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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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dipstick or gauge?
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ROW '78 911 Targa
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Remove at least one quart of oil before it gets all over everything. Just siphon it out of the tank.
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Flat Six
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I don't suppose you'd consider it a public service to name the "reputable euro specialty shop" in question, would you? Or PM me if you prefer?
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1985 Carrera 3.2 2013 Audi Q5 2.0T / 2005 BMW 325ci Gone but missed: 2007 Audi A4 Avant Quattro / 1990 944S2 Cab / 1984 944 / 1990 Audi 80 Quattro / 1987 Audi 4000 Quattro / 1987 BMW 325is |
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‘84 911 3.2 Coupe
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Sounds like the bigger dipsticks are the guys at that shop....
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- Arne My car's blog-like thing: http://arnes.stuff.paunix.org/porsche/index.html "Honestly now, did you spend your youth dreaming of someday owning a Nissan or Mitsubishi?" - Porsche ad from early '90s |
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King Broinyo
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 7,107
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NEVER rely on the gauge. Guy who told you that is an idiot.
Dipstick always, with the engine warmed up and level.
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Saved by the buoyancy of citrus. |
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Registered User
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Trust the oil hot, level ground, dipstick method.
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 705
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+1... Name of the shop will tell a whole lot.
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Weekend Mechanic
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 740
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I only use the gauge once I'm on level ground after a good long drive and with the engine fully up to temp. And even then I double check with the dip stick. The guys at the shop you took it too are idiots and bad business people. You don't tell the customer that his overfilled oil tank is right because you filled it. You tell the customer to bring the car back and correct the problem. Please do us all a favour and post the name of the shop so others can avoid their awesome services.
As for your oil level, when cold and on a level surface there should be little to no oil on the dipstick. The gauge should also be at minimum. With your gauge being as high as it is at startup I'm surprised your engine didn't spew oil all over. It's lucky for you. The easiest way to correct the issue is to use one of the cheap squeeze bulb fuel pumps you can get at the local auto parts or hardware store. Just feed the siphon into the oil tank and pump a liter or two of oil out. Warm the car up, check the level, and if necessary pump out more or top up. J
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86 911 Carrera Targa ![]() |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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Thanks, it's great to have some experts to turn to when something like this comes up. Targamaniac I'll use that method tomorrow, thanks.
"I know it's right because we did it" - who says that?? Euro Specialists say that. |
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Driver
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If the Valley isn't too far, I'd recommend TRE in Van Nuys for any future work.
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1987 Venetian Blue (really looks like grey) 930 Coupe |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 15
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Thanks Noah, that's only 16 miles from where I live, but with LA traffic it could be over an hour. If there are any shops closer to the Silverlake area that'd be ideal!
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air+fuel+spark
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In addition to the level ground, oil hot & the car running....wait 60 seconds+ and let the motor idle so that oil has time circulate and normalize in the tank.
A 'specialty' shop that does not know that you can bet doesn't know a lot of other things ![]()
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bryan 1969 911T , '04 S2000, '96 900SS, 4x4 urban assault vehicle R Gruppe #653 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Peoples Republic of Long Beach, NY
Posts: 21,149
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my car sits on 4 level concrete pads in the garage
after a 60 mile hy run my gauge = stick level My car needs 5 miles during the summer to warm up the oil. Tranny oil needs more During cold winter my car oil needs 10 miles to stabilize just starting a cold, winter or summer, engine and letting it idle or high idle does not warm my oil
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Ronin LB '77 911s 2.7 PMO E 8.5 SSI Monty MSD JPI w x6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,828
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Quote:
Also I see the same thing you mentioned, the oil gauge moving more right after an oil change than before. Still, the dipstick is the most accurate method, but only when its warm, engine idling and car level.
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2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: flashing my lights behind you , CT
Posts: 303
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The wifes new soccermom/suv a '12 VW Touareg TDI doesn't even have a dip stick. In order to check the oil level you scroll thru a few screens on the central infotainment system. There is a plug where a dip stick could be installed I'll have to see if I can get one from the dealer.
Maybe the OP's service guys are too cool new school.?.
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'88 Carrera ![]() |
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Registered User
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They probably couldn't find the dipstick, so they used the gauge.
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A nose heavy airplane flies poorly, a tail heavy plane flies once. |
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Registered User
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This is Porsche 101. I hope you were talking to the "scheduler" and not the guys who work on it. Otherwise don't go back.
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Registered User
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Even though my guage reads true to the dipstick level, I always take the dipstick reading after a drive to confirm the oil level.
I too was told by local "import experts" that they had put the proper amount of oil in my car when I first bought it. With a turn of the key the oil guage pegged to max. They reassured me they had put the proper amount of oil in. A quick trip down a few blocks and I was smoking bad. After a few choice words with the experts and having them drain off 2 quarts of oil I left never to return. That's why I now try to do what I can myself. |
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Free Exams All November!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: McLovin's Gynocological Clinic
Posts: 8,212
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They are right, the Porsche dipstick is notoriously unreliable. All sorts of things happen to it. It heats up and expands around 4 inches, which throws your readings off. It contracts 2 inches in the winter, which throws your readings off. It is a very technologically primitive dipstick, for example it has no adjustability to compensate its length for altitude variations or whether you are running regular or synthetic oil. It has no electrolytes.
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