Potential oil problem?

[mjk100]

Help! I've just bought a 997 C2S manual coupe with 30k on the clock. After having it for 2 weeks i noticed the oil indicator below the rev counter showing oil is below the minimum level and subsequently needs topping up immediatley. I've just put 500ml of Mobil 1 oil in, yet the indicator is still showing a level below the minimum. I've read the manual and it says the max capacity on a 997 C2S is 1.4 Ltr so 500ml should at least register. I've added a further 200ml and still the oil indicator is showing the level to be below the minimum. Now i'm not sure what to do! Could there be a fault with the oil indicator itself or the oil going into a different part of the engine? I've looked under the car and no evidence of an oil leak. Any help / thoughts would be very much appreciated...am rather concerned!

[rlw]

I don't suppose you have a dipstick do you - that would be the first place to check if possible but may not be. Are you using the readout correctly - hot engine etc etc? Could be a problem with the sender but it might be worth sticking a bit more oil in just to see.

[porscheuro]

engine oil level on 997 should be nearer 8 litre's mate the book means the difference between min and max on the dash board...

you have no dipstick so you have to rely on the digital readout.

you have a choice of either keep adding 1/2 litre then checking till it starts registering or get an oil change done... better of checking the oil when warm too

[mjk100]

Is that right? I read it in the manual as it meaning the difference between the bottom and top levels is 1.4 ltrs. So 750 ml should at least register on the indicator. Can't think what else it could be apart from faulty oil indicator. Anyway, back it goes to teh dealer, just hope no engine damage done.

[mjk100]

rlw said:

I don't suppose you have a dipstick do you - that would be the first place to check if possible but may not be. Are you using the readout correctly - hot engine etc etc? Could be a problem with the sender but it might be worth sticking a bit more oil in just to see.

its meant to be taken when the engine is cold as far as i can tell from the manual

[DSM2]

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

[rlw]

mjk100 said:

rlw said:

I don't suppose you have a dipstick do you - that would be the first place to check if possible but may not be. Are you using the readout correctly - hot engine etc etc? Could be a problem with the sender but it might be worth sticking a bit more oil in just to see.

its meant to be taken when the engine is cold as far as i can tell from the manual

OK - just based on experience with the 993 - hot and engine running - and 996GT3 - hot and having used over 2000 rpm - but the 997 doesn't have a dry sump does it (I think)?

[stefan1]

rlw said:

mjk100 said:

rlw said:

I don't suppose you have a dipstick do you - that would be the first place to check if possible but may not be. Are you using the readout correctly - hot engine etc etc? Could be a problem with the sender but it might be worth sticking a bit more oil in just to see.

its meant to be taken when the engine is cold as far as i can tell from the manual

OK - just based on experience with the 993 - hot and engine running - and 996GT3 - hot and having used over 2000 rpm - but the 997 doesn't have a dry sump does it (I think)?

Gen 1 997 - not dry sumped, therefore measure with engine off (electronic dipstick counts down to reading)

Gen 2 997 (DFI engine) - dry sumped, measure with engine running and up to temperature.

[mjk100]

DSM2 said:

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

well i'm not sure how to drain a 997 engine (have just about worked out how to operate the sat nav!) so i've arranged to have it towed back to the dealer tomorrow. It just seems logical that even if it was practically empty of oil then after adding 0.75L it would at least register on the oil indicator if it was working properly, right? Not a great start to my life as a porsche owner!

[porscheuro]

the gauge will only recognise the oil level if there is already enough in the engine i.e if you are toppin up an engine that has near 7 litre in then it would start to recognise the oil level but if the engine only has 4 litre in and you put 750ml in it still wouldnt register on the gauge

[DSM2]

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

well i'm not sure how to drain a 997 engine (have just about worked out how to operate the sat nav!) so i've arranged to have it towed back to the dealer tomorrow. It just seems logical that even if it was practically empty of oil then after adding 0.75L it would at least register on the oil indicator if it was working properly, right? Not a great start to my life as a porsche owner!

As Porscheeuro says, if you have less that maybe 7 litres, it is quite possible that adding .75 wouldn't show. The gauge only shows the 'top' litre or so.

What worries me is the implication that the indication was OK when you got the car? For it genuinely to have fallen so far would indicate a very high consumption, so hopefully it is the indicator. Was it OK at the beginning?

[mjk100]

DSM2 said:

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

well i'm not sure how to drain a 997 engine (have just about worked out how to operate the sat nav!) so i've arranged to have it towed back to the dealer tomorrow. It just seems logical that even if it was practically empty of oil then after adding 0.75L it would at least register on the oil indicator if it was working properly, right? Not a great start to my life as a porsche owner!

