[MLJJ]

Prior to my first oil change I use to be able to check the oil level while driving at any time. I know it is not the ideal time to do that. Since the oil change, I'm getting a lot of "oil level not available" messages when checking on the go. When available, it shows I'm between 3/4 and topped off, which is slightly lower than when I received the car from the dealer. Nothing has changed relative to my driving habits and when I attempt to check the level. Any similar experiences?

 

[GregW]

According to the manual (2017) oil should be checked after the car has been at operating temperature (long enough to burn off any water). Stop the car on a level surface and let the oil drain down.

I find the best time is after a service station fill and before I start up and drive off. I don't like checking with the engine running 'cause I don't see how the sensors can get correct data.

As long as the display says "Oil level is correct." I suggest that oil level is correct. The gauge reads only the top 1 litre (close to a US quart) of 5.7 litres. Add oil when it says it needs it.

I'm now over 40,000Km, coming up the third service and have never had to add any.

 

[duegatti]

If your post implies that you've just recently had that first oil change - I've had two oil changes at the dealer, and I had squirrely readings for a few drives after both of them. Then things lined out and the level read full.

I don't expect to get a reading when the car is moving - I don't believe that is the state from which we are supposed to get level readings.

 

[Viffermike]

Porsche has confirmed to me personally that after an oil change, it takes the car several heat cycles -- essentially, 2-3 days of driving the car -- to cycle the oil well enough to obtain an accurate level reading. That confirmation came from three sources -- the service department at my dealer, the indie garage that I have most of my maintenance performed at, and from Porsche NA itself.

The procedure during the oil change is to fill the engine with a set amount of oil. As I understand it, the engine's design allows for up to 1.5L of fill differential -- basically, 'padding' between too low and too high -- which is essentially a bottle and a half.

I learned this info because I made the same mistake mentioned above and started asking questions, as well as researching on my end. I ended up with a car that probably had as much as .3L too much oil in it for about 8.5K miles -- 6.7K of which was during a two-week-long road trip. All sources, including Porsche NA, said the situation was OK. I haven't had any issues in the ensuing year since.

 

[MLJJ]

I've driven the car many times (500 miles) since the oil change. Prior to the change, I was able to check the oil level consistently while driving. And, that reading never differed from the technique described in the manual. My question/observation is, why is reading not now showing consistently (it does occasionally) while driving? Other than the oil change, nothing is different.

 

[MLJJ]

Am I the only one experiencing the intermittent oil level unavailability message? I haven't had the oil changed (due soon) and have had the car out 5-6 times without being able to get a reading as I had typically done in the past.

 

[Scrounger]

It’s normal. The Porsche oil level gauge is notoriously unpredictable.

 

[MLJJ]

Perfect! No dipstick and unreliable electronics. Let's hope the idiot light is better!

 

[Goodwood]

Perfect! No dipstick and unreliable electronics. Let's hope the idiot light is better!

Maybe more like unpredictable electronics! I miss the dipstick days and the ritual of pulling it to check the oil! I remember my 1st P car w/o a dipstick. I think it was my 02 911. Was not happy about it!

 

[DriveInHouston]

Dipstick! Aaah, the good old days! I remember droping my Toyota MR2 at the dealer's for an oil change and at the end of the day picking up the car. Not trusting anyone but myself, I pulled the difficult to reach dipstick and managed to drip a few drops of oil on the (cold) engine. Having had problems with oil on a hot exhaust in another car, I put the dipstick down at a convenient ledge and went off to look for paper towels. After some diligent scrubbing I was done!

It was getting dark, so I jumped in the car for the long slog home in the Houston traffic. Half an hour later, about halfway home, a truck pulls up next to me, the driver leans over and frantically tries to attract my attention 😜🤪😜:

Sir! You are on fire! 😱

I looked in the rear view mirror and I saw flames coming out of the lid grille. I drove to the first strip mall and parked the car, opened the lid and the flames jumped a foot high. Also, the 'empty' parking was actually a gas station, whose terrified owner screaming 'you will burn us all down' dragged out a wheeled fire extinguisher (chemical). You spray chemical on a fire and you can kiss the electrical wiring goodbye. I begged him to stop at a distance, blew at the fire four or five times and it went out.

It turned out that I forgot to put the dipstick back in its hole and oil was spurting out and falling on the hot exhaust...

Porsche, knowing that in their customer crowd are idiots like me, opted for a sealed, electronic system. Mine works fine every time!

I love it!

