powdrhound

I always hated not having a dipstick on the engine and having to rely on the goofy electronic oil level sensor and trusting its accuracy. While my engine was getting put back together I had a GT3 Cup oil dipstick assembly installed. Works great, just like a dipstick should. It's a worthwhile mod if you ever have the engine out. It could probably be swapped with a partial engine drop / lowering. About $100 in parts...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rFSEPh]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rFTUzJ]

602996TT

I'm doing this mod as well just ordered all the parts since my engine is out thanks for sharing!

993GT

great mod, having been planning on doing this forever...agree a physical check always beats relying on electronics

z06801

I would love to have a dip stick. What is the regiment for checking the oil with dip stick? Does it go into the dry dump tank? To properly check the dry sump tank in my race car you have to warm it up still turn it off let it settle a bit then check to see if it is up to the screen in the tank. If you do it cold it will be over filled.

993GT

will be the same procedure as older 911's and GT3's

pete95zhn

Now the question: How does these two measuring systems correlate?


I suspect that (my) electronic one indicates less oil than there really is. If I fill it to the max a lot of oil will be vented to LH turbo inlet duct.

shonuf

Powderhound do you have the part numbers for the dipstick conversion? Also the numbers for the 997 RSR LCAS as well as the 997 Cup toe arms? Finally who do you use for Porsche MS Parts?
Thanks,
Carlos

powdrhound

Here you go. This is straight out of 996GT3 Cup PET. You need #11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. You may not need 0-ring (#12) which I think is part of the cap #11. I can't recall though...I have a PM account...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rWfLPJ]

Dock

I personally have no problem with having electric-only oil measurement (other equipment I operate at work use electronic oil measurement and it has always performed just fine). I make sure I check the oil level on my 996 Turbo sometime during every outing.

I normally let the oil level get down low enough where I can add a full quart, but if I want the oil at a higher level before a long road trip, the index markings on the electronic display allow for accurate additions of less than a full quart of oil.

powdrhound

The electronic oil sensor works fine until you are away at the track for the weekend and it quits leaving you with no way to check oil quantity. How do you know your 15 year old electronic sensor is accurate? Having a dipstick also allows you to crosscheck the accuracy of the electronic gizmo. I like redundancy. My CF6-80s at work don't have dipsticks either but my guess is those gauges are slightly better quality than what we have on our motors, and I'm not footing the bill for the engine if it looses oil...

Various versions of the GT3 came from the factory with both a dipstick AND the electronic sensor. Maybe Porsche thought it was a good idea too at some point?

Dock

You've experienced oil sensor failure(s)?

It depends on how accurate one needs to measure the oil quantity; you know...measure with a micrometer, mark with a grease pencil, and cut with an ax.

I'm not so sure.

You don't use your dipstick while driving (or flying), so that's a moot point.

powdrhound

Yes, I've seen several cars with oil level sensor issues. Turbos and 997GT3s. But yes, you are right. Having redundancy for the lifeblood of your $40k engine for under $100 is dumb. What was I thinking??

Dock

I'm not sure when my electronic oil sensor was actually manufactured, but it has been in my 996 Turbo for at least 13 years and three months. And regarding it's accuracy, I suspect it is as accurate now as it was when I bought the car. I have on many occasions seen the oil level at something other than the full mark, added a specific measured quantity of oil (as indicated by the measurement on the oil container; but you might ask "How do you know that measuring indicator is accurate?" to which I would reply "see my micrometer/grease pencil/ax remark above"), and the electronic indicator shows that this quantity of oil has been added. Pretty "slick". Porsche claims the fidelity of each bar space on the indicator is 0.26 quart. Not 0.25 or 0.27, but 0.26. It appears that they have a system that is clearly more than capable of measuring oil quantity close enough to ensure normal operation of the engine.

powdrhound

Doc, you win. I posted this for the benefit of the people who want to have the option of a dipstick. Nothing more, nothing less. If you don't like it and feel it's silly, I'm happy for you. Perhaps you should start a thread on the benefits of the electronic sensor? I will stay out of that one.. Cheers!

Dock

What specific issues?

Well, more expensive engines that what we have in the 996 Turbo have no dip sticks. And the last time I checked, the companies that own these million dollar engines are no more interested in replacing them because of low oil quantity than you are of replacing your 996 Turbo engine for low oil quantity.

And yes, oil is essential (lifeblood) for the engine, but my bet is there would be indicators that the engine was losing (or had lost) oil other than an oil quantity check once the car was stopped. Smoke, oil trail on the pavement, or a rough running or sounding engine. All of those indicators are not checked with either the electronic or manual dip stick at the time they present themselves. So the quantity measurement is always done at a stop where either system is likely accurate enough to indicate a problem.

Not having an actual dip stick in my 996 Turbo does not in any way indicate that I am not as concerned about my engine as you are yours.