up, then it'll typically read in the bottom 1/4 (on my dipstick, anyway). And as was said, with 12 qts of oil in the system, there's plenty there for me not to worry about, and I'll check the dipstick maybe once/3-4 weeks after that, and I'll top up the oil whenever I feel like it. No biggie.

Edward

Ed Hughes

One needs to first learn the correlation between dipstick level and gauge. Too many have tried to make something out of the gauge data, without knowing what they are looking at or for.

Then, yes, the gauge can be used as a verification of oil level. But, the stick is the most accurate, IMO, partcularly after a change.