alan111

I know this topic has been beaten to death. I just find too many conflicting answers and I would really appreciate if someone can definitively answer the following:

1) What does each level on the Oil Level Indicator represent? What would the measurement at each level be?

2) It's been just about 3000 miles since my last oil change. I've checked the oil level over the last few weeks and it has been just above the minimum level. Today after filling up some gas, I got the "check oil level" message and sure enough, oil level was below the minimum mark and blinking.

Please just confirm for me how much consumption (in qts or liters) that usage equates to, and that this is normal consumption.

Thanks everyone in advance!

EDIT: Carrera S, 27k miles.

DC911S

Each segment is .6 liters it's in the manual

Wayne Smith

The difference between one level on the gauge and the next level could be just a few drops. You really don't have a lot of data to go on when your best reference only moves one point.

Next time you do an oil change make sure you know exactly how much you put in. Note the mileage. When you do the next oil change measure how much you removed and the miles driven.

You still may have an error based upon driving habits since some of what you remove could be accumulated moisture, but this will give you a more accurate idea.

JCGMS

If you want conflicting answers go no further than your own thread.

According to the 997.1 manual (this may be different for .2s), the oil level indicators are 0.4 Liters, and the difference between max and min is 1.2L.

JCGMS

The manual also refers to oil consumption being up to 1.5L per 622 miles.

alan111

Thanks so much!

jhbrennan

Not sure what manual he was looking at but oil indicators for both 997.1 and 997.2 are the same (996 is different though).

oronymo

Iceter

FlatsixS

This is exactly what I’m experiencing now with my C2S. I bought the car with a fresh oil change performed a day before my purchase. Drive it 1000 miles to home, now fast reaching another 2k miles and until now all time the oil was on top mark. However, after last drives (weekends) it drop a couple of marks. Granted, I’m driving her usually in mid 90s here as seems Summer doesn’t want to leave Texas! But nothing unusual as I read and talked with other P owners.

Bruce In Philly

2009 C2S 144K miles

When I do an oil change (every 5K), I always put in just under what I take out. I measure what I take out. Then heat the oil with a drive and check.... I don't pay to much attention to this first check.... but then check it after each drive then after say the third check, I top it up. I have no clue why it is sometimes is flaky after a fill, but it is.

So.... if you get a surprising low reading that you weren't expecting, I would first check for a leak, drips on your floor. Then check again after another drive. I would NOT overreact and put in oil.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

snaphappy

Some people suggest switching to 5W. The car will consume less oil. Like everything, it’s a debated topic

FlatsixS

Thanks Bruce for this good advice. As I noted, I bought this car recently, and being my first P-car I don’t have much experience of what to expect about oil consumption, so Rennlist have been an invaluable tool to me to learn about Porsche cars. BTW, your guide for buying a 997 is fantastic and certainly helped me a lot when I was looking for cars. Excellent info summarized in one place.
So far no oil leaks noted on my garage. Until now, I take the car mostly during weekends for pleasure drives, and keep it garaged as have a different DD car to deal during weekdays with the awful traffic here. Planning to change myself the oil when I reach my 5k miles, and will follow you advice. Also I want to send oil sample to blackstone for further analysis, just to check engine condition, and check oil filter as everyone here recommended.

Cheers
FlatSixS

FlatsixS

I have all the record invoices and services performed in the car by the previous owner as he used almost the same Indy shop for all its services. The car was always serviced using Liqui Moly 5W40 (as per invoices). So I’m planning to keep it using the same as the lack of better suggestion. Currently the car has 42.5k miles on it. My doubt is that I found 3 different types of oil within this brand and with same spec 5W40:
Liqui Moly (2332) Leichtlauf High Tech
Liqui Moly (3701) Top Tec 4100
Liqui Moly (2401) Synthoil Premium

All of them seem to meet with Porsche spec A40, so I like to know what is the best suited for the car. I don’t track, but drive extensively and spirited sometimes. (Old Invoices only describe as Liquid Molly 5W40) So any advice is highly appreciated). Also I would like to top off the current oil with the current brand.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Cheers
FlatSixS

groovzilla

I've owned 3 997's - a 2005 997S, 2007C4S and my current 2007 997S
Oil burn rates were very different
the 05 997S w/ 64K miles burned 1 quart every 1200 miles
the 07 997C4S w/78K miles burned 1 quart every 1800 miles
My current 07 997S w/55K miles burns 1 quart every 2800 miles (I've put 1000 miles on it and oil indicator hasn't moved) Previous RL Member owner told me it didn't burn any oil between oil changes.

From my searching the topic over the past 6 years, oil burn rates seem to be all over the place.
IMO any car that burns more than 1 quart every 700 miles should have high miles or I'd guess is having Bore Score issues or similar.

Just my take on it