Oil Level Guage???

[Stutzdriver]

'84 Targa, oil level gauge just jumps from one extreme of the gauge to the other, I know the level is correct as i put in 10 quarts at the oil change just completed...Car is new to me so I have no history...I only drove it 20 miles last fall when I bought it, then put it on jack stands to do all the "over the winter work" I needed to do.

Car did sit for 3+ months with no oil in it.

Any ideas as to what to look for?

[tazzieman]

Must be shorting out. Check spade connectors at the tank behind the right wheel (remove , clean , strip and solder new ones is best , they are usually filthy) and check connector on back of gauge.

If still no joy you have to trace wiring or check the sender in the tank.

But of course you know the only accurate way to check oil is with the car hot , level , resting 30s and with the dipstick?

[darrin]

that's the behavior mine displayed when the sender unit failed -- easy to access/replace -- the sender's a rheostat with a float attached -- easy to get to if you take off the passenger side rear wheel.

replacing the sender brought mine back to normal --

[DRACO A5OG]

Buddy with an 87 just called me from track day, his gauge just started to peg up while on.

I told him to check the connection at the oil level sending unit at the sump at rear wheel well. He checked and the negative wire was dangling, bingo

Search for OLSU, I posted a tutorial on the diagnosis and fix.

Jim

[Stutzdriver]

Thanks Draco! I'll do this ASAP....too late tonight but probably Wednesday...

[Drisump]

You know the level (even when operating properly) will read correctly only when on a level surface, warm and at idle right? Sorry, but quite a few guys new to 911's think that it's supposed to read correct at all times. Cheers

[DRACO A5OG]

Well, mine is accurate :P

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Well, mine is accurate :P

So is mine...still doan trust it....

[ivangene]

Mine is accurate....when the wire stays on.....

Had it fall off more then once

[daepp]

Mine is very reliable. Even though it may move about, it is easy to tell when I'm a quart low. I think it's just a matter of getting to know your specific car.

[pavegeno]

Mine has been dead on with the dipstick for the entire time of ownership (60k miles and 7.5 years)

[Joe Bob]

I always check the dipstick.....the gauge is like the VDO clock, un numbered volt or temp gauges. An annoyance. Not reliable at best and gives you dubious telemetry.

I've actually disconnected my gas gauge....hate looking at it, not linear and my latent OCD hates that. I use my odometer, that is dead nuts on per my GPS.

Don't trust, verify or upgrade to better gauges.

Back in the day, Porsche cut costs in some areas.

Weber carbs get the premium on the used market. Zenith and Solex were better designs. They were dropped when Weber came in cheaper as an oem supplier.

PMOs.....are modified copies using all three designs.

Just my opinion, feel free to dispute. Aftermarket VDO gauges are pretty good. The ones supplied to early VWs and Porsche at the factory are bottem end.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Zenith and Solex were better designs... than Weber

I think we need a carb thread so as not to hijack this one

[A horse with no name]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Buddy with an 87 just called me from track day, his gauge just started to peg up while on.

I told him to check the connection at the oil level sending unit at the sump at rear wheel well. He checked and the negative wire was dangling, bingo

Search for OLSU, I posted a tutorial on the diagnosis and fix.

Jim

Jim, here's the info/thread that you sent me some time ago...I kept it - Very good!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/594192-oil-level-sending-unit-how-service-repair-maintain.html

[ivangene]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

I've actually disconnected my gas gauge....

was this for weight savings?
no need to pack around that heave electrical current flowing through those monster cables?

[Joe Bob]

It was inaccurate, read my post......again.....

[ivangene]

I read your post Bob, I was just being silly

obviously I didn't think you would consider less electrical current an actual weight savings - would you