Oil Usage

Does the 996 or rather do any of you with a 996 have an oil consumption issue? What actually would constitute a usage issue? About 1400 miles ago when I bought the car (about a month ago.....) the electronic oil reading was 1 or two bars from the top. Now it's 1 bar off the bottom. I've been informed that it should be on the top bar unless I'm looking to track it whereby it should be one below. I can't see any obvious leaks under the car (although it's parked on the street in different spaces so it's not always easy to tell) but would such consumption seem heavy? I realise the car has done quite a few miles in a relatively short amount of time....but hey it's a new car and it's my 1st Porsche so you'll forgive me that

Oil consumption can vary, but the 911 does like it's oil. Mine has done the same, may be drunk a litre in 2000 miles and nothing in the next 4000 miles.....

Was the reading done before or after a drive? AFAIK, the oil reading should be checked once the engine has warmed up. This may explain why you might of originally saw full - if is was checked when the engine was cold or not completely warmed up. I generally keep a litre of oil around the home. If your really concerned and the reading still shows low after the engine has warmed up (80C+ on the temp gauge) fill up about 1/4 or 1/2 a litre at a time and see of the OBC reads differently. Finally, leave a flat cardboard under the engine when parked up- Quick way to see if your losing oil possibly due to RMS and how much of it.

Thanks for the input guys. The 2nd reading was definitely done warm, however I can't remember about the 1st now you come to mention it so will top it up and try again (another longish drive this weekend up to Manc so should provide a good test)..... Thanks also for the cardboard advice - simple but effective!! I had the car through a PPI and it was sweating a little but Sid Spanner at RSJ had it up on the ramps and said there was nothing of concern so hopefully shouldn't be an issue.... Cheers

Don't know about Porsche, but when I worked for Ford many years ago, we wouldn't get involved in a warranty claim for oil leaks (unless there was another related fault) until oil consumption exceeded 1 litre in 600 miles. Yours is about half that, but still more than most 996s I suspect, so if your observation over the next few weeks confirms it, it would be worthwhile to get it checked out. How many total miles has the car done by the way? If it's done more than 60-70,000 miles a lot of the Independents use slightly thicker oil than the OPC recommended Mobil One. I have used 'Royal Purple' in mine for the last 20,000 miles and it hasn't needed a top-up between services since

I've heard that many indies use thicker oil on older cars...the car is an 02 51plate but has only done 30670 miles. Is there actually a reason NOT to use something thicker given not too high mileage?

Mine can use a litre per 1000 miles but since its 36000 mile service it has only used a litre in the last 3000 miles. IIRC The oil capacity on a 996 is 9 litres. The electronic gauge represents only 1 litre. So if the gauge was on the bottom bar you would still have 8 litres of oil in the car. (Some one please correct me if I am wrong)

mine has used next to none that I can establish, in the last 4000 miles

I also think it is only about a litre difference - I did have to top mine up when I first got it and IIRC it was less than a litre to go from about the 3rd bar from the bottom to full

that is a sizeable amount of oil indeed!

personally, i prefer to do it the old fashioned way, once a week pulling the dipstick if you know what i mean never 100% trusting in electronics, they seem to have too many 'moments'

Ditto, 6000 miles and 1 year in my case. ~ Maxie

Mine also hasn't had to be topped ever since new....but it does smoke at start up!!!!

I bought a C4S with 40k miles on the clock back in August. I was horrified at the level of oil consumption so I took the car over to JZM in Kings Langley for a check-up. They knew immediately what the problem was - it had the wrong oil. They changed the oil for high spec Castrol Edge, although Mobil One would also have sufficed. The car previously had Magnatec Oil. Immediately I saw a difference and the car now uses hardly any oil. What a relief! :mrgreen:

I can't remember exactly what it is but the manual (at least for the gt3) in the back states that oil consumption of up to 1 litre per 1000 miles is expected). I'm sure that's what it is but I'll check again in the manual. Mine has used about 1/2 litre at most in 5000 miles.