GT3 oil level
Author
Discussion

TCB

Original Poster:

109 posts

263 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
I'm a bit concerned about keeping the level right !

The digi gauge was reading on the bottom bar in the aceptable range so I decided to dip manually and top up.

Problem is the oil is so clean I can't see a level at all on the dip stick ! either that or there is bugger all in the engine !

I added about 1/2 L of mobil 1 and still can't see it on the stick - the digi gauge now reads nicely 1 bar from the top of the aceptable range

Do I trust the digi gauge or can't I see oil on the stick because it still needs some ?

Any ideas ?

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all

Are you using the dip stick under the following conditions :

- engine on.
- oil up to temp.
- aircon off.

Otherwise you can't trust the dip stick. Caught me out as I got the cooking 996 manual with my car, not the GT3 one which describes these requirements.

flemke

23,495 posts

267 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
TCB said:
Do I trust the digi gauge or can't I see oil on the stick because it still needs some ?

Any ideas ?
As long as it's being used properly, the dipstick is always right.

If after removing it from the engine the first time you have done a good job of cleaning all the random oily stuff off its tip, when it's removed the second time you should always be able to see - or at least feel between a finger and thumb - the distinct evidence of lubricant on it.
If the oil is very fresh, it will be rather transparent. If you've got more than, say, a few thousand miles on the oil, it ought to have begun to darken.

As said by others above, if the oil is at operating temperature and you're taking your measurement with the engine idling, there should definitely be evidence (fairly continuous, not just a drop along the side of the dipstick) on the stick.

bermyandy

2,050 posts

248 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
Is engine on just for the GT3?

RAC dude did the oil check on mine (c2) with the engine off..?

johnfm

13,751 posts

280 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
Make sure you wait for engine to get nice and hot. No point checking oil level until temp is over 85 on oil temp gauge.

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
bermyandy said:
Is engine on just for the GT3?

RAC dude did the oil check on mine (c2) with the engine off..?


Yeah just for GT3 & GT2 & Turbo (i.e. GT1 block derived cars).

Didn't even know there was a dipsticky on the c2s, thought it was all electronic only?

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Make sure you wait for engine to get nice and hot. No point checking oil level until temp is over 85 on oil temp gauge.


You have an oil temp gauge?

slippydiff

16,393 posts

253 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
I think he means 80 degrees coolant temp Dan.
Bloody journos................walks off swinging his handbag.

Only kidding JFM

flemke

23,495 posts

267 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
DanH said:
johnfm said:
Make sure you wait for engine to get nice and hot. No point checking oil level until temp is over 85 on oil temp gauge.


You have an oil temp gauge?
You got one of the ones where they omitted the oil temp gauge as a cost-saving measure? Oh goodness.

Are those the same ones that came without the six-way adjustable dampers or the five extra sets of Cup tyres? Or the carbon doors and wings? Or the sequential gearbox?

Don't say that your car didn't come with any of those either!

johnfm

13,751 posts

280 months

Wednesday 5th July 2006
quotequote all
slippydiff said:
I think he means 80 degrees coolant temp Dan.
Bloody journos................walks off swinging his handbag.

Only kidding JFM


BTW slippy, if you recheck that thread you will find you quoted me saying hte handbag thing - it wasn't!! I only mentioned KayC's dB rating!!

slippydiff

16,393 posts

253 months

Thursday 6th July 2006
quotequote all
johnfm said:
slippydiff said:
I think he means 80 degrees coolant temp Dan.
Bloody journos................walks off swinging his handbag.

Only kidding JFM


BTW slippy, if you recheck that thread you will find you quoted me saying hte handbag thing - it wasn't!! I only mentioned KayC's dB rating!!


Apologies JFM, you are of course totally correct !

Just as well I put the only kidding "get out clause" in there eh ? !

In my defence, look at the time of posting, clearly the co-ordination of my faculties was lacking at such an ungodly hour !

All the same, care to show me this oil temp gauge in your car ?



















Know it all journalists....................:


Edited by slippydiff on Thursday 6th July 00:14

TCB

Original Poster:

109 posts

263 months

Thursday 6th July 2006
quotequote all
Thanks guys - I think I've found my error in that I was checking with the engine off !

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Thursday 6th July 2006
quotequote all

I'm sure this is common knowledge, but for anyone else who has the poverty spec GT3 without the oil gauge you can't assume the oil is up to temp just because the water is. It takes a good deal longer.

johnfm

13,751 posts

280 months

Thursday 6th July 2006
quotequote all
DanH etc

I was clearly drunk when I suggested I had an oil temp gauge!! Obviously I was referring to the coolant temp gauge, though Flemke's effort to redress my error was laudable and amusing!

As DanH said, don't expect the apropriate level to be measured after a few minutes - give it a 10-20 minute thrashing before checking oil level. If in doubt, use dipstick but don't be tempted to overfill!! Literally add oil 200ml or so at a time - you will just have to learn how to drain the oil if you pour a litre in!!