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YOUR RESEARCHOil Change?
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
When the car is warm, it reads about half way up the shaft(last time i checked)
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Suggestion · Original poster
I may take it for a spin today, let it get good and warm, and check dipstick again.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
The oil was changed when I did the IMS bearing back in December.
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Suggestion
I check cold in the garage , having said that whatever you chose be consistent.
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Hey All,
Here's an easy question.... Should you check oil level on the dipstick when the car is cold or hot? I've read an entire thread about checking it when it's cold and an entire thread to check when its hot/warm. So which way is it?
The threads are also several years old, and people are still learning new things about the 996 today. My local Porsche mechanic says to check when the car is still warm.
When my car is cold the oil level is right above the bottom dot, but not really on the shaft. When the car is warm, it reads about half way up the shaft(last time i checked)
I don't have an owners manual yet, so I'm not sure what that suggests. Although after reading, not everyone even trusts the owners manual.
I'm about a month away from doing my first oil change on this car...
Thanks for the input!
My guess is cold. Right to the middle line. For giggles, monitor oil consumption at intervals and track. It can go to the bottom line without ruining anything from what I have read here.
3k or 6 months.
Check it cold after overnight sit. Should be at least midway between the lower dot and upper dot. What does your digital oil level gauge read? Sounds like you are low with it only reaching the lower dot. Don't be afraid to add some oil, even before an oil change. It's the best insurance for the health of the engine to maintain a proper level at all times.
Owners manual for my 02 996 states to check the oil warm after waiting a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. Warm or hot level will be higher than cold, so son't fill all the way to the top dot of the dipstick with a cold engine. or you will overfill the crankcase.
When I changed my oil the PO had it overfilled by about 1 quart. Book states 9 quarts with filter change, but my car has the LN spin-on filter. I refilled 8 quarts, got the engine warm with a quick drive, and then checked the dipstick. I filled to about half way between the low and high marks, but the oil level sensor in the car was reading 1 or 2 bars above half way. I added just enough oil, perhaps one more pint, to get the electronic gauge to read one bar below full. On the dipstick it read about 1/16" below the high dot.
It's about midway on the stick when it's warm and I let it sit for a few minutes to drain. The oil level gauge consistently reads 1 or 2 bars above the low mark.
Thanks for the owners manual comment. Mine is a 02 as well. I don't have a manual for my car yet.
I've heard overfilling these cars is REALLY bad for them.
Do you mean one or two bars below the high mark on the instrument cluster? And we are talking about the digital oil level indicator, not the oil pressure gauge, correct? Also, make sure the car is on level ground when filling and checking the oil. If yes on the oil level indicator then you are probably still a bit low. I'd add 2 or 3 ounces at a time, run the engine, then let it sit for a few minutes. Check the oil with the oil level indicator in the dash until it gets one or two bars below the top. Check the dipstick as you go along.
What year is your car and do you have the stock cartridge style oil filter?
Thanks. I've pretty much been checking it before I drive each time. I'd be hesitant to fill it half way up the stick when cold because i think it would be way over the second dot when warm. However, I don't really know! Hence why I started this thread.
Yes, I'm talking about the digital oil level indicator that you can run to check the oil level. Mine shows usually between 1-3 bars above the low mark on the digital indicator. Doesn't seem to change much whether the car is cold or warm, but I haven't used it religiously. I've been more checking the dip stick. I do agree, that ultimately I think I'm bit low. I may start adding just a little bit. I've heard/read that over filling these cars can be a REAL big problem
I've got a 02 4S. I'm not sure about the current oil filter. The oil was changed when I did the IMS bearing back in December. When I do the oil change, I suppose I'll order the filter of of Pelican, but I haven't done much research yet to know if there is a better place to get them.
I am still a bit perplexed why there is not a clear and concise answer on this though?? It seems like such a simple question. The owners manual says check when warm, but many people check when cold. It's a bit weird to me...
For my '99 (FSI 3.6) my routine is the following. Check it when cold via the dash gauge. When it gets to the bottom line, I verify the level with the dip stick and add 1/2 quart. I never have very much above middle of gauge or dipstick and never fill it to the top line.
Thanks for the input. Another tally in "checking while cold" column!
