oil useage ???

[Hannu]

Had my 2000 3.2 s 3 weeks now but getting a little concerned about it using oil !.
First of all it rattles when left over 24hrs on start up, (No oil in tappets) and puffs a little BLUE smoke from exhaust. Told by the opc that this is normal.
However Had to top up the oil as its gone from full of the dash read out to empty quicker than its used a tank of fuel. (that cant be right!!! Can it ?).
I believe that its running on Mobile 1 0w 40w and told by the opc that this is recommended by Porsche. surely thats to thin, what everboby else using??.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

0W40 is the correct grade (your handbook will confirm that[])

However, I am concerned about the amount of oil you are using. That is far too much in my opinion. I have only had to top mine up once in 30000 miles, and that was just me being paranoid about it falling 2 marks from "full" on the display!
(Yes it has had oil changes in that period before anyone points it out!...)
I've not noticed noisy tappets either, although I have seen others mention it occasionally.

I would get back to the OPC and tell them about the consumption.

 

[JCB..]

However Had to top up the oil as its gone from full of the dash read out to empty quicker than its used a tank of fuel. (that cant be right!!! Can it ?).

If it is using that much oil it has to be either:

(a) Falling out of the bottom of the car somewhere

(b) Leaving a blue smoke screen behind you when on the move.

I'd check it with the dipstick and use the digital gauge when cold and on a level surface.

JCB..

 

[Carl.Young]

When did you re-check the oil on the digital display? I usually notice mine when I've stopped / restarted the engine (e.g. when I've just filled up with petrol) and the display at that point will be well down from when the engine has been standing for a while.

Tappets - there's a slight clatter for a second or two as fluids are pumped round - no problem.

Blue smoke - when the engine is not turned over for a few days, a small amount of oil gathers in your cylinders ('cos they sit at the bottom of the engine) and this causes the blue smoke on start up.

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Hannu

However Had to top up the oil as its gone from full of the dash read out to empty quicker than its used a tank of fuel. (that cant be right!!! Can it ?).

When in doubt use the dipstick; the car will always give a very low on-screen reading on an early morning first-start check, if it is very low temp outside then you will most probably get an all empty reading. A check after a fuel fill-up at the forecourt is probably the most accurate but only panic when the dipstick shows empty...

Also see my concerns on on-screen oil check tread http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/m.asp?m=100089&mpage=1&key=; I got some good responses that put me at ease...

 

[JCB..]

When in doubt use the dipstick; the car will always give a very low on-screen reading on an early morning first-start check, if it is very low temp outside then you will most probably get an all empty reading.

Sorry but I don't think that this is the case. My car is parked in a car port with it's bum just sticking out far enough to catch a covering of frost when cold enough. It has never in five years shown less than 3 bars from full on the digital meter. When it did it was because it wanted some oil. Like Mark I haven't had to put in much at all - probably a litre in 75k.

Of course my car could be the exception but I doubt it.

JCB..

 

[Carl.Young]

When in doubt use the dipstick; the car will always give a very low on-screen reading on an early morning first-start check, if it is very low temp outside then you will most probably get an all empty reading.

Like JCB I don't find this - in fact the opposite - early morning readout the highest. Reading with the engine warm much lower.

 

[THX911]

My 0 readings were a couple of moons back when it snowed and temperatures were 0-2.5 degrees C...

 

[JCB..]

My 0 readings were a couple of moons back when it snowed and temperatures were 0-2.5 degrees C...

We get the white stuff here in Gloucester too! []

 

[THX911]

We get the white stuff here in Gloucester too! []

Talking about weather, did you all have a good topdown drive this weekend? I just came back from California yesterday and missed the spring entirely []; we, down here in London, have had this wet stuff falling from the sky all day today [8|]"¦

 

[Ivor]

It all sounds normal to me, especially if you are checking the oil when it is cold. I'm sure it needs to be checked when the engine has reached normal operating temperature, switched off and left a little while to allow the oil to flow back. The grade is correct and there is sometimes a little puff of blue smoke on start-up (not always) if the car has been left for a few days. Any tappety sound only lasts a couple of seconds.

I have only added a little oil in 12000 miles.