 

[Goodwood]

Dipstick! Aaah, the good old days! I remember droping my Toyota MR2 at the dealer's for an oil change and at the end of the day picking up the car. Not trusting anyone but myself, I pulled the difficult to reach dipstick and managed to drip a few drops of oil on the (cold) engine. Having had problems with oil on a hot exhaust in another car, I put the dipstick down at a convenient ledge and went off to look for paper towels. After some diligent scrubbing I was done!

It was getting dark, so I jumped in the car for the long slog home in the Houston traffic. Half an hour later, about halfway home, a truck pulls up next to me, the driver leans over and frantically tries to attract my attention 😜🤪😜:

Sir! You are on fire! 😱

I looked in the rear view mirror and I saw flames coming out of the lid grille. I drove to the first strip mall and parked the car, opened the lid and the flames jumped a foot high. Also, the 'empty' parking was actually a gas station, whose terrified owner screaming 'you will burn us all down' dragged out a wheeled fire extinguisher (chemical). You spray chemical on a fire and you can kiss the electrical wiring goodbye. I begged him to stop at a distance, blew at the fire four or five times and it went out.

It turned out that I forgot to put the dipstick back in its hole and oil was spurting out and falling on the hot exhaust...

Porsche, knowing that in their customer crowd are idiots like me, opted for a sealed, electronic system. Mine works fine every time!

I love it!

My God, what a story! That could've turned out much worse! I know I've failed to properly seat my dipstick in the past, and only realized it when smoke started rolling from under the hood. Ahh, the good old days!

 

[GregW]

Porsche recommends that oil only be checked when the engine is warm and has been stopped on level ground for a few minutes. I check mine while getting petrol or after a drive while in the carport.
The levels obtained while driving may not be accurate or current.

 

[Treemagnet]

Dipstick! Aaah, the good old days! I remember droping my Toyota MR2 at the dealer's for an oil change and at the end of the day picking up the car. Not trusting anyone but myself, I pulled the difficult to reach dipstick and managed to drip a few drops of oil on the (cold) engine. Having had problems with oil on a hot exhaust in another car, I put the dipstick down at a convenient ledge and went off to look for paper towels. After some diligent scrubbing I was done!

It was getting dark, so I jumped in the car for the long slog home in the Houston traffic. Half an hour later, about halfway home, a truck pulls up next to me, the driver leans over and frantically tries to attract my attention 😜🤪😜:

Sir! You are on fire! 😱

I looked in the rear view mirror and I saw flames coming out of the lid grille. I drove to the first strip mall and parked the car, opened the lid and the flames jumped a foot high. Also, the 'empty' parking was actually a gas station, whose terrified owner screaming 'you will burn us all down' dragged out a wheeled fire extinguisher (chemical). You spray chemical on a fire and you can kiss the electrical wiring goodbye. I begged him to stop at a distance, blew at the fire four or five times and it went out.

It turned out that I forgot to put the dipstick back in its hole and oil was spurting out and falling on the hot exhaust...

Porsche, knowing that in their customer crowd are idiots like me, opted for a sealed, electronic system. Mine works fine every time!

I love it!

Thanks for providing my lovely Bride and me with some uncontrolled shared laughter. Bet most of us at some point failed to replace a dip stick...or oil fill cap in my case.

My 1960 Corvair engine (1983) had just been rebuilt and, like you, I failed to trust only myself. Stopped at the first gas station on the way home from the shop, then checked and the added a 1/2 quart of oil.

A barrage of folks swarmed the car (23 year-old Corvairs were fairly rare at that time, especially in Houston), causing me to lose focus and leave off the oil cap...definitely my fault.

Fortunately no fire, but the intense unexpected smoke made me believe the car was on its way to a complete meltdown. The engine cleanup took two weeks and it never really appeared anywhere near as clean as it did prior to my brain fart.

Regardless, I still miss (want/need?) an actual dip stick and would gladly pay the standard Porsche tax for a real one!

 

[CaymanMatt]

Porsche recommends that oil only be checked when the engine is warm and has been stopped on level ground for a few minutes. I check mine while getting petrol or after a drive while in the carport.
The levels obtained while driving may not be accurate or current.

I have compared multiple times my readings when driving with those sitting still and engine off. They have always been consistent. It took me a while to trust the moving value but I do now believe they are valid.

 

[GTS18BGTS]

I've learned, since starting my research into 911 generational variants, that a dipstick has been absent from the Boxster/Cayman line since the initial production of the 987. The first generation of 911 to go dip-less was the 997; both occurred in the 2005 model year. You can tell most of us are neophytes when it comes to Porsche history and knowledge. Evidently this is common knowledge among Porschephiles. I only point this out because, well, it's not a new thing 🤓