understanding the oil gauge - can it be too full?

Sorry for being a bit dense but heres my question: I have a C2 tiptronic and the oil gauge on the dash has all of the white blocks illuminated, this includes above and below the top and bottom arrows. When I drive the gauge on the right goes between 0 - 5 depending on temp and revving etc. but it reaches 5 at only 3k revs. I checked the dipstick and it all looks good (although it does look a little full) does all of this sound normal or should I be concerned in any way FWIW the oil on dipstick looks very clean and the car is driving fine. I just havent had it long so was unsure if it may have been over filled, if so could this cause a problem?

That would be the oil PRESSURE gauge. Not how much you have. Perfectly Normal

Yes I know the dial on the right is the pressure gauge but i thought it should only reach 5 when revving at circa 5k. the oil level gauge though is showing full i.e all bars illuminated?

Its pretty binary TBH - cold = 5, tickover when warm 1.5-2 normal driving above 2.5k revs = 4.5-5

Sorry. When you said "understanding the oil gauge - can it be too full", then proceeded to describe the oil pressure gauge, that is what I thought you were referring to. On a cold start the oil pressure should hit 5 aswell. So technically it can read 5 anywhere between 800 rpm and 7,400 etc (or higher for performance models, GT3 etc).

That would be the TACHOMETER gauge. :wink:

the gauge im referring to is the small gauge that only shows when you turn the key but not run the car, it's the one that shows a countdown to how long it will take the oil to settle then it gives a reading, trouble is my one reads 100% full all the time. sorry if i confuse things if i knew the technical name i would give it. i wish i had a pic i could post to clarify

The gauge you refer to is indeed the oil level gauge. Even with the countdown the level can sometimes vary depending on whether the car is on level ground or not. It also stays on for a bit after you fill up wih petrol and then it usually shows slightly less than it usually would as not all the oil has drained back into the sump. Yours shows full all the time probably because the car is slightly overfilled but not enough for the digital level gauge to show that hence even with the oil not fully drained back into the sump it still reads full. The next time the car is on a completely level surface and you haven't driven it for a couple of hours, pull the dipstick in the engine compartment to see if it is slightly above the max line. I suspect that is the case.

OK, the little winky man, :wink: , was to tell you I was joking about the TACHOMETER (the rev counter).

The oil level guage will suffice a name. I would hope it says its full "all the time" (well the times it shows on ignition, when you fill up/open fuel flpa etc) - otherwise I would want to know where it had gone! It shouldn't change (although technically it may "lose" a bar segment when hot, due to cavity expansion, oil dustribution etc), unless you park on a sloope, then it can't correctly guess the level. So always make sure it is on the level, and count yourself lucky it isn't a 9997, as 996s still retain the old fashioned dipstick!

Porsche are really taking the mick with all the new models, now we have the 9997 :?:

of course i knew you were only joking i will of course let it go on this one occasion (pending Englands win over Germany on Sunday) after which time i will then hold judgement as to take a joke ever again or not :lol:

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I must confess the "Electronic Oil Pressure Tachometer" sounds pretty cool My advice would be to use it as a quick health check but the stick is the only true physical measure.

If I give you my login, can you spell check and edit all my posts?