cgfen

RTfM.



Now that that is out of my system.

• engine running and at operating temperature, wait to see oil temp gauge rise, then fall a bit as the oil cooler opens.
• car on level ground.
• check reading on dipstick
• replace dipstick
• note reading on dash gauge for reference

whomever told you " , turn engine off keep key on on position check gauge and dipstick " is NOT to be trusted with sharp objects.

cgfen

just calibrate the dash gauge reading by bending the spring steel support for the float in your oil tank as required.
dash gauge reads too low? bend support so float is closer to the bottom of the oil tank.
dash gauge reads too high? bend support so float is closer to the top of the oil tank.
(note, the actual procedure MAY be exactly the opposite, but I doubt it. I haven't seen the inside of the tank for 4+ years)


this is not even bicycle mechanic science, more like toilet repair science.



don't care what the dash gauge reads? then you're golden!

Craig

Quadcammer

easy. take the gauge sender out, bend the float arm downwards slightly, and reassemble. Your gauge will immediately be more accurate.

Allen

This is what I do...of course only AFTER confirming/calibrating the gauge to the dipstick level. "The gauge is useless" is a pretty ridiculous statement...it's pretty much all I use. I simply add oil as necessary to keep my gauge in the middle...which correlates to about 3/4 full on the dipstick. If I ever see my gauge pegged HIGH or LOW....I'll suspect a problem and check the dipstick.

richardew

I've been using the gauge since new. I check it periodically with the dipstick. I have found the range on the gauge to be about 1.5-2 qts., but I'm still new at this. LOL

Ed Hughes

For a guy with a car that is new to him, the only thing here that is asinine, is your answer.

People here are teaching him how to check his oil the right way, which is not a bad thing. Once he's comfortable with the car, determines any relationship between the gauge and stick, maybe he'll arrive at "godlike status", such as you.

boman993

Craig, thanks for the heads up; I'll check out the state of the float in the tank!!

pp000830

So isn't this sort of stuff in the owners manual?

993inNC

Yup


Ed, that's harsh.
The dipstick has always seems vague to me as well. I've only ever really used the gauge. Even when the gauge stops reacting, you've got 9-10 quarts I think it is. Why bother with the stick? It travels so far before its in day light and pics up so much residual oil I would imagine.....why bother. I understand he's learning the car, but the stick is silly IMO.

gtroth

What we really need are tips on how to actually see the oil that's on the dipstick.

race911

Easiest solution is to backdate yourself to a torsion bar chassis model...........

(We HATED the 964s when they first came out.)

Quadcammer

thats fine. The dipstick is 4 miles long, makes a radical bend, and is tough to read. If this is the gold standard of checking the oil, I'll stick to the gauge all day.

You all spend so much time telling anyone who will listen how great porsche engineering is but you won't trust one of the 3 oil gauges they happen to put right there on the dash.

Although there can be some degree of error on the gauge float, its safe to say if it moves at all at hot idle, you'll likely have more than enough oil to keep your engine happy. If it hits the top of the gauge or doesn't move at all, you likely need to take corrective action.

The last thing we need is another hyper **** owner who spends hours of his life thinking and worrying about whether his oil level is 3oz off the mark.

steve porter

Use a torch even in good light, the reflection from the oil makes the level easy to see

DanL993

+1

DanL993

.....and continues to be tiresome....just sayin'.