Stupid newbie question about oil level

[Guest]

Hi,

I have just bought my longterm dream car - a 964 C4 1991. The car is in stunning condition! But I wonder a litle about the oil level. When I manually check the oil level, should it be in the middle of the Min - Max line or should it be on the Max line? This is my first Porsche and I wonder about this because I have had a lot of other cars (maily beemers) and on them I have been told that the oil level should be in the middle of Max - Min lines. So Im a bit confused


Thanks

Tony
(from Norway)

 

[Elliot Davies]

Normally you find in some 964s that if the oil is up to the max line it will burn oil until it drops/burns a bit.
I used to have mine 1/2 to 3/4 between the levels and it stayed there then and didnt burn anymore.

HINT.........Make a mental note of where on the dipstick theoil level is in relation to the oil level guage on the dash (when oil is hot and idling on level ground) as per the manual, that way you will see and be able to guage your levels from inside the car

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Tony,

With the dry sump engine of the 964 it's not so important where the oil level is - it's more important to be careful WHEN you check it. The engine should be up to running temperature (i.e. oil thermostat open and oil temperature gauge up to at least the first mark), standing on level ground with the engine running at tickover for at least a minute or two. The oil level should be somewhere between the two marks - not below the bottom mark and definitely not above the top mark. The oil level gauge on the dash should give a similar indication.

Because the oil from the tank is circulated when the engine runs above tickover speed the tank level is continuously variable and you cannot make a judgement about the level until it settles at tickover. Similarly, the oil level gauge will vary wildly during driving but can only be relied upon at tickover on level ground.

Regards

Dave

 

[Guest]

Elliot and Dave,

Thanks for great answers

Tony