My Car doesn't use any oil?
Discussion
My 2005, 85000 mile, 997 2S appears not to be using any oil. It has never used much, maybe a litre every 4/5000 miles but now it doesn't appear to use any.
Let me explain, after it's last service the electronic gauge was reading full, ie: all bars full.
6000 miles later it is still reading the same, full, ie: all bars full.
When I turn the ignition on, the gauge pulsates through the bars as normal and settles on full.
My local dealer has had the car on the computer and no faults were found, his view is that the gauge is OK if it is pulsating through the bars as it should.
However I'm worried that there could be something wrong with the gauge and the car is using oil and at some point the oil warning light is going to come on.
Even worse, what if the oil warning light doesn't work.
I will probably get an oil change just for peace of mind but what do you guys think?
Let me explain, after it's last service the electronic gauge was reading full, ie: all bars full.
6000 miles later it is still reading the same, full, ie: all bars full.
When I turn the ignition on, the gauge pulsates through the bars as normal and settles on full.
My local dealer has had the car on the computer and no faults were found, his view is that the gauge is OK if it is pulsating through the bars as it should.
However I'm worried that there could be something wrong with the gauge and the car is using oil and at some point the oil warning light is going to come on.
Even worse, what if the oil warning light doesn't work.
I will probably get an oil change just for peace of mind but what do you guys think?
Green1man said:
You aren’t driving it properly.*
* this is only partially fasetious, on my car I only tend to use oil when driving the car hard, have you been unusually sedate the past few thousand miles?
Come to think of it, yes, 80%l of my recent mileage has been steady motorway driving.* this is only partially fasetious, on my car I only tend to use oil when driving the car hard, have you been unusually sedate the past few thousand miles?
Wouldn't be too concerned.
My 986 2.5 was tight as a nut - no oil loss on the gauge throughout its 2 years of daily use.
My 987 2.9 has used a little - gauge settles around the mid to top bar, depending on angle it's parked, temperature, etc. But then, to be expected as it's used on a longer commute, and generally enjoyed more at weekends, etc.
My 986 2.5 was tight as a nut - no oil loss on the gauge throughout its 2 years of daily use.
My 987 2.9 has used a little - gauge settles around the mid to top bar, depending on angle it's parked, temperature, etc. But then, to be expected as it's used on a longer commute, and generally enjoyed more at weekends, etc.
Is it reading 'all bars full' as you say or up to Max; with one bar empty at the top?
If it genuinely has all of the indicator bars full it is overfilled and either needs some taken out or at least checking to see of it isn't over reading.
Overfilled
One bar from Max
If it genuinely has all of the indicator bars full it is overfilled and either needs some taken out or at least checking to see of it isn't over reading.
Overfilled
One bar from Max
Edited by Pope on Sunday 19th November 08:45
It is stupid because the only way to find out the oil level is to warm up the engine thoroughly first, which is not very good practice if you don't have enough oil to start off with. However presumably a red light would come on if there was no oil pressure. At least, an inconvenience if all you really want to do is top up in your garage, you can't just do it without letting the engine run for a while.
997.1 have oil level check facility with ignition on; engine off hot or cold - the delay time is only affected by run time (if you start the car and switch it off before it is fully warm the delay time can be as long as 1 hour) but if you get in the car and just switch the ignition on the level is displayed. A compensation factor is employed for checking whether hot or cold (The level 'generally' appears the same when hot as when cold).
I agree the 997.2 has to be hot and running to check but the sensor will alert if the level is low at any time. The oil pressure, temperature and level are all measured separately.
As an aside; the M96/M97 engines are designed as integrated dry sump engines - the amount of oil held in the engine is vastly over what is required for running - they hold 9 litres when generally a conventionally sumped engine holds around 5 litres.
I agree the 997.2 has to be hot and running to check but the sensor will alert if the level is low at any time. The oil pressure, temperature and level are all measured separately.
As an aside; the M96/M97 engines are designed as integrated dry sump engines - the amount of oil held in the engine is vastly over what is required for running - they hold 9 litres when generally a conventionally sumped engine holds around 5 litres.
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