997 CS - A possible oil problem?

[sagman]

I recently purchased a 997 Carrera Sport (18 months old) from a Range Rover dealer (part-ex for a Sport). I noticed on getting home that the electronic oil dipstick was showing below the minimum level. It took 2 litres to get the reading to the maximum level, but now I notice blue smoke on start-up for about 20-25 seconds. Would appreciate any commnets on the likelhood of the dipstick measure being faulty or possible engine issue. I will run for 200-300 miles before booking into dealer. Thanks in advance for any help.

[khushy]

I would say that you have overfilled it hence the blue smoke 2 liters sounds WAY TOO MUCH - the correct procedure for checking oil is . . .

run the car (drive it) until its properly warm - at least 20 mins
park up on a flat surface
leave it turned off for about 5 mins
then do the electronic check without turning the engine on

Khushy

[johnfm]

Overfill

drain 2 litres


read the book before refilling


good luck

[sportsandclassic]

Re-check level with instrument cluster ....

I have had 2 of these with faulty sensors...

Thanks

[rumplestiltskin]

khushy said:

leave it turned off for about 5 mins

On my 996TT, you have to have the car running, it wont take a reading with the engine turned off.

R.

[khushy]

FFS - if you own an expensive car you should really ask someone who knows what they are doing, like an OPC, before you go pouring 2 LITRES of oil down its neck!!!

I cant believe that someone would do something so stupid and potentially fatal to their car without seeking proper advice/reading the manual that presumably came with the car first.

Get yourself to an OPC and hope to the lord of all things holy that you havent screwed your car beyond repair.

Good luck.

Khushy

[khushy]

by the way - 300 miles = the best part of 1,000,000 revs with a faulty engine setting!!!

[sagman]

Thanks for comments and advice.
I took dipstick measure as book described and after 1 litre found the measure had risen to the minimum level. After 2 litres again the measure rose to the max level so assumed all was well. Only after noticing blue spoke I am concerned. I will take to OPC for check.

Thanks again.

[cayman-black]

sagman, sounds like you done every thing right. smoke on start up is quite normal.

[cpt lovebanana]

Get a Ferrari, add 2 litres and it wouldn't even register on the dipstick!

[triple7]

Overfilling is a bit of a no no, but more to the point I'd be more concerned with who has been thrashing their Porka with no oil in it!

G

[GuyR]

Seems like a lot of people are failing to understand how the 911 measures oil and not reading the manual.

Firstly it only measures oil with the engine running and after adding oil it should be left to settle before reading again, as the oil takes time to go through the engine. This can lead to over-filling alone as the reading has not yet caught up with the actual oil in the entire engine.

Secondly, the digital guage measures only a header tank of oil not the entire amount in the engine and the difference between full and empty on the guage is only about 1.5-2 litres as compared to the actual capacity of about 7-9 litres from memory. When the guage shows empty it means the header tank is empty, but that the engine still has a great deal of oil in it.

It is best to add oil in small amounts to get the guage to read almost full, that way you know it has sufficient but are not risking over-filling.

[Agent Orange]

Before u go out and shoot urself after reading all this, chances of immediate damage wud be to the cats , admittedly not cheap but hardly terminal.............unlikely to overpressurise , but either way ,sorry dont have 997, i believe a yellow check engine light would come up and warn u somethings up .............Totally agree with Guy R s comments plus why has it gone off the gauge , lake of care or something seriuosly wrong on a relatively new modern engine GO TO A PORSCHE TRAINED GARAGE WITH THE CAR AND ASK!

[sagman]

Take all comments on-board and after recently running a Sagaris, CSL and EVO6 I'm fully aware the need to check levels, read manuals and ring main dealers for advice.
After speaking to OPC twice this week I'm happy all is OK with my method of checking oil level. Mu concern began when the level was on full and I saw blue smoke from the exhaust. It could mean the level was slightly overfull but also I was told my the technician the 997 engine can quite frequently give-out this type of smoke on start-up. I've checked oil level on about 14 occasions in the last week and the measure is bewteen half and full but never in the over-full position. Also had no blue smoke whatsoever, which was the reason of my concern. The manual doesn't state anywhere the possibility of blue smoke, no surprise, so I'm hoping I was concerned about nothing, apart from the fact that I indeed had to put in 2 litres of Mobil 1! A bit dissapointed I didn't check levels, in correct manner, when purchased from Stratstone dealer.
Thanks again for any advice, that's what keeps this message board going.

[Agent Orange]

As u have clearly sussed how to read the system and things appear sound , assuming after 18 months this is nt a huge high mileage car.......wud be slightly concerned why the oil was so low ? Ie wheres it all gone ??? Perhaps last owner just did nt bother between services etc ............as Guy said ther s plenty in there!