[Optical TDI]

Twice during the past 2 weeks, I've received a message that the oil is too full. It also says it's ok to drive. This has happened when I've been idling for more than 5 min after temps are normal.

The oil level measures full when I check it and had an oil change done a few weeks ago.

Has anyone had this message?

 

[CaymanMatt]

I do not trust the oil indicator. My CGTS showed full for the longest time and then one day it dropped to < full, but then went back up a few days later. One day it decided to drop to about 1/2 on the indicator. It stayed in that region +/- a bit for at least 2 weeks. Checked it yesterday after a drive and it was full again. Unbelievable and very irritating. I will continue to watch but just can't believe how apparently inaccurate this system is.

 

[BlueNorther]

I bet that whoever filled the oil used borderline too much, so the level is sitting close to where the sensors give a max reading, and it is triggered in certain conditions only. You could go back and have them remove a couple of hundred ml, or just keep monitoring, it should eventually stop (which is what I'd do).

On my first Cayman it was a little overfilled, and since it was new to me, I didn't realize it until it dropped a bar, and no harm done.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I bet that whoever filled the oil used borderline too much, so the level is sitting close to where the sensors give a max reading, and it is triggered in certain conditions only. You could go back and have them remove a couple of hundred ml, or just keep monitoring, it should eventually stop (which is what I'd do).

On my first Cayman it was a little overfilled, and since it was new to me, I didn't realize it until it dropped a bar, and no harm done.

Nope. My mechanic is also a good friend and top-notch mechanic. We've discussed this. He put in exactly what was called for. The discussion was instigated when the sensor was reporting low immediately after the oil change for at least the first couple drives.

If it was over-filled, why would it tell me it was 1/2 liter low? I am quite sensitized to this now and check on a very regular basis. I always check sometime around 1/2 hour after the car is turned off so plenty of time for oil to drain. The fact that it is inconsistent is unacceptable. Maybe the sensor only detects 1/4 gradients (ie: 4 sensors - full, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1L low). That could explain part of it as a reading right at one of the gradients could be < or >. With that said though, why would it go from 1/2 to full between yesterday & today? I doubt coolant or fuel getting into the oil. The manual actually says you can get fuel in the oil if you do short trips but my trips aren't short. If coolant, then I have an issue but I highly doubt that's the issue. If the system starts reporting overfull then I'll consider that as a possibility.

Does anyone here know how this oil monitoring sensor actually works?

 

[BlueNorther]

Nope...
...

I was referring to the OP's issue, not yours.

Also, the manual is very specific as to what conditions are needed to get a new accurate read. Waiting "1/2 hour after the car is turned off" for it to fully drain down is not one of them.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I was referring to the OP's issue, not yours.

Also, the manual is very specific as to what conditions are needed to get a new accurate read. Waiting "1/2 hour after the car is turned off" for it to fully drain down is not one of them.

Got it. Sorry I missed that.

I let the oil drain for 30 minutes because of previous inconsistencies I've seen with this system. I hope by me being consistent maybe the car will be consistent. Apparently not.

I'm hoping someone with knowledge of the actual system operation will reply here. Otherwise, I may need to investigate it myself!?

 

[wriggly]

I was referring to the OP's issue, not yours.

Also, the manual is very specific as to what conditions are needed to get a new accurate read. Waiting "1/2 hour after the car is turned off" for it to fully drain down is not one of them.

This is exactly correct.

 

[roundtail]

Got it. Sorry I missed that.

I let the oil drain for 30 minutes because of previous inconsistencies I've seen with this system. I hope by me being consistent maybe the car will be consistent. Apparently not.

I'm hoping someone with knowledge of the actual system operation will reply here. Otherwise, I may need to investigate it myself!?

Have you checked for a possible Service Bulletin on this? I had the Coolant Warning issue, and my dealer wasn’t even aware there was an SB on it because I was their only reported case.

I also remember Car & Driver having an oil sensor issue with their long term test car, a 2017 build.

 

[CaymanMatt]

This is exactly correct.

I started waiting c. 1/2 hour because I would get very inconsistent readings when I checked earlier, like after a fuel fill up as recommended in the manual - "Make it a habit to have the engine oil level checked with every refueling".
Unfortunately, I still get inconsistent readings. As stated already, I find that really irritating. Give me a dipstick, please.
MOO..

 

[CaymanMatt]

Have you checked for a possible Service Bulletin on this? I had the Coolant Warning issue, and my dealer wasn’t even aware there was an SB on it because I was their only reported case.

I also remember Car & Driver having an oil sensor issue with their long term test car, a 2017 build.

Good point. I will have it looked at when I take her in for her end of year maintenance.
Thanks!

 

[duegatti]

I get odd, presumably incorrect readings (low) right after the dealer changes the oil. Once it settles down, it consistently shows full. I make an effort to adhere to the instructions in the manual, and even then there are times when I can't get a reading, and don't really understand why.

 

[jns211]

I found that the "oil level check" feature works best when the oil is up to operating temperature (approximately 210°F) and the car is traveling on a level surface (ie not uphill or downhill).

I would not use the "oil level check" feature unless both of these conditions are met.

After my first free oil change by the dealership at 10k miles, my car initially would not display the oil level reading.

After approximately 30-45 minutes of driving, the car read the oil in the yellow range (acceptable, but not full). By the time I completed the 2-3 hour drive to my friend's house, the oil level read full and hasn't dropped any since.

I have a 2019 model, so perhaps Porsche has improved the measurement tool from the 2017-2018 models.

I'm doing my 2nd oil change on Tuesday and will report back if any behavior other than what i've listed above occurs.

