Failure Indicator w/ Oil Can (Ok to drive?/Really Nervous)

[umirza85]

I just drove from London to Nottingham for work the other day, all was fine had a great drive up. Today driving to the office from the hotel the dash lit up and said "Failure Indicator" with a oil can underneath it. I saw the oil gauge fluctuate then after a few seconds it seemed like everything went back to normal.

I am at work and cannot do too much searching but came upon this post:
http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/21877-oil-sen...
#6 post said the following:
"
The first and least problematic is the OBC warning with an oil can icon and the verbiage: "Failure Indicator"....which means: "Oil pressure indicator is faulty. Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer". The second and potentially the more serious is an low oil pressure "idiot light" in concert with the OBC oil can icon with the folowing verbiage: "Engine oil pressure too low"....which means: "Stop immediately at a suitable place, measure oil level with the on-board computer and, if necessary, add engine oil".
"

I am here the rest of the week until Saturday and will be doing about 20 miles a day (10/10) to and from the office for the rest of this week and then driving back home Sat.

Im just wondering if I am ok to keep driving? I will check the oil later but Im freaking-out a little bit (and especially as I need to get to and from work). The onboard oil sensor hovers between the 2-4 usually (every now and then is flashing but next time i drive its back up to halfway ?? ). And the dipstick is usually marked to the top of the first ball, maybe a little past (i.e there is a small ball, longer middle section, and top ball). I just had a minor done at an OPC a few months ago....wondering if maybe I should buy a bottle of Mobil1 0w40 to just have on hand, and to do a little top up?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Edited by umirza85 on Wednesday 17th June 10:20

[996GT2]

Had this on a 996 years ago - pressure drops suddenly then returns to normal, no other signs of anything actually wrong... it was a faulty sensor, easy and inexpensive fix I seem to remember.

[mr pg]

Ditto on my 996T. Known problem.

[monthefish]

996GT2 said:

Had this on a 996 years ago - pressure drops suddenly then returns to normal, no other signs of anything actually wrong... it was a faulty sensor, easy and inexpensive fix I seem to remember.

And me.

Scary as hell the first time it happens (and every time after actually!)

If you think about it, oil pressure can't return after a catastrophic failure, so obviously it's the sensor.

[umirza85]

996GT2 said:

Had this on a 996 years ago - pressure drops suddenly then returns to normal, no other signs of anything actually wrong... it was a faulty sensor, easy and inexpensive fix I seem to remember.

mr pg said:

Ditto on my 996T. Known problem.

Thanks for confirming this. I was freaking out.

monthefish said:

And me.

Scary as hell the first time it happens (and every time after actually!)

If you think about it, oil pressure can't return after a catastrophic failure, so obviously it's the sensor.

hahah yeah...in the moment I guess you're not so clear minded. My oil on the dipstick has been at the bottom blob (bottom blob - thin middle section - then top blob) I was told it should sit at the top of the top blob? Guess I should put some in.

[996GT2]

umirza85 said:

996GT2 said:

Had this on a 996 years ago - pressure drops suddenly then returns to normal, no other signs of anything actually wrong... it was a faulty sensor, easy and inexpensive fix I seem to remember.

mr pg said:

Ditto on my 996T. Known problem.

Thanks for confirming this. I was freaking out.

monthefish said:

And me.

Scary as hell the first time it happens (and every time after actually!)

If you think about it, oil pressure can't return after a catastrophic failure, so obviously it's the sensor.

hahah yeah...in the moment I guess you're not so clear minded. My oil on the dipstick has been at the bottom blob (bottom blob - thin middle section - then top blob) I was told it should sit at the top of the top blob? Guess I should put some in.

Yep, get some oil in it, then stop worrying about it, in that order.

[umirza85]

996GT2 said:

Yep, get some oil in it, then stop worrying about it, in that order.

Thanks, i put some oil in and got the sensor to read two bars from full which corresponds to JUST under the max line on the dipstick also (which it was at). So happy to know that the sensor is correct and I'll just stop worrying as suggested. Thanks so much for all the help everyone!