06 Cayman S not using much oil? Sensor not working?
Discussion
Hey guys,
I know very little about cars in general and was hoping for some advice from your experience on my Cayman S.
The car has been great and aside from a few small things has run flawlessly for the last year and a half I have owned her.
As there is no dip-stick on the Cayman I have always used the digital oil sensor regularly to check oil levels, and the sensor has always worked well, and levels have dropped over time (not slowly but at a 'normal' pace of oil consumption compared to my 330 bmw), before I last topped up fully (and the sensor showed as full).
Since then, around 6k miles ago, the oil sensor has always shown as full and the level hasn't dropped at all, almost like it is showing that it's not using anything. I am getting to the stage where I am wary as to whether it is reading correctly out of fear of running low on oil and damaging the engine.
I recently went on a 300+ mile trip and stuck another 1L of oil in there before hand just in case to be more on the safer side.
Do you guys think this sounds fairly normal as far as usage?
As far as the 'full' tolerances of the sensor, is it really high? I.E i might have filled it to the 'top' of the full mark but not enough for 'too much oil' warnings to come on?
Is there another way I can check without taking it in for a service (last service approx 12k miles ago last year)?
If you could let me know your thoughts that'd be really appreciated!
Thanks,
Tommy
I know very little about cars in general and was hoping for some advice from your experience on my Cayman S.
The car has been great and aside from a few small things has run flawlessly for the last year and a half I have owned her.
As there is no dip-stick on the Cayman I have always used the digital oil sensor regularly to check oil levels, and the sensor has always worked well, and levels have dropped over time (not slowly but at a 'normal' pace of oil consumption compared to my 330 bmw), before I last topped up fully (and the sensor showed as full).
Since then, around 6k miles ago, the oil sensor has always shown as full and the level hasn't dropped at all, almost like it is showing that it's not using anything. I am getting to the stage where I am wary as to whether it is reading correctly out of fear of running low on oil and damaging the engine.
I recently went on a 300+ mile trip and stuck another 1L of oil in there before hand just in case to be more on the safer side.
Do you guys think this sounds fairly normal as far as usage?
As far as the 'full' tolerances of the sensor, is it really high? I.E i might have filled it to the 'top' of the full mark but not enough for 'too much oil' warnings to come on?
Is there another way I can check without taking it in for a service (last service approx 12k miles ago last year)?
If you could let me know your thoughts that'd be really appreciated!
Thanks,
Tommy
When you say 'full' do you mean all the blobs filled in?
I believe the correct level is one blob down, where the top horizontal mark is shown next to the gauge.
Perhaps you overfilled it and it hasn't dropped down yet.
Mine is an '06 and doesn't use much oil, but I would expect some over 6k miles.
I believe the correct level is one blob down, where the top horizontal mark is shown next to the gauge.
Perhaps you overfilled it and it hasn't dropped down yet.
Mine is an '06 and doesn't use much oil, but I would expect some over 6k miles.
I have had my 05 Boxster for 6 years and I wait for the reading at most cold startups. It has never shown less than full in all of that time, and I have never had to top it up either.
It goes into the dealer every two years for an oil change and I haven't bothered changing it in between because I only do about 6k miles in that time.
Is it abnormal not to be using any oil at all in 6k, or at least not enough to nudge the gauge down one level?
It goes into the dealer every two years for an oil change and I haven't bothered changing it in between because I only do about 6k miles in that time.
Is it abnormal not to be using any oil at all in 6k, or at least not enough to nudge the gauge down one level?
You have overfilled the oil; the last block on the display is there to show the difference between full and over full. there is no specific 'max exceeded' display on 9x7 apart from the last empty block on the level indicator.
You could leave it as is if there is no smoking on start up or blue smoke when the the engine is idling at operating temperature but you will run the risk of issues if the engine is run very hot in traffic - oil will get into the breather system and likely cause smoke or a CEL (Cat damage).
IMHO get it corrected before you have any issues.
You could leave it as is if there is no smoking on start up or blue smoke when the the engine is idling at operating temperature but you will run the risk of issues if the engine is run very hot in traffic - oil will get into the breather system and likely cause smoke or a CEL (Cat damage).
IMHO get it corrected before you have any issues.
Edited by Pope on Tuesday 8th November 20:22
Thanks for all your help on here, sounds like I have clearly overfilled it... Should have double checked rather than just following suit.
Pope, there is a slight amount of thin smoke on start up recently but i put it down to the drop in temperature or condensation in the mornings. So that doesn't sound like a good thing from what you have written. Thanks for the heads up.
Should I just tell the garage that I have overfilled it so they can drain some out? Is it a long/tough job?
Pope, there is a slight amount of thin smoke on start up recently but i put it down to the drop in temperature or condensation in the mornings. So that doesn't sound like a good thing from what you have written. Thanks for the heads up.
Should I just tell the garage that I have overfilled it so they can drain some out? Is it a long/tough job?
No warning for overfilled oil on 9x6/7 - later Cayenne and Panamera's do.
Worst case the engine could ingest the excess oil via the breather system and hydraulic lock - unlikely with less than a litre overfilled but still, possible.
There is a possibility of Cat and or O2 sensor damage due to the oil getting through to the exhaust.
If you get it corrected you can rest easier - easiest way is to drop the oil into a clean container and refill minus the excess - a new sump washer and half an hour; sorted.
Worst case the engine could ingest the excess oil via the breather system and hydraulic lock - unlikely with less than a litre overfilled but still, possible.
There is a possibility of Cat and or O2 sensor damage due to the oil getting through to the exhaust.
If you get it corrected you can rest easier - easiest way is to drop the oil into a clean container and refill minus the excess - a new sump washer and half an hour; sorted.
I don't know about Porsche specifics. But as with most/all cars, an over fill is as bad as an under fill of oil.
You risk damage to seals and gaskets from the added pressure of the extra oil.
As well as the oil potentially getting froffy from interference with the spinning crank, equaling less lubrication to parts which need it most.
I would probably get it drained fully if it were me, and make sure you only put in the right amount.
You risk damage to seals and gaskets from the added pressure of the extra oil.
As well as the oil potentially getting froffy from interference with the spinning crank, equaling less lubrication to parts which need it most.
I would probably get it drained fully if it were me, and make sure you only put in the right amount.
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