Oil Levels Not Reporting Correctly?

[Peter Loew]

Hi All

I've had a blinking indicator come up on my 997 s, I was driving through Europe at the time so had to stop off at a couple of petrol stations to buy some oil. I ended up putting almost 3 literes of oil in there, but it is still blinking at the lowest level. Surely this can't be right?

My car is due a minor service (around £700 quote from West London OPC), and I'm taking it in the end of the week, but I do have to commute to work in it daily till then.

Oil pressure seems normal as does oil temp. at just over 90 on long drives. Any ideas?

Thanks

P

[river_rat]

£700 for a minor service?

[Wozy68]

Peter Loew said:

Hi All

I've had a blinking indicator come up on my 997 s, I was driving through Europe at the time so had to stop off at a couple of petrol stations to buy some oil. I ended up putting almost 3 literes of oil in there, but it is still blinking at the lowest level. Surely this can't be right?

My car is due a minor service (around £700 quote from West London OPC), and I'm taking it in the end of the week, but I do have to commute to work in it daily till then.

Oil pressure seems normal as does oil temp. at just over 90 on long drives. Any ideas?

Thanks

Serious question. Do 997s not have a dipstick?

P

[Peter Loew]

No dipstick - electronic only.

As for the service, it's pretty standard as I've researched breakdown is:

* £480 basic service
* £150 break fluid
* £125 drive belt
* £16.80 type pressure/monitor check

Also: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101... which is similar pricing but different OPC. Do you think West London OPC is having a laugh? I thought this was pretty standard.

So back to my original problem, any thoughts guys?

P

[Martian O]

Sounds like it could be a sensor fault, quite common on VAG group cars as they use the same sensor.

Seriously, you're going to use OPC West London?

[chiark]

Make sure you're following the instructions for the oil measurement to be accurate. I have a 996, and even a small incline can change the reading by quite a few marks on the read out. Also for the 996 you are supposed to measure with the engine still warm - I think 15 minutes after pulling up is the wisdom of the crowds

Putting in 3l sounds like a LOT. If that were my car I would be worried enough to get it looked at immediately. Too little oil is bad, but too much oil is bad.

[Peter Loew]

Martian O said:

Sounds like it could be a sensor fault, quite common on VAG group cars as they use the same sensor.

Seriously, you're going to use OPC West London?

It's a 10 min drive from my house, I don't like them much either, though. Can you recommend any other OPC around the London area or just outside that's worth going to?

[Martian O]

Peter Loew said:

Martian O said:

Sounds like it could be a sensor fault, quite common on VAG group cars as they use the same sensor.

Seriously, you're going to use OPC West London?

It's a 10 min drive from my house, I don't like them much either, though. Can you recommend any other OPC around the London area or just outside that's worth going to?

Never used them but OPC Byfleet get good reports.

[type-r]

chiark said:

Putting in 3l sounds like a LOT. If that were my car I would be worried enough to get it looked at immediately. Too little oil is bad, but too much oil is bad.

THIS! The difference between the min and max levels I believe is 1 litre. If you have put in 3 litres, you could well have seriously overfilled which could damage the engine.

I would stop immediately and have it checked.

[Peter Loew]

Thanks all. Yes I am not touching it except to take it to the OPC on Friday. Will rent a car for the next few days.

[pete.g]

The only way I can think of to confirm how much oil you actually have in the engine would be to drain it into a clean container and then refill with the drained oil using a measuring jug!

Given that you're going to have the oil replaced anyway this seems like too much bother.

The sensor is not expensive to replace as a part, but the inlet manifold has to come off, so the labour will be costly, especially at an OPC which charges £700 for a minor service/brake fluid, etc.

If it were me I'd ask for a discount on the service and get a confirmed price for the sensor replacement (the part is available for £75ish from Design 911 as a guide). Otherwise you risk getting a bit of shock when they concoct a bill - unless you're under warranty and the sensor is covered.

[Peter Loew]

pete.g said:

The only way I can think of to confirm how much oil you actually have in the engine would be to drain it into a clean container and then refill with the drained oil using a measuring jug!

Given that you're going to have the oil replaced anyway this seems like too much bother.

The sensor is not expensive to replace as a part, but the inlet manifold has to come off, so the labour will be costly, especially at an OPC which charges £700 for a minor service/brake fluid, etc.

If it were me I'd ask for a discount on the service and get a confirmed price for the sensor replacement (the part is available for £75ish from Design 911 as a guide). Otherwise you risk getting a bit of shock when they concoct a bill - unless you're under warranty and the sensor is covered.

Good call. I've actually called roadside assistance and when the guy comes over I'll tell him that, hopefully he can drain the oil on the spot. I have warranty so I imagine the sensor will be covered?

On that point, I have a letter from Porsche quoting £1,405.00 for 1 year warranty renewal and £2,531.00 for two years. Surely that is absurd?!?

[chiark]

That price is shocking, and to me is a tacit admission that there's an issue with their cars if they feel a warranty is going to cost that much. Blimey.

[Hilux2400]

This post has completely put me off buying a 997. It's absolute madness not to have an oil sump dipstick. The OP has done everything right. He has noticed the warning. He has filled with oil. The light has not gone off. He has put in more oil, three litres. I have never in the whole of my motoring life put in almost 6 pints of oil into a sump when the reading has been low. It's enough extra oil to ruin an engine, let alone a cat.

Good luck to the OP with his return for a service.

H

[sidicks]

chiark said:

That price is shocking, and to me is a tacit admission that there's an issue with their cars if they feel a warranty is going to cost that much. Blimey.

How much should a warranty cost on a £80k car?!!

[sidicks]

Peter Loew said:

Good call. I've actually called roadside assistance and when the guy comes over I'll tell him that, hopefully he can drain the oil on the spot. I have warranty so I imagine the sensor will be covered?

On that point, I have a letter from Porsche quoting £1,405.00 for 1 year warranty renewal and £2,531.00 for two years. Surely that is absurd?!?

Those prices probably include the required 111-point check and European roadside recovery etc

[GentlePersuasion]

Martian O said:

Never used them but OPC Byfleet get good reports.

Err, they don't...

Guildford are a good crowd.

[pete.g]

sidicks said:

Peter Loew said:

Good call. I've actually called roadside assistance and when the guy comes over I'll tell him that, hopefully he can drain the oil on the spot. I have warranty so I imagine the sensor will be covered?

On that point, I have a letter from Porsche quoting £1,405.00 for 1 year warranty renewal and £2,531.00 for two years. Surely that is absurd?!?

Those prices probably include the required 111-point check and European roadside recovery etc

They are the stated prices plus £216 for the 111 pt check.

Given that the car is going for a service and possibly some warranty work anyway, the 111 pt charge may be negotiable.

My view is that OPC prices should be the starting point for a pleasant negotiation - this has always worked for me. No need to be shy if it's going to cost you money!

[Skrambles]

pete.g said:

They are the stated prices plus £216 for the 111 pt check.

Given that the car is going for a service and possibly some warranty work anyway, the 111 pt charge may be negotiable.

My view is that OPC prices should be the starting point for a pleasant negotiation - this has always worked for me. No need to be shy if it's going to cost you money!

Have you managed to negotiate the warranty price down, or merely the 111 pt charge?

[chiark]

sidicks said:

How much should a warranty cost on a £80k car?!!

Irrelevant. The fact that this same warranty was less than £900 a couple of years ago suggests Porsche are rather ramping prices. I doubt this is due to mere cruelty, but rather grounded in making the numbers work.