Took my first long road trip (13 hours) and have some questions...

[deputydog95]

I went to the Amelia Island even this past weekend. Very fun. The Porsche Werks reunion was very cool. Hundreds and hundreds of Porsches showed up...

Anyway, It was quite the ride from Sarasota to Amelia. 6 hours out, 7 hours back.Traffic was crazy. Most of driving in this car previously has been short hops around town. This is my first time really covering some ground in it.

So here are my questions. Some travel related, so just came up after spending so much time in the car...

How do you use a cell phone charge in this car? The receptible is way too big for a standard car charger. Is there an adapter or something?

Do these cars typically consume a little oil at sustained highway speeds? I've had the car for a while now, never added so much as a drop. Ending up using about a half quart, round trip. Is that normal?

Fortunately, I carry a small bag up front that has spare oil, fuses, sunroof crank, DME relay, etc...

What do you do in traffic jams? Encountered from 4 or 5 (bad luck on that trip) where we were stuck in stop and go traffic for 30-45 mins at a time. The temp started really creeping up. Is there anything you can do? Would getting a separate bumper with a center mount exposed oil cooler help?

Can anyone explain the climate control system in this car? I'm so confused... There's levers on the dash next to the radio and levers on the floor behind the handbrake, as well as three position switch just behind the floor levers. I'm baffled. At one point I had heat, and then I didn't.

For the factory AC thermostat control (round knob), there's no indication which way turning the knob makes it warmer or cooler. Can someone tell me please?

I know there were a couple other things, but I'm drawing a blank now.

Thanks in advance!

[Tremelune]

Originally Posted by deputydog95

How do you use a cell phone charge in this car? The receptible is way too big for a standard car charger. Is there an adapter or something?

Yup. I'm probably gonna hardwire a new socket with USB charger, but some just add a plastic sleeve or even plasti-dip the charger.

https://rennlist.com/forums/964-forum/20840-cigarette-lighter-size.html

Originally Posted by deputydog95

Do these cars typically consume a little oil at sustained highway speeds? I've had the car for a while now, never added so much as a drop. Ending up using about a half quart, round trip. Is that normal?

Yup. The exact spec seems debatable, but it's common for these cars to use a quart every 1,000 miles.

Originally Posted by deputydog95

What do you do in traffic jams? Encountered from 4 or 5 (bad luck on that trip) where we were stuck in stop and go traffic for 30-45 mins at a time. The temp started really creeping up. Is there anything you can do? Would getting a separate bumper with a center mount exposed oil cooler help?

Another cooler would help, but probably not as much as getting a better fan for the fender cooler:

https://www.americanvolt.com/collections/single-electric-fans/products/6-inch-small-slim-electric-fan-12v-radiator-oil-cooler-atv-mini-tractor-mower

That one is $30 and moves something like 4x the air of the stock fan. Pair that with an adjustable temp controller, and you'll be in good shape.

Originally Posted by deputydog95

Can anyone explain the climate control system in this car?

[roblav]

First, which version 911?

The old Porsche manuals used to specify up to a quart of oil consumption every 600 miles.

You can find somewhere an older adapter to fit in the cigar lighter... for the cell.

Way back in the early 90's, I commuted between Jax and Charleston every week in a 1967 911, in summer. It was horrible. That's why I sold the car and picked up a 1989 944 Turbo S. The 911s will wear you out on longer trips in the heat.

What temps did you see when "temps creeping up"?

For how to operate the ventilation system, maybe read the owners manual?

[T77911S]

do not fill the oil to the max level. run it midway down to min. if you fill it, you will use more oil.

driving, the temps should be good even lower than normal so it is going to go up sitting. how much it goes up to is the big question.

if it continues to rise you could have rats nests under the engine shroud or you could have a Tstat problem, you have 2

[Ctopher]

I've been using this charger without any real issues. Yes its not a perfect fit but because its recessed it stays in the socket without any issues. Getting it out is as easy as keeping a cable interred in the USB port and a simple twist/pull and it comes out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M6QODH2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And regarding your AC temps, are you running your AC when temps go up in traffic? During my 3400mile trip I had no AC and only saw temps rising after hard driving in the mountains and had to stop at a construction site or in the Aug temps in Texas. But when you add stock AC and traffic, temps are going to climb pretty fast. To combat I am planning on adding at least one additional spal fan to my condenser and change my oil cooler temp sensor to a lower fan kick off to help with the added heat.


