pokerjarvis

New warning splat for me! Outta the blue, comes: 'OIL LEVEL MONITORING FAILURE-WORKSHOP'. I've read the manual and searched the posts; I know as much about this warning now as I did before it lit up. (aka: nothing). Only that I need to visit our friendly authorized Porsche dealer to have the fault remedied. Has anyone else experience this one? What does it mean? How much to fix? OK to run until I get to the dealership?

Renn 951

Have you checked your dipstick?

pokerjarvis

Ya. Oil is right at the max line and looks great.

Renn 951

Then it sounds like you are fine to run it until you can get the dealer to check it out. It sounds like it's just an idiot light sensor that's gone bad. Just check your oil level on the dipstick once a week and you should have no worries.

Slow Guy

Just be glad it's not the damn new BMW's that only have the electronic oil level gauge (no dipstick at all) that don't work worth a crap.....

Renn 951

Also check your oil temp gauge for normal readings. The oil level sensor is actually based on thermal differences in the oil pan, and the oil temp and oil level readings both feed off the same sensor on the bottom of the oil pan.

pokerjarvis

Well, you may be onto something here. The oil temperature gauge was not registering at all. I tapped/pounded on the dash and it began to register. Immediately, the fault disappeared. Now, I suppose, I understand the fault message. It really doesn't have anything to do with oil per se (pressure or level, etc.), but the oil temp guage and it's function. Unfortunately however, the 'fonzie' approach to repair didn't hold...the fault reappeared and the gauge is once again lifeless. Thoughts??

Renn 951

Well, that sounds more like it may be a loose connection to the gauge behind the instrument panel. I'd expect a bad sensor on the engine would be the source of a "fault" reading rather than a loose connection to the instrument, but that doesn't seem to be the case here if banging on the dash makes it go away even temporarily. Sounds like it's time for a trip to the dealer; please let us know the outcome.

alsamrob

Pokerjarvis, any update?

Got the same ! this a.m. Read this thread, temp gauge lifeless, tapped the oil temp gauge, fault cleared. I am assuming this corrective measure has a shelf life, and I will be at the service desk, hat and wallet in hand.

What was the final diagnosis? Is it a DIY fix?

ltc

Yeah, like those POS 99xTT, 99xGT2, 99x GT3 cars, you know, the ones with the M64/GT1 derived dry sump engine in the back and no dipstick either.....what was Porsche thinking?

DanH

My 996 GT3 RS has a dip stick! Its in the oil filler under the cap, so a bit hard to see!

ltc

Glad to see someone is paying attention....

richc

sounds like the 997 Porsches. No dipstick there, if there is I haven't found it.

Slow Guy

For one thing Porsche's system seems to work and Porsche has left in the oil pressure gauge and oil temp gauge (I think they also have a water temp gauge) whereas BMW removed them all (left with just the idiot lights) except in the "M's".

I would also rather be 1 qt low on a dry sump system w/ 10 - 12 qt capacity than 1 qt. low on a wet sump w/ a 6.9 qt capacity.

pokerjarvis

The dealer tested/diagnosed the problem; needs a new oil sending unit. Approx. $300. They didn't have one in stock, but assured me it was nothing to worry about, as it was nothing more than a lifeless needle and that everything is functioning fine. They told me to schedule it during my next oil change and to just ignore the intermittent fault. Oddly enough, after their sniffing around and diagnosis, the fault has disappeared (I'm knocking on wood right now) and the gauge is functioning properly. Go figure.