997 GT3 Oil Level Check

[V8KSN]

Is there a proven definitive way to check the oil level in a 997 GT3?

I ask because once the engine is hot (after a long hard drive) I pull over on a level area and check it using the dashboard function and the readings I get vary depending on how long I am parked.

What is the 'right' way to check it?

Kind regards
Kul

P.S Still cant get over how good this car is, third gear is a flexible powerhouse!

[curley]

Do the readings vary so much as to tell you it needs topping up or it doesnt ?

If they dont and only fall within acceptable limits i wouldn't worry about it .

FWIW my Gen 2 car always gives the same reading ( and doesnt seem to need topping up between services despite the puff of white smoke on cold start up ( they all do that sir ) .

[V8KSN]

curley said:

Do the readings vary so much as to tell you it needs topping up or it doesnt ?

If they dont and only fall within acceptable limits i wouldn't worry about it .

FWIW my Gen 2 car always gives the same reading ( and doesnt seem to need topping up between services despite the puff of white smoke on cold start up ( they all do that sir ) .

Yeah, the readings vary with a difference of two bars, which is quite a difference really.

Is there a proper way to check the level? Something like once the water and oil are hot, pull over on flat ground, let the engine idle for 'n' mins then check?

Can anyone help?

[MadMark981]

Kul - I never got that much variation - but I always let it hot idle for one minute before checking. So if it's showing at least one bar below the maximum - it might be on the (imprecise) cusp of two readings and I wouldn't worry.

If it's a couple of bars down - I would chuck 250ml of the (supplied) oil in it - take it for a spin and check it again.

At the end of the day, as long as it's well above the minimum, you don't need to worry!

[V8KSN]

MadMark981 said:

Kul - I never got that much variation - but I always let it hot idle for one minute before checking. So if it's showing at least one bar below the maximum - it might be on the (imprecise) cusp of two readings and I wouldn't worry.

If it's a couple of bars down - I would chuck 250ml of the (supplied) oil in it - take it for a spin and check it again.

At the end of the day, as long as it's well above the minimum, you don't need to worry!

Thanks Mark, its always well above the minimum but I just want to know a fool-proof way of checking it (there doesnt seem to be one)

I wont worry in the meantime as I will keep an eye on it and i'm planning on having an oil and filter change in the next month or so anyway.

Took it out into Wales again the other day, its an epic car! Done over 1400 miles since I bought it from you

[Far Cough]

I had the same with mine so used the "average" method. Get a reading as soon as it will let you after starting so the oil is just about hot enough. Note the result. Then take another one when it has been well driven. Note the result and average the 2 results. Add oil accordingly. Seemed to work for me.

[MadMark981]

V8KSN said:

Thanks Mark, its always well above the minimum but I just want to know a fool-proof way of checking it (there doesnt seem to be one)

I wont worry in the meantime as I will keep an eye on it and i'm planning on having an oil and filter change in the next month or so anyway.

Took it out into Wales again the other day, its an epic car! Done over 1400 miles since I bought it from you

Good news! Do remember that she only had an Oil & Filter change at OPC Mid Sussex circa 19,500 miles (I think in October 2012 - but it should be in the invoice pack) - so you could wait for the next major service interval? You know the MOT is due at the end of the month?

I'm up to 380 miles in the Boxster and she's still tight (just starting to free up), but makes a fabulous noise! I still miss the GT3's brakes though (I love PCCB's) and the sheer drama and ferocity of the top end "lunge"!

[V8KSN]

MadMark981 said:

V8KSN said:

Thanks Mark, its always well above the minimum but I just want to know a fool-proof way of checking it (there doesnt seem to be one)

I wont worry in the meantime as I will keep an eye on it and i'm planning on having an oil and filter change in the next month or so anyway.

Took it out into Wales again the other day, its an epic car! Done over 1400 miles since I bought it from you

Good news! Do remember that she only had an Oil & Filter change at OPC Mid Sussex circa 19,500 miles (I think in October 2012 - but it should be in the invoice pack) - so you could wait for the next major service interval? You know the MOT is due at the end of the month?

