Dipsticks… or not?

[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?

[Alan A]

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?

You can’t forget to put it back in. So one less place to leak from.
And no, I’m not a fan…

[Mike80911]

It is really annoying. My Cayenne sometimes does not display the oil level even after driving for more than a half hour. There is a plug in the tube on some models that you can remove, and you can buy an adjustable dipstick and use that to check the oil.

[GH85Carrera]

I agree, it is stupid. BUT, a lot of owners never used the dipsticks. Now the car knows the level of oil and will war you to add oil.

Much like replacing a battery in modern cars. I had to enter the serial number, part number, amp hours and battery type (AGM or wet cell) into my wife's Macan to keep it happy. My old cars only require the clocks to be set after a battery change.

[Dixie]

Threads like this make me glad I drive an 11 year old car. I have 35,000 miles on it, so I'm liable to be driving it forever.

[A930Rocket]

Sounds like a dumb idea.

My 14 F150 doesn’t have a transmission dipstick in the engine bay. You have to get under the truck, remove a small cap and pull a 4 inch dipstick out, while avoiding the hot exhaust. I retrofitted a dipstick that goes to the engine bay that some guy makes and sells on eBay.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Threads like this make me glad I drive an 11 year old car. I have 35,000 miles on it, so I'm liable to be driving it forever.

Yeah, I know, right? I drive a 24 year old Lexus with over 300,000 miles on it. It may not have all the new fangled bells and whistles, but at least it does have a dipstick.

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[masraum]

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?

Yep, one of my minor pet peeves with my car. My '08 Boxster S is a 3.4. If it was a 3.2L, the spot for the dipstick is still in the block and I could retrofit. If it was a 2.9L (non-S) I could retrofit. But my understanding is that my 3.4 L never had the hole drilled. What's really irritating is that when the motors hot, you've got to wait 5 mins to test, and it doesn't take 5 mins to get gas no matter how low you run it. So it's not like it's convenient to check when getting gas.

[masraum]

What I also miss is the old oil level gauge in my old '88 911 targa. That thing was right on the money all of the time. I understand why Porsche got rid of so many gauges, stupid people that don't understand gauges are probably a huge pain in the ass. But I want water/oil temp, oil pressure, and volts would be nice. Like I said, I also miss the old oil level gauge, but I don't believe that would work in the newer cars since they aren't true dry sump.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, one of my minor pet peeves with my car. My '08 Boxster S is a 3.4. If it was a 3.2L, the spot for the dipstick is still in the block and I could retrofit. If it was a 2.9L (non-S) I could retrofit. But my understanding is that my 3.4 L never had the hole drilled. What's really irritating is that when the motors hot, you've got to wait 5 mins to test, and it doesn't take 5 mins to get gas no matter how low you run it. So it's not like it's convenient to check when getting gas.

Forgive me, for I know not, but is the 3.4 a 6 cylinder? I ask because my SHO has a 3.4 liter double overhead cam V8.

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[1990C4S]

If you don't like a change then you probably aren't the target market.

I suspect that the majority of NEW CAR BUYERS look at this change as a huge improvement. "I can check the oil from the driver's seat and never get my hands dirty.

No one cares what the second owner wants...

[Dixie]

Everything old is new again. Model T's also lack a dipstick. You check the oil by opening petcocks on the pan. If it drips out the top one, it's full. If not, you add oil. A common aftermarket upgrade was to install a sight glass on the lower petcock allowing for a visual check.

(I can remember this piece of trivia I heard eons ago, but why I walked into the kitchen is a mystery.)

[pete3799]

I've got a 2011 VW Touareg tdi with no dip stick. Why? I have no idea. They don't even tell you in the owners manual how much oil it takes to do an oil change. They don't want you to touch your car.......take it to the dealer is what they want.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Forgive me, for I know not, but is the 3.4 a 6 cylinder? I ask because my SHO has a 3.4 liter double overhead cam V8.

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Yes, it's a Flat 6.
Porsche Flat 6's over the years (mostly correct, possibly missing/incomplete in the later years.
2.0L - 911
2.2L - 911
2.4L - 911
2.7L - 911
3.0L - 911
3.2L - 911 ('84-'89) and Boxster Cayman (986-987 ->'06)
3.6L - 911 (964, 993, and some later models, 997, 981, maybe)
3.4L - 911 (996) and Boxster/Cayman (987-981 '07 ->)
3.8L - 911 & Boxster/Cayman
4.0L - 911 (the special/hi-perf models)

My wife has a Subaru Outback with a 3.6L flat 6. So our family is running 7.0L of flat 6 mayhem.

[jcommin]

No dip stick on my 2019 VW Jetta.

No oil or trans dip stick on my 2006 CLK 500 either.

A long time ago I bought a new 2004 Volvo station wagon. As the salesperson was going over the car's features, I asked where the hood latch was. She replied, why do you ask? I don't know maybe to re-fill the window washer reservoir. Her response: just about all, have us (the dealership) service the car - no need but I will get someone to show you where it is.

[908/930]

One possible reason for eliminating it is something I noticed with my 2004 BMW 530i is the tube ends up with condensation inside it in cold conditions, the 2005 year eliminated the tube and went with a sensor.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jcommin

no dip stick on my 2019 vw jetta.

No oil or trans dip stick on my 2006 clk 500 either.

A long time ago i bought a new 2004 volvo station wagon. As the salesperson was going over the car's features, i asked where the hood latch was. She replied, why do you ask? I don't know maybe to re-fill the window washer reservoir. Her response: Just about all, have us (the dealership) service the car - no need but i will get someone to show you where it is.

lol!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

One possible reason for eliminating it is something I noticed with my 2004 BMW 530i is the tube ends up with condensation inside it in cold conditions, the 2005 year eliminated the tube and went with a sensor.

Gotta get the car/oil hot enough to burn that off, which should happen with any reasonably long drive.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

What I also miss is the old oil level gauge in my old '88 911 targa. That thing was right on the money all of the time. I understand why Porsche got rid of so many gauges, stupid people that don't understand gauges are probably a huge pain in the ass. But I want water/oil temp, oil pressure, and volts would be nice. Like I said, I also miss the old oil level gauge, but I don't believe that would work in the newer cars since they aren't true dry sump.

The new cars are just that, too much info with gauges that change so the driver is informed on what's going on with the car, like radio station (like we can't tell on the freaking radio already?) with a flip of a stick. Keep that up and we will have more accidents. That along with the cell phones. On my Turbo S, I don't use 70% of the gauges. Why the hell would I really want to know about how much power is going to the front wheels.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

If you don't like a change then you probably aren't the target market.

I suspect that the majority of NEW CAR BUYERS look at this change as a huge improvement. "I can check the oil from the driver's seat and never get my hands dirty.

No one cares what the second owner wants...

Like locking automatic locking front hubs on a 4WD? I tell ya, I love them not having to get out in the mud or snow to lock 'em. I know, I know, mechanical, manual locking hubs are positive.