I think all cars are a little different in how much they drink but mine when driving home after purchase (CA to TX) over 3400 miles drank about 2qts total. I did have many many miles at 80+ MPH for sustain distances across NV, UT, CO, NM and east TX. That last quart was to top it off to the very top once I got home. I've seen people that recommend to keep it 1/2 empty but never a explanation to why. I keep it topped off and with local 100mile driving and a 300mile highway trip I've not seen any real oil consumption with it to max oil line.

Originally Posted by T77911S

do not fill the oil to the max level. run it midway down to min. if you fill it, you will use more oil.

Can you give more reasons for this?

[toddetch]

Regarding the phone charger, I bought a charger with an under dash mount kit, spliced into the radio power line, drilled a couple of holes in the bottom of my ashtray, and mounted it there. Given how much the tiny plastic hinge part to repair my ashtray cost, everyone is banned from using the ashtray anyway, and the USB port is pretty hard to even see. I wanted to keep the dash clean and not mess with the cigarette lighter. Pairing that under dash charger with the Rennline magnetic mount that attaches to the clock and a retractable lightning to USB cable, I have a pretty slick charger system that doesn't get in the way, and if I ever want to remove it, it's simple (though it will leave a couple of holes in the bottom of the ashtray. If it helps I'll upload a couple of pictures when I get a chance.

[T77911S]

I can only assume the reason is because of crankcase ventilation. with more oil in the tank, is of course higher and is easier to be picked up and pulled into the intake and burned.


just a guess as to why, but I have seen it that way on both my cars and I have heard others say not to fill it.
unless you are racing there is plenty of oil in there with it even at min.

[GH85Carrera]

I drive my 85 911 on long road trips regularly. I have done 900+ mile single day trips many times.

As far as oil temp, my 85 has just a front oil cooler with no fan from the factory. I added a fan years ago and it for sure helps. I have an oil temp gauge that has real numbers not just marks. The biggest improvement for keeping the engine cool, and the passengers cool was the Griffith's system of AC. It puts two condensers in the fender. That takes a lot of heat away from the rear condenser and hence the engine air intake.

I drove through Arizona in July and into Needles, CA where it was just 118. The engine temps were fine. The AC struggled a little in the heat but I did not get sweaty.

One thing that is common for 911s is the debris and crap on top of the cylinders. If you have had oil leaks it make glue for every leaf ever close to the engine. If you can get a bore scope to peek under the air shroud and see the top of the cylinders you may be shocked how much air is blocked.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by T77911S

do not fill the oil to the max level. run it midway down to min. if you fill it, you will use more oil.

driving, the temps should be good even lower than normal so it is going to go up sitting. how much it goes up to is the big question.

if it continues to rise you could have rats nests under the engine shroud or you could have a Tstat problem, you have 2

Originally Posted by deputydog95

I went to the Amelia Island even this past weekend. Very fun. The Porsche Werks reunion was very cool. Hundreds and hundreds of Porsches showed up...

Anyway, It was quite the ride from Sarasota to Amelia. 6 hours out, 7 hours back.Traffic was crazy. Most of driving in this car previously has been short hops around town. This is my first time really covering some ground in it.

So here are my questions. Some travel related, so just came up after spending so much time in the car...

How do you use a cell phone charge in this car? The receptible is way too big for a standard car charger. Is there an adapter or something?

Do these cars typically consume a little oil at sustained highway speeds? I've had the car for a while now, never added so much as a drop. Ending up using about a half quart, round trip. Is that normal?

Fortunately, I carry a small bag up front that has spare oil, fuses, sunroof crank, DME relay, etc...

What do you do in traffic jams? Encountered from 4 or 5 (bad luck on that trip) where we were stuck in stop and go traffic for 30-45 mins at a time. The temp started really creeping up. Is there anything you can do? Would getting a separate bumper with a center mount exposed oil cooler help?

Can anyone explain the climate control system in this car? I'm so confused... There's levers on the dash next to the radio and levers on the floor behind the handbrake, as well as three position switch just behind the floor levers. I'm baffled. At one point I had heat, and then I didn't.

For the factory AC thermostat control (round knob), there's no indication which way turning the knob makes it warmer or cooler. Can someone tell me please?

I know there were a couple other things, but I'm drawing a blank now.

Thanks in advance!

No one can figure out the HVAC in these cars. It's German engineering at it's worst. Alternatively, it's the Germans revenge for US customers requiring AC in a sports car.