As Porscheeuro says, if you have less that maybe 7 litres, it is quite possible that adding .75 wouldn't show. The gauge only shows the 'top' litre or so.

What worries me is the implication that the indication was OK when you got the car? For it genuinely to have fallen so far would indicate a very high consumption, so hopefully it is the indicator. Was it OK at the beginning?

Edited by mjk100 on Monday 22 March 15:11

[mjk100]

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

well i'm not sure how to drain a 997 engine (have just about worked out how to operate the sat nav!) so i've arranged to have it towed back to the dealer tomorrow. It just seems logical that even if it was practically empty of oil then after adding 0.75L it would at least register on the oil indicator if it was working properly, right? Not a great start to my life as a porsche owner!

As Porscheeuro says, if you have less that maybe 7 litres, it is quite possible that adding .75 wouldn't show. The gauge only shows the 'top' litre or so.

What worries me is the implication that the indication was OK when you got the car? For it genuinely to have fallen so far would indicate a very high consumption, so hopefully it is the indicator. Was it OK at the beginning?

Edited by mjk100 on Monday 22 March 15:11

I didn't notice anything. I've only driven it a handful of times. Anyway it'll be with Porsche tomorrow and they are running some diagnostic tests so hopefully its just a question of not having enough oil in it and no harm has been done rather than anything more serious. You'd like to think though when buying a pricey motor like that the seller would make sure its full of oil (didn't buy from OPC). Also I imagine the warranty would cover anything nasty lurking under the bonnet but still I won't relax until its sorted!

[mjk100]

mjk100 said:

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

mjk100 said:

DSM2 said:

Best measured (quickest) when the engine is cold and it must be on a level surface or the readings are wildly inaccurate.

Be careful about not overfilling. Would strongly recommend draining and putting back a carefully measured 8 litres, without filter change, which will get you well on the indicator.

If still not showing, would appear to be an indicator fault.

Draining will also tell you how much is in there now.

well i'm not sure how to drain a 997 engine (have just about worked out how to operate the sat nav!) so i've arranged to have it towed back to the dealer tomorrow. It just seems logical that even if it was practically empty of oil then after adding 0.75L it would at least register on the oil indicator if it was working properly, right? Not a great start to my life as a porsche owner!

As Porscheeuro says, if you have less that maybe 7 litres, it is quite possible that adding .75 wouldn't show. The gauge only shows the 'top' litre or so.

What worries me is the implication that the indication was OK when you got the car? For it genuinely to have fallen so far would indicate a very high consumption, so hopefully it is the indicator. Was it OK at the beginning?

Edited by mjk100 on Monday 22 March 15:11

I didn't notice anything. I've only driven it a handful of times. Anyway it'll be with Porsche tomorrow and they are running some diagnostic tests so hopefully its just a question of not having enough oil in it and no harm has been done rather than anything more serious. You'd like to think though when buying a pricey motor like that the seller would make sure its full of oil (didn't buy from OPC). Also I imagine the warranty would cover anything nasty lurking under the bonnet but still I won't relax until its sorted!

just as a footnote to this ...car only had 4 litres of oil in it when i bought it but apparently the engine is fine....anyhow now back up to 8.5 litres, and i'll be monitoring it closely from now.

[One Trick Pony]

mjk100 said:

...You'd like to think though when buying a pricey motor like that the seller would make sure its full of oil (didn't buy from OPC)......

I bought my car from an OPC and both the oil and the coolant were on the minimum levels at delivery. And that was straight after a 111 point check!

[BertBert]

From a reputable indie dealer or OPC? I assume you are livid? How can they be so sure that it's not damaged? You can't run an engine designed to have 8l in on 4l with any degree of safety.

Bert

[mjk100]

BertBert said:

From a reputable indie dealer or OPC? I assume you are livid? How can they be so sure that it's not damaged? You can't run an engine designed to have 8l in on 4l with any degree of safety.

Bert

yep i know but they want it back in 4 weeks (1000 miles) time to check it is running OK and there is no leak etc. They seem fairly confident there is no damage, although they can't be certain until they get it back. Yep I was pretty p1sd off....very slack from dealer.

[red_slr]

4L!!!! OMFG.
Whats the capacity of the block and heads? I bet its about 4L you know.
I would be very worried about the oil pump.

[mjk100]

red_slr said:

4L!!!! OMFG.
Whats the capacity of the block and heads? I bet its about 4L you know.
I would be very worried about the oil pump.

well what can i do apart from wait for porsche to have another look at it when its done 100 miles. am sure they will be able to tell if there is any damage and if there is it'll be straight back to the dealer.