I'm up to 380 miles in the Boxster and she's still tight (just starting to free up), but makes a fabulous noise! I still miss the GT3's brakes though (I love PCCB's) and the sheer drama and ferocity of the top end "lunge"!

Ooh! Thanks for the MOT reminder, I had forgotten about that!

I know that you had the oil change done last year but I am thinking of getting the oil and filter changed again in August as I am going on a 2500 mile jaunt across Europe in Sept and I want fresh oil for that.

As for the top-end ferocity, you have not used full revs on your new toy yet!

[MadMark981]

V8KSN said:

Ooh! Thanks for the MOT reminder, I had forgotten about that!

I know that you had the oil change done last year but I am thinking of getting the oil and filter changed again in August as I am going on a 2500 mile jaunt across Europe in Sept and I want fresh oil for that.

As for the top-end ferocity, you have not used full revs on your new toy yet!

Not a problem!

Ahh yes - of course - forgot about that!

Nope - I'm being very good (still under 400 miles) and for the most part I've kept her below 4,000rpm (even if I have used full throttle plenty of times getting there) with the odd single gear extension a little higher. As for the full 7,800 rpm - not yet - but I think she's going to be pretty much on a par with my old 997.1 C2S!

[Gmund]

You just learn to live with what is ultimately a flawed system. When I first bought my car, the electronic dipstick quickly became a source of stress and anxiety. I'm not saying ignore it, because obviously it's there to protect a very expensive engine. Just don't let the indecisive little menace drive you crazy! I used to be obsessed with keeping it in the top bar at all times. Now, even if it's flashing and saying check engine oil, I just drive off regardless. Next time I start it, it has the bottom bar lit anyway!

[Rockster]

V8KSN said:

Is there a proven definitive way to check the oil level in a 997 GT3?

I ask because once the engine is hot (after a long hard drive) I pull over on a level area and check it using the dashboard function and the readings I get vary depending on how long I am parked.

What is the 'right' way to check it?

Kind regards
Kul

P.S Still cant get over how good this car is, third gear is a flexible powerhouse!

This should be covered in the owners manual. It is not rocket science. I mean if you can work a dipstick and derive anything meaningful from that I would think the e-level oil measurement system would be a piece of cake. Piece of crumb cake.

I'm not familiar with the GT3 but with my Boxster I can check the level at any time the engine is off. Now depending upon how long it has been off, how hot it got before it was shut off, the reading timer can require I wait sometimes minutes and minutes before the reading will show up.

Of course I never do wait minutes. My general rule is if the timer is at more than 5 seconds I do not complete the oil level check.

Either I check the engine oil level with the car dead cold -- before the 1st trip of the day -- or at the start of subsequent trips, like after I fill up the gas tank, or leave the car for a while to run into a store.

Now I also note how level the car is for I know the reading is affected be the levelness of the car. In extreme cases -- parked on the side of an severely crowned road -- the level can read down several bars to the point the display is flashing if the level was down a few bars from full to begin with. However, because I have already at some other recent time established the level was ok I ignore this. But it does highlight how the reading is affected by the levelness or lack of this of the car.

Also, I note if I check the oil with the engine dead cold then again at the same spot after having shut off a very hot engine just a few minutes before the level will read a bar maybe 2 higher than it did cold. Normal.

On the flip side when I come back to the car the next day and check the level before starting the engine I note the level is down a bar or two from where it was the night before. Normal.

In the case of my Turbo the engine has to be up to some minimum temperature and the car has to be relatively level and the engine has to be idling and the car stationary. This means I can't check the oil level at the start of the first trip of the day but once I have driven the car long enough to get the engine warm enough I can check the oil almost anywhere, even at a stop light. And I do provided I know the light will be red long enough. I prepare for this by rolling up to the light with the tranny in neutral and the engine idling so I almost always need only wait 5 seconds (the minimum time) for the level to be read and displayed.

Also, I check the level before I shut off the engine at the end of a trip. Since I have to let the engine idle some anyhow to let the turbos cool (and I always let the Boxster engine idle a moment or two just to even out thermal gradients) before I shut the engine off) this is not a hardship. I leave the car knowing the oil level is ok or I make it ok before I leave the car.

