Dipsticks… or not?

[HobieMarty]

Yeah, this world is full of dipsticks. I guess some manufacturers are trying to eliminate a few. Lol.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Scott Douglas]

Are you guys all forgetting about the $$$$$$$ being saved in not having to drill a hole for a dipstick on top of the savings of not having to manufacture a dipstick too?

[smadsen]

Years ago I checked the dash oil level gauge on my '15 911 by refilling at oil change with 7 quarts, driving until the oil was hot and taking a reading (just on the first pip on the gauge). Then add a quart, drive, & take a reading (a little above 1/2 on the gauge). Then add a 9th quart, the factory re-fill recommendation (right on the last pip on the dash gauge).

[afterburn 549]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Are you guys all forgetting about the $$$$$$$ being saved in not having to drill a hole for a dipstick on top of the savings of not having to manufacture a dipstick too?

I would think the wiring, the electric gizmo in the oil pan, computer programing would be ten times more expensive then a hole?

You must have meant that comment to be in green?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by masraum

When I stop for gas, takes about 2-3 mins. Car says, "wait 5 mins".
The modern water cooled cars aren't exactly dry sump (like the old air-cooled cars were).

Look at the bright side. Some day when the liberals require you to drive an EV, waiting only 5 minutes during your stop to recharge will seem like you died and went to Heaven.

[afterburn 549]

5 minutes? LOL

[wdfifteen]

Traveling with my son's mother 50 years ago in a 356.

Backstory - There is an issue with 356 hoods. You have to lift them up in order to release the catch that in order to lower them down. Too many - wayyy too many - gas station attendants just pushed harder when the hood refused to lower and bent the damn thing, so in the days before self serve, 356 owners were paranoid about gas station attendants bending their hoods.

We were at a gas station and the attendant was pumping the gas. She was in the driver's seat and I was frantically scurrying around, looking at the tires and checking the oil, all the while checking to make sure the attendant didn't bend my hood. Running around like that, I must have looked like some kind of nut.

At some point, the attendant went to the driver's window and asked her,
"Can I check that dipstick for you, m'am?"
"No," she said. "He's alright. He always acts like this."

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Traveling with my son's mother 50 years ago in a 356.

Backstory - There is an issue with 356 hoods. You have to lift them up in order to release the catch that in order to lower them down. Too many - wayyy too many - gas station attendants just pushed harder when the hood refused to lower and bent the damn thing, so in the days before self serve, 356 owners were paranoid about gas station attendants bending their hoods.

We were at a gas station and the attendant was pumping the gas. She was in the driver's seat and I was frantically scurrying around, looking at the tires and checking the oil, all the while checking to make sure the attendant didn't bend my hood. Running around like that, I must have looked like some kind of nut.

At some point, the attendant went to the driver's window and asked her,
"Can I check that dipstick for you, m'am?"
"No," she said. "He's alright. He always acts like this."

LMAO! You definitely got a keeper!

[stealthn]

Can anyone tell me what the signs of a failing oil level sensor are? My wife’s Cayenne has been getting weird readings lately, now I’m not getting a reading.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Can anyone tell me what the signs of a failing oil level sensor are? My wife’s Cayenne has been getting weird readings lately, now I’m not getting a reading.

I haven't run into this myself, but I think you answered your own question. Your second sentence sounds like the answer to your question. LOL.

But I get it, you're asking if folks have experienced an actual failure and what their symptoms were.

Still, reads as amusing. Kind of like "How do you know if your arm is broken, because mine is now bending in a place that it didn't bend in the past."

[stealthn]

Lol, yeah I get it, but it seems to take forever as others have said to get a reading. I wish my cars had a dipstick...

Plus I just changed the oil a month ago, not really excited to do it again right away unless I know the sensor is bad.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

What idiot at Porsche thought getting rid of engine oil dipsticks was a good idea?

And you have to drive for 10 minutes to get the oil level to display…

This is nearly as bad as automatic transmissions you fill from below the pan…

Why? Just why?

My 2010 Land Rover Discovery 4 (aka LR4) won't display oil level if the ignition has been started within 10 minutes of the check. It's a horrible system.

[Deschodt]

10 minutes??? My 991 was generally taking 3 days before it would consent to tell me, a non user of PIWIS that dares to work on his car, if I changed the oil right !! Probably a combo of not being parked perfectly horizontal and whatever other factors it needs. I ended up buying easily measured containers so I'd put in exactly what I took out and adjusted later.. just one of the many reasons I am kinda done with modern Porsches, aside from dealers adding 5-6 figures to MSRPs, special cars only going to "influencers" or buyers of supercars, $300/h dealer service charge... I find it a little shocking how quick that happened (basically since covid) but as an occasional "stretch" buyer of new P-cars once a decade, the brand has totally left me behind and moved way up amongst the really rich, and I am starting to embrace that... Other brands to be had out there..

[CurtEgerer]

I'm trying to think of a modern car I've owned in the past 25 years that has ever needed oil added between oil changes. I'm drawing a blank. I guess maybe the ones with 200-300,000 miles on them but I don't recall oil consumption being an issue on those either?

BTW, when I bought my Cayenne S in 2004, the oil change interval was 20,000 miles or 2 years and that's what I did. No problems at all. At some point Porsche changed this to 10,000 miles or 1 year.

[afterburn 549]

Hondas and Toyotas maybe dont need any.
But in the last few years car manufacturers have been mandated to use 0W20 oils.
Some cars are using oil.

[red 928]

I miss the days when we'd get to read a post from
a 911 newbie asking how to retrieve
his dipstick he dropped into the oil tank.

Or how he'd not pay attention to how much oil the
manufacturer calls for,
or maybe add just one more quart to be safe,
and then ask why his car is smoking like a Chernobyl reactor.

The good old days.

[A930Rocket]

The classic overfill. I did that with my first 911 SC. I kept adding oil trying to reach the correct level on the dipstick. Finally called a Porsche repair shop and resolved the issue.😂

It’s smoked like a freight train and I ended up taking the muffler off, washing it with Dawn, to get all the oil out. Good times!

[afterburn 549]

Bean counters will always go for bolts rather than studs.
They know better, but its cheaper.
How they got on board with an electric oil measuring instrument is above my thinking.
A 10-cent part for a 200.00 part or maybe more wholesale retail it don't matter.
It had to be designed/engineered R&D, etc etc etc

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Hondas and Toyotas maybe dont need any.
But in the last few years car manufacturers have been mandated to use 0W20 oils.
Some cars are using oil.

Toyota and Honda are no immune. Many manufacturers went to low tension piston rings. I have a Toyota Camry that eats oil like an old stovebolt Chevy truck .
At least they supplied a dipstick

[stevej37]

My two year old Civic calls for 0W20 oil and the capacity is only 4.5 qts....so I check it at least once between each change. (the turbo makes it more important I feel)

My 40 year old Carrera hardly ever gets checked. Holding 11 qts gives a lot more leeway than the Honda. Plus, I would notice it on the garage floor if it leaked any.