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A couple of fill up's ago (fuel) my "Check engine" warning came on...disappears as soon as I started to drive off. Didn't think anything much of it. The dash indicated shows 5/5 for the oil level. Today i decided to run the diagnostic and is shows it to be very low (1-2 bars only). I checked the dip stick and shows low as well. The last oil change was 5k ago...no signs of oil in garage or driveway at the office....so not sure why it would burn so quick! When i last got the oil changed I also had my IMS replaced with 8 litres of oil put back in....wonder if this had anything to do with it. I've got a trip to Montreal in a couple of weeks and plan on driving the porsche there from Toronoto...was thinking I'd top it up with Mobil 1 since i will only be having it on the road for another 4-6 weeks before I put it away of which at that time I'll be getting a full oil/filter change.
Do you guys suggest I get a change now? or just it up until my scheduled changed? I figure aside from the trip to Montreal (1K total) I'd be putting on another 1K before she goes to sleep for the winter.
that drop (about 1 litre) in 5K is not uncommon or even considered high consumption on the flat 6. My first engine went through 1 litre every 1000km, while the current X51 drops maybe a bar or two between oil changes... unpredictable which engines will be oil hogs or not and that's why the Porsche dealers always leave an extra bottle of oil for top ups in the frunck at each oil change. Even gave me the first time, a special Mobil 1/Porsche zippered holder that velcros to the carpet to hold it in place.
Also, if you check the oil level right after you stop for fuel, it will register low since the oil hasn't dropped back into the sump. Best to check it on a flat surface after it's been there for awhile. I typically run the electronic level indicator once a week before I start the engine.
Last edited by pongobaz; Aug 31, 2015 at 10:41 AM.
i dont understand ,, or maybe i am missing something ...
the OP showed 5/5 bars and check engine light came on ( may or may not be related ) then TWO WEEKS later showed 1-2 bars.
are we saying that is normal ?
sorry...I mis read the reading it was 2 bars a couple weeks ago and down to one as per the photo below...Just going to top it up with 1/2 litre and call it a day....
These engines are difficult to get a proper oil level reading on. The oil can't be cold but can't be too hot either. Has to be on flat ground and then there is the drain back time to get the dipstick read correctly. They are an Fn' PITA to get a consistent reading on them.
^ +1000, a very poorly engineered system and this coming from a guy who sells oil for a living! My wife's 05 Boxster is horrible and cannot even be retrofitted with a manual dipstick like some of the older one's can. Sometimes you have to wait up to 5 minutes to get a reading that I don't even trust 100% of the time.
wow...I was a little concern about posting my oil level concern being a new Porsche owner..after searching the internet for a couple of days and still was not able to get a definitive answer...Good to know I'm not the only one that might have had questions on this. Anyways...1 1/2 Litre later and I have 3 bars. Might put in the rest of the 1/2 litre that I have left from the 1 litre bottle and call it quits for now. Thoughts? Should be good...I hope until I do my full change at the end of Oct. I figure I'll put on another 2K more before I put it away for the winter...
Low Engine oil
