987 self generating oil

[Zyp]

Either I've stumbled across something that'll make me rich, or something's just wrong...

I checked my oil in my Spyder last night and it appeared to be half full.
I didn't top it up then as I didn't have time.

However, returned home tonight and checked again- its now one bar below full ( doesn't look like a full bar either).
Both times it was checked in exactly the same place, level ground.

Could something be amiss that should concern me, or have I really accidentally discovered the automotive version of Willy Wonka's ever lasting gobstopper?

Cheers

[sportsandclassic]

Hi, was the engine cold ?

[Zyp]

Hi Mike,
No, fully warmed - I'd had a good spirited run home each time.

Car smelled lovely and was making lots of clicking noises...

[rob.kellock]

They can be ultra sensitive to gradient. But if you have found a commercial alternative to magic beans then I'll go in with you 50/50 if you like?

[Simon.b]

I had the same problem after an oil change. It was fine for a couple of weeks, then I got the level warning light and had to drain some off.

[sportsandclassic]

Hi, just check it when cold a few times and see what readings you get.

I know early 997 cars had a few issues with level sensors but not many.

Let me know.

[mrdemon]

Not possable to check when cold.

[nickfrog]

One bar is 250ml I think so out of 8L it might just be the margin of error.

[Pugley]

Grrrrr

Why oh why did they do away with the dipstick?

Every time I look at the gauge that only comes on when it wants to and gives a different reading every time, I cant help thinking KAK!

Fortunately, I have one of the old models that that still has a dipstick as well as the useless electronic gizmo

[DSM2]

mrdemon said:

Not possable to check when cold.

Whys that then, the level in the 997 is checked when cold.

When hot, the time you need to wait for the gauge to provide a level is very variable and long. It's only reliably usable when cold and for comparison, it needs to always be very level, ideally in the same location.

I check mine before I take it out of the garage so it's always in the same place and cold. It is consistently on the same mark.

If checked on an uneven surface It's can be all over the place.

[bull996]

I had a BMW where the oil level went up bit by bit.

At the same time, the coolant level was going down a bit.

You know the rest

[GuitarPlayer63]

mrdemon said:

Not possable to check when cold.

My C2 997.2 just wont let you check the oil when it's cold and tells you it needs to be at temperature first...

[Trev450]

Gen 2's will only let you check the oil level when hot unlike Gen 1's which allow you to check when either hot or cold.

[crispyshark]

i have a gen 1 and i had this happen half way round our Europe road trip. After a good days spirited driving i ran an oil check and it showed the level down to half!
Next day i ran another check and it showed full.....very strange. Still shows almost full now and thats 3k miles later.

I too am baffled as to why they did away with the dipstick!

[Trev450]

I think the procedure is to just pour in the amount that the handbook gives in relation to capacity. Bit hit and miss though!

[steve singh]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Each car has recommended level of oil and you fill accordingly - e.g. if a car takes 8L you put in 8L?

[Zyp]

Just measured the level again.

Sat in the garage with the engine running until the OBC would let me measure the level.
So, as cold as the oil could be, and the level hasn't moved from just below full.

Must have been a glitch in the electrical gubbins, possibly.

[anonymous-user]

The oil should be warm to get an accurate reading (or any reading at all on later cars). But also needs to be left for a little while with the engine off to let the oil drain down and settle. I always check mine (996) 30 mins or so after a good run while the oil is still hot and settled. Seems fairly consistent then.

[Far Cough]

I go with the " Best out of five " rule.

[Prof Beard]

uktrailmonster said:

The oil should be warm to get an accurate reading (or any reading at all on later cars). But also needs to be left for a little while with the engine off to let the oil drain down and settle. I always check mine (996) 30 mins or so after a good run while the oil is still hot and settled. Seems fairly consistent then.

Thanks - that's really helpful. The manuals say "a few minutes" - a fat lot of a use as guidance. I keep getting different readings - all ok but knowing when it is actually time to top up is a bit of a puzzle...