Am I right to be concerned...

Calspeed · Calspeed's Garage

Hello,

Please look at this picture and tell me if the reading on the Oil Gauges are okay? Basedon the engine speed, RPM and MPH would you say things are okay?

What puzzles me is that the oil level is okay according to the dip stick. But the pressure is way up and the oil level is way down.

When this pic was taken I was just cruising without the foot hard on the accelerator.

What do you guys think?

Calspeed

Lothar · Lothar's Garage

No problem. You should worry if the oil pressure is low. It is fine where it's at. THe oil level indicator fluctuates as the car warms up and then will only stay at the top when you are not on the throttle. If you are on the gas and the oil level gage goes down, that's normal. Follow the dip stick not the gage.

Drive the car and enjoy. There is nothing like them.

Jack Olsen · 10-30-2002, 09:31 PM

I'd say it looks like you're speeding, young man!

Actually, the oil level gauge should only ever be consulted when the car is standing dead still, on a level surface, with the engine idling, and engine is at operating temperature. It means nothing when you're moving, other than that some oil is being pumped into the tank, and some is being pumped out.

Paul Franssen · Paul Franssen's Garage

I join the 2 previous posters, everything looks jass fine, bro! The picture tells me you've got a 3.2 Carrera, doing 125+ kph in fifth gear. That oil level gauge is one hell of a screamer, ain't it! When I took delivery of my Carrera (bought used), within a few miles from the dealer, I noticed the oil level needle was way down below into the red area, so I cursed the seller and stopped at the first gas station to add a liter (quart) of oil. I was lucky I didn't overfill her... It took me quite a while to stop worrying about that (useless) oil level indicator: just keep checking with the dipstick, you know in tha back, engine idling and on level ground. Don't wear a tie (watch that A/C belt down below!) and don't drop the dipstick down the filling tube!
Enjoy your machine!

Chris Bunker · 03:53 AM

As a basic rule, a healthy 911 engine should show approx 10 psi/1000 rpm oil pressure. Or is it 1 bar/1000 rpm? (which ever units the gauge is incremented in). Regardless of units, looks like you are right on target.

rstoll · 10-31-2002, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Franssen
I join the 2 previous posters, everything looks jass fine, bro! The picture tells me you've got a 3.2 Carrera, doing 125+ kph in fifth gear. That oil level gauge is one hell of a screamer, ain't it! When I took delivery of my Carrera (bought used), within a few miles from the dealer, I noticed the oil level needle was way down below into the red area, so I cursed the seller and stopped at the first gas station to add a liter (quart) of oil. I was lucky I didn't overfill her... It took me quite a while to stop worrying about that (useless) oil level indicator: just keep checking with the dipstick, you know in tha back, engine idling and on level ground. Don't wear a tie (watch that A/C belt down below!) and don't drop the dipstick down the filling tube!
Enjoy your machine!

And don't take pictures at 85 mph.

Kurt B · 10-31-2002, 05:14 AM

My oil pressure is always low. It's at zero at idle and it never gets above 3, maybe 3.5. It's around 1 bar lower than it should be at 3,500 rpms it reads just over 2. At 4,500 it reads just over 3.

masraum · 10-31-2002, 09:23 AM

Just to reaffirm our comrades. The only time the oil level gauge is to be read is when the car is stopped and idling on level ground. The oil pressure norm is about 1bar per 1000 rpm. Some recommendations are 10psi per 1000rpm which is about 2/3 bar (1bar ~ 15 psi)

Jim T · 10-31-2002, 09:26 AM

You don't need to worry about those readings. Perfect.

Now, Kurt, on the other hand . . .

pwd72s · 10-31-2002, 09:43 AM

The pic didn't show your oil temperature. Oil pressure reads higher than normal when the oil is cold. I try to keep my revs under 3,000 until the oil gets to 180f. And my redline is 7,300. (had to toss in that brag

) What others said about the oil level gauge is spot on. I'm lucky that mine is accurate, but it's so only when oil temp is 180 or above, the car is idling, on a level surface. Trust your dipstick under these conditions...use the gauge only as a reference.

Early_S_Man · 10-31-2002, 09:54 AM

Calspeed,

The approximate [system] total capacity range indicated on the dipstick min./max. marks and gauge for '73 thru '89 models is 11.0/13.0 liters. So, even when the gauge is at the bottom of it's range, there is probably plenty of oil left in the tank. It is never a good idea to have the tank at the 'full' mark when hot and idling (midpoint is perfect) on level ground, so the usefull range you are seeing from midpoint on the dipsick and gauge is only 1 LITER down to the 'low' mark! So, the narrow window being monitored on the gauge is useful for keeping track of oil usage, but not relevant to engine operation while the car is in motion!

Calspeed · Calspeed's Garage

Hello,

Thank you all for the great information. I will try to keep the speeds down too. You guys are great!

Calspeed

88911coupe · 11-01-2002, 08:04 AM

One thing I'd ad from my own experience with my 88 is that it really needs to be well warmed up to get a good reading. I did a test one day and checked the oil level several times after it had warmed up and over about 1 1/2 hours of spirited driving the dipstick level went from the low side to about 3/4 way to the full mark. Keep in mind the oil temp was steady. I'd probably been adding oil a bit sooner than necessary in the past. Now I don't trust the dipstick till I've been driving for a good while.
YMMV