oil level dial?

[adriana1]

New wheels and tyres!
Hi I don't have a hand book for my 993, and was wondering is the left hand oil dial a level indicator? If so how should this read- it seems when ignition on it moves to half way- then when running can go from nothing to full depending on engine and road speed ie when in the MOT garage with the engine at tick over for the cats to heat up the dial was registering quite high after about 15mins of idling?
Any info would be good thanks
Also want a manual set if anyone has one

 

[Gordon Attar]

Its not acting in the correct manner if we are referring to far left dial, though the reading level after 15 minutes of idle is probably correct.

When the car is active and moving it should really not register anything on the gauge. Occasionally after a service and the oil tank is full it may register a bit.

Basically the car needs to at normal operating temperature and on a flat level surface for 20 to 30 seconds before it registers. (quite often it will happen at the traffic lights). I always suggest owners should take a dip stick reading at the same time so that you then have a reasonable idea of how accurate the gauge is

 

[clyde]

As Gordon says you cannot trust anything the oil level guage says until the engine has reached normal operating temperature and the car's idling on a level surface. You can tell when it's hor enough if you keep an eye on the oil temp guage; it will slowly rise up until it reaches just before the nine o'clock position then it will settle down to about the eight o'clock position as the oil line to the front oile cooler opens - this allows the cooler oil in the oil lines and cooler to flow back as it's replaced by hot oil.

The gauge will read a bit as you drive as lower revs have more oil sitting in the oil tank, cornering can also give a bit of a reading but it's all pretty meaningless. As Gordon says leave it idling on a level surface for thirty seconds or so when it's hot and then you should get an accurate reading. But the gauges have been known to fail, so I always check mine weekly with the dip stick.

 

[adriana1]

Cheers for that all seemed as you say except to the high reading after about 15mins of idling on the ramp- I also noted the oil lines to the front steaming I presume as the valves open to allow oil into the oil cooler.
i will check it with the dip stick next time I run it
Thanks again i am new to all this air cooled stuff

 

[matthewb]

You may find my recent post on http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=690397 useful.

By the way, the dry-sump system I mention in that post is not restricted to air-cooled cars - it's true for all 911s be they water- or air-cooled.

M