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YOUR RESEARCHIs my oil pressure too low?
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Replace sender last week
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Read evidence and context
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I replaced my sender last week with the Porsche branded one and now it reads about 10% higher across the board.
Leading evidence: 'Replace sender last week' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check pressure at hot idle' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Havent had one puff of smoke on or off the track in the 4 years since I have run the UAOS w/track drain.
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Suggestion
Check pressure at hot idle with correct oil and it should be 1.5-2 bar.
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Suggestion
Get more oil quantity safely into your engine by replacing your factory AOS with the UAOS w/track drain even if you dont track your car.
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I'm worried that the oil pressure in my 1999 911 is too low. I've uploaded a video of what I'm seeing in different gears while cruising at ~70mph. Currently running Mobil 1 0w40, planning to switch to 5w40. Does my oil pressure match what you all see in your 996s?
https://youtube.com/shorts/e0df4XaEKfY?si=174WgQEXJofw_7YS
Thanks in advance!
You should be running 5w-40 or 5w-50 with high Molybdenum content such as Driven DT40. Check pressure at hot idle with correct oil and it should be 1.5-2 bar. High revs it should go to 5.
Looks fine to me, via the gauge on the dash. Pressure responds to rpm well in the video and looks high enough.
I don't see anything to worry about.
I wouldn't use 0w-40 in this engine. As posted already, 5w-50 is preferred.
Your oil pressure is fine. My 99 with 192k miles is the same or a bit lower when very hot. At idle the oil pressure is 1.0 to 1.2 bar when hot. I use Red Line 20W50 oil.
Your oil pressure looks low but if you have the original oil pressure sending unit, the issue may just be the sender and not the actual pressure. I replaced my sender last week with the Porsche branded one and now it reads about 10% higher across the board.
All these cars are now around 25 years old. Many, like yours have 100K miles or more on them. Most have been driven in a spirited way at least for short bursts. Most have experienced at least some oil pressure instability regularly, whether they know it or not. Even a brief dip in op takes its toll in a cumulative way. When copper is present in uoa in a 996 that has only 1 source for copper, the 3rd layer of our babbit bearings has started to be exposed. Bearing clearance has drastically increased.
The above is all the reason we need to run 15w or 20w-50 oils, except for those that are running in sub freezing temps regularly. Then a 0w or 5-50 is fine. This will give our old worn bearings the best protection no doubt. Even Porsche's oil recommendation for all 996 has changed to '50'.
But to each their own, read our weekly/monthly threads about blown m96 engines. Listen to PT3.
For those that listen to the 'oil experts' that think we all have perfect engines with like new bearings still with minimum oil clearance, good luck. At least we have some very good engines builders here that are happy to get yours in their shop and make your bearings new again...
jmo
Pressures look to be within range. For sure, if it was my car i would want to firm them up a little. Here are a couple of easy ways to increase your oil pressure.
1. Upgrade your oil from 40 to 50 with a high quality, high moly/viscosity oil.
2. Get more oil quantity safely into your engine by replacing your factory AOS with the UAOS w/track drain even if you dont track your car. Because of its design, the UAOS will allow you to run up to 2 more quarts of oil above full. Full is ~8.5 qts, with the UAOS you can run ~10.5 qts assuming your blow by in under control (see
@Porschetech3
thread on the topic). Just 1 qt extra over full does wonders for boosting your oil pressure.
For sure, there are other items you can replace like the oil sender unit. But it just measures oil pressure, it doesnt boost it.
Good luck, the 996 is a great car and easy to keep running in top form.
You can also add the 997 oil pressure bypass relief upgrade, which may help raise your oil pressure a little.
I am certain there are threads on this topic, and also a lengthy thread on oil viscosity...
I did not look up the parts, but grabbed them from Gemini, so verify them if serious:
Kit Components:
Piston:
New Updated Piston - Part # 997-107-125-01 (chamfered).
Spring:
New Updated Spring - Part # 996-107-127-53.
Crush Washer:
New Crush Washer - Part # 900-123-010-30
I installed this as well as all 3 new camchain tensioners, and my hot idle oil is 2 bar with 5w-50.
I also have a 2Qt sump and UAOS with track drain, so always have between 2 and 3 quarts extra oil in the sump.
But, as mentioned, your pressure is normal as it is.
For sure, a 2qt deep sump in addition to the UAOS certainly helps further. I am amazed at how stable my oil pressure is on the track running 12.5 qts of oil. Havent had one puff of smoke on or off the track in the 4 years since I have run the UAOS w/track drain.
But the KEY ingredient to running all this oil is the UAOS. Without the UAOS and its ability to process all the oil mist, you wouldnt be able to run 12.5 qts. The Porsche Motorsports AOS cannot. Forget about the factory AOS.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
