996 oil level

[LeeMuzzy]

Have a very strange ‘issue’ with my 996 C4S. The oil level on countdown is vastly different to the actual oil level. It seems the car’s drain down time is upwards of 30 minutes from hot run ending to get an accurate reading. A recent example goes as follows:

Technician fills oil to halfway (direction from me as I know it’s prone to overfilling) following drain of old oil. Car gets moved from ramp to outside parking. Sits for 1 hour. Shows half full.

I then drive the car to get oil nice and hot. Repark in same flat space. Wait 30 mins. It shows as roughly 400ml overfilled. Technician “services hundreds of these” and has “never seen anything like it”. It’s not just at this garage. 3 garages have now overfilled the oil in my ownership. Even when I have explained the above. One said garage has overfilled multiple years in a row. I understand from the forums that cold the following morning is the most accurate. But that doesn’t help me at service time. Is this a phenomenon, or do any of you experience anything similar? To note, all of this is on the dipstick. Electronic always reads lower level (shows just over half full when full on dipstick). I had sensor changed not too long ago as well.

Any views welcome. Bar a complete engine tear down, which obviously I’m not going to do for this issue, I’m a little lost.

 

[Ruskiedog1]

May help with the dipstick reading..

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Really useful info - thanks for sharing. It made me look it up, and in addition to the new dipstick there is also a technical bulletin about re-coding the instrument cluster to suit.

 

[Eagle1972]

Very strange. I am afraid I have not heard of anything like that.... I have a 2004 996.2 C4 and not had a problem with the oil level reading...

Hope you get it solved.....

 

[Ruskiedog1]

Really useful info - thanks for sharing. It made me look it up, and un addition to the new dipstick there is also a technical bulletin about re-coding the instrument cluster to suit.N

No problem, I can only assume it may have caused those using the dipstick on the 996.2 to underfill as most would probably just fill to half way up in the worry of over filling when this suggest fill using the dipstick to the full level dot. I have done this on my 996 c4s and over night morning check the dip stick is pretty near full and the sender reads as well. 110k and no issues yet! bores clear and oil analysis all good. Oils every 3k and 5w 50 Moly

 

[richardjjs1]

No problem, I can only assume it may have caused those using the dipstick on the 996.2 to underfill as most would probably just fill to half way up in the worry of over filling when this suggest fill using the dipstick to the full level dot. I have done this on my 996 c4s and over night morning check the dip stick is pretty near full and the sender reads as well. 110k and no issues yet! bores clear and oil analysis all good. Oils every 3k and 5w 50 Moly

Oil certainly doesnt need changing every 3 k it will "LAST" 50k
But yes change evry 2 years with 5W 40 and do the Brake Fluid at the same time #

 

[Ruskiedog1]

Oil certainly doesnt need changing every 3 k it will "LAST" 50k
But yes change evry 2 years with 5W 40 and do the Brake Fluid at the same time #

I think Jake Raby and Hartech would disagree there, no way would I ever leave any of my cars for 2 years without an oil change but each to their own.

 

[ianthow]

Oil certainly doesnt need changing every 3 k it will "LAST" 50k
But yes change evry 2 years with 5W 40 and do the Brake Fluid at the same time #

Absolutely disagree with this advice. In theory, modern 'LongLife' oils are good for two years before lubrication properties break down. In practice, depending on engine use and condition, oil will become contaminated with fuel, combustion by-products, wear particles and moisture in the crankcase which can cause a deterioration in lubrication properties which, in turn, may result in damage to a very expensive part of the car. Annual oil changes are cheap insurance against this becoming a problem.