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New Gen 2 Strange oil level system

nigelpugh

nigelpugh

New member
Guys,

Has anyone else with a new gen 2 997 noticed the strange method of operation of the oil system in our new cars?

On my previous 997 when you put the keys in and turned to the ignition on position in measured the oil level for so many seconds etc etc.

Seemed to make sense to me, check the oil level before starting up.

However now I have my new Gen 2 Targa 4S the system is totally different, you now have to wait for the car to warm up first, before it will allow you to take a measurement of the oil level.

That's fine I thought, its better for the engine to get to temp first.

But the new system means you have to get the engine to full operating temp first, and then come to a stop to check the oil level as the car has to be stationary first to check the oil level.

Is it just me or is this totally whacko, and the complete wrong way round to check oil level, IE after you have driven and got the engine up to temp when it might then be low on oil and too late for the engine?

Any thoughts on this mad system are welcomed?

Nige.
 
Yup, I mentioned this when I collected my Gen 2 about a month ago. Basically, try and remember to check the oil after your journey. Stupid or what?
 
Derek,

Thanks for the reply, and sorry if I duped you previous comments.

It is weird though don't you agree? Its totally backwards, and I had come to expect so much more from our Teutonic friends at Porsche too!!

My car is still fantastic though!!

Nige.
 
I was loaned a gen 2 car with pdk for the day, and was rather alarmed to see the check oil level message light up towards the end of the days drive. After returning the car to the OPC I mentioned the check oil message, they said not to worry the demo cars were checked and cleaned daily. which leaves you to believe they do consume quite a lot of oil whilst running in.
It would be a good routine Nige to check the oil level on a daily basis when you return home with engine at running temperature.
 
John,

Yes agreed, but its still ass backwards, IE check the oil level when I get home, could be too late by then.

So wrong to me, would love to know why Porsche decided to change it from a good system that already worked?

Nige.
 
All you guys with these new fangled, high tech cars obviously have no recollection of how it was done in the good old air cooled days!!! This is exactly the way the oil level was checked in the true dry sumped air cooled cars and I suspect it's no coincidence that the changes in the oil supply system for the new Gen 2 engine - evidenced by the massively impressive Nurburgring-inspired test rig showcased a few months ago - has resulted in a more "dry sump" type system.

In the more commonly found wet sump system the oil level is measured when at rest (and cold) since you are measuring what is left in the bottom of the engine. I suspect that the Gen 2 engine measured what is collected by the scavenge system - i.e what is surplus to the engines requirements. Hence the change.

Regards

Dave
 
ORIGINAL: nigelpugh

Derek,

Thanks for the reply, and sorry if I duped you previous comments.

It is weird though don't you agree? Its totally backwards, and I had come to expect so much more from our Teutonic friends at Porsche too!!

My car is still fantastic though!!

Nige.
Click to expand...

Nige, Yes the system has its faults as one would like to check the oil before a long journey. Checking it after the journey is often inconvenient and stopping after half an hour is totally unacceptable. However, I still maintain that the new PCM is the biggest retrograde step.Overall though, the car is indeed fantastic.
 
Hi Dave,
You beat me to it!
I used to have a 1980 911 SC and 3.2 Carrera, and checking the oil was done in the same way.

Maybe they should re-introduce the checked seats that my SC used to have too?
 
"Checking it after the journey is often inconvenient and stopping after half an hour is totally unacceptable"

Surely one could check the oil during the first petrol etc type stop? That is when I typically do my oil checks.
 
ORIGINAL: MarcBC

Surely one could check the oil during the first petrol etc type stop?
Click to expand...
That's what it says in the (Boxster) owner's manual - check the oil every time you fill up.
 
As pointed out some 911 have always been this way, the 997 Turbo included [;)] so welcome to my world.[:D]

I check my oil at the end of trips as I park the car up.. I also tend to fuel up for long trips, so even doing it at the Petrol station is easy enough..
If thats all you guys have to complain about (except DS and his PCM[;)]) then its good news all round..
Having had a chance to play with the new PCM I have to say its a big step forward...

garyw
 
Surely it won't matter because if the oil is low at the end of the journey then damage will be done then as well as at start up? If the sump plug fell out over night! or a seal failed and all the oil ran out of the engine I'd hope you'd notice it before driving off in the morning.
I presume they now do this as the oil will expand slightly and give a different reading when warm, maybe the engines have been getting slightly overfilled when cold?
I quite often wait and check the oil when the car warm after a fuel stop.
 
Given this thread, I have now changed my behaviour and check the oil level when I park up at home. The Gen2 car seems (to date anyway) to check the oil a lot quicker than the Gen1 car.

So far, having covered 650 miles in 3 weeks of ownership the oil level has only dropped by the smallest of margins.

A tip I was given from my OPC was that the oil guage represents 1 litre of oil and of course we should always carry 1 litre of oil with us. [:)]

Regards
Mark
 

ORIGINAL: Lewea

Given this thread, I have now changed my behaviour and check the oil level when I park up at home.  The Gen2 car seems (to date anyway) to check the oil a lot quicker than the Gen1 car.

So far, having covered 650 miles in 3 weeks of ownership the oil level has only dropped by the smallest of margins.

A tip I was given from my OPC was that the oil guage represents 1 litre of oil and of course we should always carry 1 litre of oil with us. [:)]

Regards
Mark
Click to expand...

A good idea to carry a one liter with you, had to pop into Halfords for a liter on a recent trip, Cost 16 quid, robbers [:D]
 
Checking after my latest long trip from the North East back to London I needed to top up with 700ml to bring back to level. Car has now done 1800 miles since new.

Need to buy some more oil to ensure I have a litre with me at all times...

 
Costco is the cheapest for the oil..- if you have an account that is
It used to be a saving by getting the oil in France at the supermarkets but after my recent visit last month its apparent that the exchange rate has destroyed the saving
£41 for the same as what is at Halfords for £45, so is it worth the risk ?
Ok its a £4 saving but its sooo much better spent of wine [:D]

I also found the fuel to be more expensive than here- and that is saying something!!!!

garyw
 
Halfords online now have 5L of Mobil 1 for £37.58. Or with home delivery will cost another £4.99 so £42.57 total. Mark, my Gen 2 has used about 400ml in first 1000miles. Bit better than the £12 I paid at my local Esso for 1L! Gary you should stop drinking £4 wine - it's bad for you[:D]
 
ORIGINAL: tscaptain
Gary you should stop drinking £4 wine - it's bad for you[:D]
Click to expand...
:ROFLMAO: same results as the expensive stuff though... I remember Lemans only too well [:'(]
 
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