Clarification needed on checking oil level...

[RussR]

i thought i'd dig up an old thread rather than create one - so porsche conundrum #1

i just drove the car back from melbourne to brisbane (a good 1800kms)

checked the oil when i set off, all good. did some kms, next fuel i stopped and cheked the oil with engine at operating temp - chucked in 200ml as it was at half way (difference between high and low is 1.6 litres?)

checked this morning, dipstick still at a similar level so added a little bit too (was thinking about running it up to full but sitting at half way seemed reasonable considering i didn't want to overfill it)

go for a bit of a drive tonight to grab dinner and take pics, get home, check oil and it's not on the $%#%#@ dipstick - engine is at running tempreture, has lots of oil pressure according to the dash, also has oil according to the level gauge - but the dipstick isn't even showing oil. I know not to trust the gauge and rely on the dipstick so that's why i'm a little worried.

no weird noises, no oil pressure warnings, no smell, no tempreture change (going from VW engines that i've seen at engine blows these things all happen)

add around 1 litre, still no oil showing on the dipstick!

i know the full system takes 12 litres with a sportomatic - it has no huge oil leaks i can see (has a tiny drop which may have even been from my other car) - it isn't burning oil or it'd be blowing blue and leave a residue above the exhaust... and i can't really smell burning oil either

at this rate i'm letting it cool off and i'll have another look in the morning and check for oil at the low mark where it should be - anyone got any ideas?

[mattatk]

Hey! I just did the same drive Melbourne to Brissy (well Gold Coast).
The only oil level check I trust completely is the dipstick in the morning, prior to starting. All the oil has drained down into the sump. After each fuel stop (had to plan Shell fuel stops to get v - power!) the gauge showed 1/2 full, 1/4 full & 3/4 full??? I ended up adding 200ml one night & next morning it showed overfull on the gauge but the dipstick showed perfectly full (on the mark).
Out of interest what oil do you use? I'm thinking of something thicker than 0W-40 for QLD?

[RussR]

i just sussed it after reading back through this thread

i think i'd measured it before without the oil cooler opening up, so i got it up to the 8 o'clock temp mark (which is where it always sits when warm) and the gauge still read 1/2 full - added a litre and it came up to half way on the dipstick!

it's a penrite oil, i can't remember which one (it's down in the garage - pretty sure it's a 15W-60 HPR something)

[RussR]

you should probably be checking it warm, with the engine running unless it's different for the newer cars, as they're dry sumped and you're checking how much oil is in the whole system, not just drains down into the sump

[DRACO A5OG]

To be absolutely sure, get a IR hand held temperature gauge to measure the temps behind the right rear wheel. at the outlet hose to the front oil cooler, if the temps are below 90 degree C ( 194 F ), the thermostat will not open all the way and it will give you false oil level readings.

12 litres (12.68 quarts) is WAY TOO MUCH, you will create an over flow once the thermostat opens all the way.

Per Bentley the max oil fill on CHANGE with front oil cooler is 9.94 litres ( 10.5 quarts ) to be safe I put only 9.70 litres (10.25 quarts) then top off onliy after it hits 90C+, and running , never ever before.

Hope this helps,

Jim

[Helios59]

Reviving this thread to ask a question (based on the assumption that there are no stupid questions...)

The oil level on my dipstick differs. The front side (facing the engine) shows very low oil level. The back side (facing the right rear fender) shows oil level about 1/3 of the way between the empty and full marks. Reading taken at standard operating temp, level ground.

Should I add oil or am I OK?

TIA