It sounds strange, but I don't think the oil measurement feature was designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary or idling.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I found that the "oil level check" feature works best when the oil is up to operating temperature (approximately 210°F) and the car is traveling on a level surface (ie not uphill or downhill).

I would not use the "oil level check" feature unless both of these conditions are met.

After my first free oil change by the dealership at 10k miles, my car initially would not display the oil level reading.

After approximately 30-45 minutes of driving, the car read the oil in the yellow range (acceptable, but not full). By the time I completed the 2-3 hour drive to my friend's house, the oil level read full and hasn't dropped any since.

I have a 2019 model, so perhaps Porsche has improved the measurement tool from the 2017-2018 models.

I'm doing my 2nd oil change on Tuesday and will report back if any behavior other than what i've listed above occurs.

It sounds strange, but I don't think the oil measurement feature was designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary or idling.

I think I disagree. From my online manual:
Displaying the oil level

1. Vehicle is level.
2. The engine is at operating temperature and has been stopped for at least one minute.

Note engine is off and vehicle stopped. Interestingly though, I believe I did get a reading once while driving.

 

[duegatti]

I've also interpreted the manual to prescribe engine off, such that you have to turn the ignition on to access the MFD. Just the same, it will - sometimes - give a reading when the engine is running.

 

[jns211]

I've also interpreted the manual to prescribe engine off, such that you have to turn the ignition on to access the MFD. Just the same, it will - sometimes - give a reading when the engine is running.

Thank you for the information. I will go back and re-read the manual.

I'm sure you all are correct, and I just wanted to share the oil measurement technique that has always worked for my vehicle along with the behavior I have noticed after an oil change.

I'll discuss this topic with the race shop I use and get back to you all next week.

They are a very well known organization for building racing Caymans, so they should have some insight.

Cheers!

 

[roundtail]

I think I disagree. From my online manual:
Displaying the oil level

1. Vehicle is level.
2. The engine is at operating temperature and has been stopped for at least one minute.

Note engine is off and vehicle stopped. Interestingly though, I believe I did get a reading once while driving.

Too bad #2 is not as precisely written as #1.

"At least one minute" could be any length of time that still allows the computer to display a value, and the same could be said for "operating temperature" as well. Those would provide a pretty large envelope I imagine, and maybe that's the idea.

So I interpret them to indicate that the optimal check would be after having allowed the oil temperature to stabilize, then checking after shutdown within a period of time where it has not begun to significantly cool.

Seems simple enough, though that's a lot of planning just to check the oil.

 

[Viffermike]

About 3 months ago I started this thread in this same subforum (please read for background). It basically describes the same issue from a different set of situations.

I have not had my oil level adjusted since, nor have I had it changed yet. I have done multiple oil-level measurements as proscribed by the Owner's Manual - at least once every few days - ever since, until I stopped worrying about it three weeks or so ago. Why did I stop worrying?:

• I have not received a single low-oil or overfull-oil warning message since the oil-fill correction
• Based on knowledge gained since, as well as constant monitoring of oil pressure and temperature while driving, I don't think being around 0.7l overfull (according to my dealer) is causing the engine any issues.
• My dealer has not been adamant about changing the oil since I had it check the level - in fact, I have not heard from it once since that time. That tells me the dealer isn't concerned, so why should I be?
• That knowledge mentioned above includes a mild study of the 'hybrid-sump' oil system the 718 4-pot engines use. I'm convinced that the system is designed for a wide variance in total oil capacity -- by as much as 2.5l.

 

[MLJJ]

But, getting my hands oily on a dip stick sure is reassuring and ingrained. Can't wait for my first EV and depending on a charge reading!

 

[GregW]

Too bad #2 is not as precisely written as #1.

"At least one minute" could be any length of time that still allows the computer to display a value, and the same could be said for "operating temperature" as well. Those would provide a pretty large envelope I imagine, and maybe that's the idea.

So I interpret them to indicate that the optimal check would be after having allowed the oil temperature to stabilize, then checking after shutdown within a period of time where it has not begun to significantly cool.

Seems simple enough, though that's a lot of planning just to check the oil.

The easy way is to check the oil as you turn on the ignition prior to starting the vehicle after paying for the petrol fill. If you need oil then you can pull away from the petrol pump and fill the oil at your leisure.

 

[jns211]

I found that the "oil level check" feature works best when the oil is up to operating temperature (approximately 210°F) and the car is traveling on a level surface (ie not uphill or downhill).

I would not use the "oil level check" feature unless both of these conditions are met.

After my first free oil change by the dealership at 10k miles, my car initially would not display the oil level reading.

After approximately 30-45 minutes of driving, the car read the oil in the yellow range (acceptable, but not full). By the time I completed the 2-3 hour drive to my friend's house, the oil level read full and hasn't dropped any since.

I have a 2019 model, so perhaps Porsche has improved the measurement tool from the 2017-2018 models.

I'm doing my 2nd oil change on Tuesday and will report back if any behavior other than what i've listed above occurs.

It sounds strange, but I don't think the oil measurement feature was designed to be used when the vehicle is stationary or idling.

Please don’t shoot the messenger, but I had two different Porsche service departments advise me that it’s best to use the oil level measurement feature while driving the 718.

They said despite what the service manual states, taking the measurement while driving gives the most consistent and accurate measurements.

My original post (in the caption above) is the exact procedure both dealerships told me to follow to measure the oil level.

I’m not trying to upset other members of this forum, but I just wanted to report back on what I found out while getting my 3rd radiator installed last week.