996 C4s newbie - basic advice wanted

[batphink]

Hi All

Quite new to the watercooled 911 set with my 2004 MY C4s and am wondering about oil level and usage. RSJ told me to expect to use about 1ltr of oil per month, but I've had the car for 3 months now and the level measure on start up still shows 2-3 bars after a night of sitting still and the dip stick is in the upper part of the safe zone.

So when do I top it up and with how much?
Which is the more accurate gauge - dash (electronic) measure or dip stick?

Any advice from experience much appreciated

[JW911]

My previous 3.4 C4 (same engine near enough) never used a drop. I have heard of others (3.4 and 3.6) doing exactly as Joel suggests. I should have taken mine back to him and complained it wasn't behaving as advertised.

My Turbo uses a litre every two thousand miles or so.

[monthefish]

batphink said:

So when do I top it up and with how much?
Which is the more accurate gauge - dash (electronic) measure or dip stick?

Given the high oil consumption of the 911 (in some cases), it is worth regular checking, but it sounds like you are doing this already.

I have a 996t and I check my oil after most journeys (and/or when sitting at traffic lights).

I keep mine at two bars below full. If it drops to 3 bars below full, I add a bit, say around 100ml.

You do not want to overfill.

[gibbon]

My 3.6 c2 doesnt seem to use a drop! (Touch wood)

[rimkah]

Every bar is 200ml

[batphink]

thats everything i wanted to know thanks guys!

[BliarOut]

batphink said:

thats everything i wanted to know thanks guys!

Ask about partially filling the tank...

[mollytherocker]

Yes the 911 uses oil but 12 litres a year? That's too much.

Mtr

[96Turbo]

My turbo uses about a bar every couple of months (whatever a bar is).

It is currently sitting at 3 below full. Do you have to top up. I was going to leave another few months or so until the next service - as long as it doesn't go below 2 bars ( I think 1 bar is the min). Is this not advisable?

[batphink]

BliarOut said:

Ask about partially filling the tank...

...and the fuel gauge stops working? ;-)

[doneitnow]

96Turbo said:

My turbo uses about a bar every couple of months (whatever a bar is).

It is currently sitting at 3 below full. Do you have to top up. I was going to leave another few months or so until the next service - as long as it doesn't go below 2 bars ( I think 1 bar is the min). Is this not advisable?

Blimey sounds like a dangerous game to be playing IMO.

[96Turbo]

doneitnow said:

Blimey sounds like a dangerous game to be playing IMO.

Why? Even at the minimum - I would consider this as minimum for safely running the car - if each bar is 200ml - then even on the min, there will still be a good few litres of oil in the system. Am I wrong? If I am please let me know so I can top up every time it loses a bar!!

[doneitnow]

96Turbo said:

doneitnow said:

Blimey sounds like a dangerous game to be playing IMO.

Why? Even at the minimum - I would consider this as minimum for safely running the car - if each bar is 200ml - then even on the min, there will still be a good few litres of oil in the system. Am I wrong? If I am please let me know so I can top up every time it loses a bar!!

My own view is that with all the talk of problems with certain engines etc why run the risk of creating a problem just for the sake of putting a bit of oil in, after all oil is the one thing the car can't live without. Again just my opinion.

[batphink]

Just put 600ml in and when opening the filler neck it looks like this:


is that normal?

[mjwscorpio]

I asked the same question a little while ago, everyone calls it mayo and it is caused by the condensation and not to worry about it, a long run will help, but I clean mine every week.

[BliarOut]

batphink said:

BliarOut said:

Ask about partially filling the tank...

...and the fuel gauge stops working? ;-)

That's the one

Mayo is quite normal, just needs a long run to sort it.

[monthefish]

BliarOut said:

batphink said:

BliarOut said:

Ask about partially filling the tank...

...and the fuel gauge stops working? ;-)

That's the one

Mayo is quite normal, just needs a long run to sort it.

A little mayo is quite normal (although I rarely see any in mine), but that looks like quite a lot to me.

[thegoose]

Time for an Italian tune-up to clear it

[BliarOut]

thegoose said:

Time for an Italian tune-up to clear it

[tuscman]

monthefish said:

BliarOut said:

batphink said:

BliarOut said:

Ask about partially filling the tank...

...and the fuel gauge stops working? ;-)

That's the one

Mayo is quite normal, just needs a long run to sort it.

A little mayo is quite normal (although I rarely see any in mine), but that looks like quite a lot to me.

My immediate thought on seeing that picture was head gasket problems, but hopefully is condensation as others suggest. Presumably the oil is as it should be on the dip stick? If it is then probably ok but if not you have a problem. In any event I agree that it looks like a lot of mayo and could mix with the engine oil so would have it checked out or at least speak to a Porsche specialist.