Although, with your FSI engine it could be totally different than what to do with a stock I suppose
Regarding your readings, you may have a failing oil pressure switch, which feeds the digital indicator gauge and the oil pressure gauge. At the very least, pull off the leads to the oil pressure switch (one at a time) and reconnect. That may wake it up for a while. Do a search on the 996 forum as to where it is located (too hard to describe here without pictures, but it is on the passenger side). You can get to the leads from the trunk, just don't stick your arm in there when the engine is hot.
I would get the oil level set correctly with a hot engine to get a baseline. Then when it is stone cold check the dipstick and make note of the difference between the hot and cold readings. After that you can always check your oil cold and know if it is low or not. As Essjayarr says, NEVER overfill with oil on any car.
I have a 99, which has an electronic gauge as well as a dipstick. While my engine has pretty much the same levels between the two, the manual has different instructions for each.
For the dipstick, it wants a hot measurement.
For the gauge, it wants the shortest timer result, which is either hot or stone cold.
It says: �For checking through oil, want as much oil as possible to flow to the pan�, in which case, the engine should be very warm and after waiting for a long time, or, stone cold after the car sat overnight.
Pick whichever reading is always the highest and go from there. That way you won�t risk overfilling it.
Thank you! this answers the question perfectly. I have an 02. Wonder if it's the same? I was just about to order all of the manuals before this Rona hit. Cost is about $230. Now I'm waiting because manuals are an unnecessary expense at the moment. Right now the car is stone cold. haven't driven it in about 5 days. Oil is at exact same level as when i checked it before last drive. Right above the lower dot. I may take it for a spin today, let it get good and warm, and check dipstick again.
Thanks again!
Keep in mind the dots are NOT the low and full marks on the dipstick. The lines on the straight part of the stick is the low and full levels. Look closely at the drawing from the owner manual depicting the stick. The lower dot is below low and while the engine still has sufficient oil you should add oil to get it to the middle between the two lines. Check with engine cold(read overnight) and on flat surface. I was directed to do this by someone much smarter than I am about these cars.
I check mine digitally after it has set all night.
I also check it for appearance and level while warm when I refuel.
The levels normally match.
I add 1/2 quart of oil at the next refueling when I see it flashing digitally.
I have the LN Engineering 2 qt deep sump and figure I can wait for the flashing plus up to 200 miles to add oil since I have more oil in my sump than normal.
The best way to get a accurate oil level is to drive slowly the last few blocks to your garage, to allow most of the oil in the heads to be pumped back to the oil sump.
Park on level ground & check oil level the next day.
Oil is at the bottom line. I added 4 ounces today. Taking it slow and don't want to overfill. Will check tomorrow and add more if needed, which i think it probably will.
Can anyone offer an opinion how the oil drains if you just jack up the rear of the vehicle? Does that work well enough, or should the front and rear both be jacked up to get all the oil out?
Keep the car level to drain the oil. You don't have to get every ounce out (nor can you). That being said, after the oil stopped draining I did jack one side up slowly and drained some more oil.
As a point of reference, on my 02 996, after driving the car for an extensive amount of time and letting it sit for about 10 minutes, my digital oil level read 2 bars below full. Oil on the dipstick was perhaps a bit less than 1/16" below the top mark. With your current readings on the digital indicator and dipstick you are a bit low on oil.
Get a low profile oil pan that holds 10 quarts. I jack up the left rear side so I can work underneath and remove oil drain plug while my low profile oil pan is underneath the drain plug. Then I drop it back down and let it drain for a long time. Then I jack up the left rear again and because of the design of the oil sump plate a bit more oil comes out. I leave it like that for awhile, then reinstall drain plug and fill it up.
I don't hate this idea, but a bit risky to just use the jack to keep it up in the air, right? I wouldn't mind doing something like this on my truck because if the jack failed while underneath it would still be high enough to not crush me. Not so much the case on the 996
I never crawl under the car while it is on the jack! The only thing going under the car is my arm to loosen the drain plug. It is not that hard to reach. I don't even lift enough to raise the tire off the ground.
Yes, it is a longer reach but since I have a spin on filter with a filter socket it is simple enough. However, if in doubt at all, or you are nervous about reaching under the car, jack it up and use a jack stand. It can be just the left rear side that needs a lift up then slide a jack stand under the rear suspension cross member.
Car needs to be lifted and on jack stands to remove and replace the oil filter. The above mentioned procedures is just for draining the oil. It takes a long time to drain.
I can't tell you how many mechanics have said never be over sensitive about adding oil to these cars. You're better off keeping it at the middle of the gauge. Never overfill these engines or hydrolock will be your consequence.