Similarly when I fill up the gas tank before I shut of the engine I check the oil level. Almost always the station forecourt is quite level so the reading is valid. I tend to fill up at the same station and even use the same pump so this makes for even more consistent readings. Anyhow, if the level is low I can add some oil then and there.

Seems a small price to pay to avoid having to get out of the car and mess with a nasty old dipstick that brings with it its own issues and opportunities for misreading the oil level.

If one can't master the oil e-level system in one of these cars I wonder how he manages to even drive the thing.

[V8KSN]

Rockster said:

V8KSN said:

Is there a proven definitive way to check the oil level in a 997 GT3?

I ask because once the engine is hot (after a long hard drive) I pull over on a level area and check it using the dashboard function and the readings I get vary depending on how long I am parked.

What is the 'right' way to check it?

Kind regards
Kul

P.S Still cant get over how good this car is, third gear is a flexible powerhouse!

This should be covered in the owners manual. It is not rocket science. I mean if you can work a dipstick and derive anything meaningful from that I would think the e-level oil measurement system would be a piece of cake. Piece of crumb cake.

I'm not familiar with the GT3 but with my Boxster I can check the level at any time the engine is off. Now depending upon how long it has been off, how hot it got before it was shut off, the reading timer can require I wait sometimes minutes and minutes before the reading will show up.

Of course I never do wait minutes. My general rule is if the timer is at more than 5 seconds I do not complete the oil level check.

Either I check the engine oil level with the car dead cold -- before the 1st trip of the day -- or at the start of subsequent trips, like after I fill up the gas tank, or leave the car for a while to run into a store.

Now I also note how level the car is for I know the reading is affected be the levelness of the car. In extreme cases -- parked on the side of an severely crowned road -- the level can read down several bars to the point the display is flashing if the level was down a few bars from full to begin with. However, because I have already at some other recent time established the level was ok I ignore this. But it does highlight how the reading is affected by the levelness or lack of this of the car.

Also, I note if I check the oil with the engine dead cold then again at the same spot after having shut off a very hot engine just a few minutes before the level will read a bar maybe 2 higher than it did cold. Normal.

On the flip side when I come back to the car the next day and check the level before starting the engine I note the level is down a bar or two from where it was the night before. Normal.

In the case of my Turbo the engine has to be up to some minimum temperature and the car has to be relatively level and the engine has to be idling and the car stationary. This means I can't check the oil level at the start of the first trip of the day but once I have driven the car long enough to get the engine warm enough I can check the oil almost anywhere, even at a stop light. And I do provided I know the light will be red long enough. I prepare for this by rolling up to the light with the tranny in neutral and the engine idling so I almost always need only wait 5 seconds (the minimum time) for the level to be read and displayed.

Also, I check the level before I shut off the engine at the end of a trip. Since I have to let the engine idle some anyhow to let the turbos cool (and I always let the Boxster engine idle a moment or two just to even out thermal gradients) before I shut the engine off) this is not a hardship. I leave the car knowing the oil level is ok or I make it ok before I leave the car.

Similarly when I fill up the gas tank before I shut of the engine I check the oil level. Almost always the station forecourt is quite level so the reading is valid. I tend to fill up at the same station and even use the same pump so this makes for even more consistent readings. Anyhow, if the level is low I can add some oil then and there.

Seems a small price to pay to avoid having to get out of the car and mess with a nasty old dipstick that brings with it its own issues and opportunities for misreading the oil level.

If one can't master the oil e-level system in one of these cars I wonder how he manages to even drive the thing.

Thank you very much for your long, protracted, detailed but ultimately passive-aggressive post.

The reason I asked is because in my old 997 C2S I could check the level from cold - which was easy and gave consistent reliable readings.

In the GT3 I have to wait for the oil and water to be hot before I check. This brings with it all the variables of oil expanding when hot etc. THAT'S why I asked the question originally.

[Martian O]

C2S - 'normal' sump so check when cold

GT3/Turbo - dry sump so only check when running and hot (no dipstick), the guage is obviously calibrated to allow for this. Never had a problem reading my oil level.