Quick Question about Oil Change? Please Help new 996 Owner Thanks in a

[DrGr33nThumb215]

I have owned a 2000 Porsche 911 996 for about 8 weeks now it had an oil change a few hundred miles ago, and ive put about 900 miles on the car, on the dash, and in the lower right hand corner a display with bars and a oil light comes on I would say every 5 times i turn the car on, and it shows a bar display with 2 arrows which are a quarter way from the top, and a quarter way from the bottom, what does this mean that I am low on oil or that the oil life is in the middle? I checked the dip stick and the oil is golden and it was dark when i checked the oil and couldn't tell the level on the dipstick, the car runs great, going to take it to the Renn Shop in Santa Clara to get an oil change and possibly chip it! let me know if I need to get this fixed or maintence the car, I come from owning 2 STi's a few S2000's a 745il and I had a few muscle cars, so these Porsches are a whole different world from Japanese cars. Thank you for any response in advance would post pics but I am not at home with the car at the moment

[Loren]

As your topic appears to be a DIY question (rather than a DIY Tutorial), we have moved it to the appropriate forum.

This is an automatically generated reply.

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[logray]

The display shows the level of the oil. From full (top) to low (at bottom add appx one quart).

Generally speaking at least in my experience, the electronic level sensor is not as accurate as the dipstick. I always trust the dipstick.

The car does consume oil, some as much as a quart per 1000 miles, so keep on top of your oil level.

This is all covered in the owners manual, a good read.

Edited December 24, 2011 by logray

[DrGr33nThumb215]

Thank you so much! Wow this forum is so helpful! I apologize for posting in the wrong section, my mistake, I think I need to add about a half quart possibly will double check the dipstick when I get home, on my STi I normally check the dipstick oil after heating the car up all the way driving for a few minutes then letting it cool for 5-10 minutes then check level same M.O. for my 996?

[logray]

I normally run my oil about half way up between the low and full marks, a little more than that.

If I run it full, I think it tends to burn off back down to the half way mark on it's own.

Your mileage may vary though. Some p-cars tend to use more oil than others, and some have no trouble keeping the oil topped off (don't overfill). If you are going to add oil, add half of what you think you need, check it again, add a little more, etc., etc., etc.

Yes I check when the oil is warm, and ample time for the oil to drain into the sump.

[DrGr33nThumb215]

Thank you Sir!!! Do you know any good Porsche service centers in Sacramento area, I don't really want to go back to the Renn Shop in Santa Clara because with traffic it is about a 3hr drive, But I really like there professionalism and there service is amazing will be worth it to get the oil changed there if I get some mods done at the same time...I am thinking some catless race exhaust & ecu tuning.

[Loren]

Thank you Sir!!! Do you know any good Porsche service centers in Sacramento area, I don't really want to go back to the Renn Shop in Santa Clara because with traffic it is about a 3hr drive, But I really like there professionalism and there service is amazing will be worth it to get the oil changed there if I get some mods done at the same time...I am thinking some catless race exhaust & ecu tuning.

You can't go "catless" in California and still pass smog.

IMHO chipping a 996 is a waste of money - very little horsepower there. You can spend 2000 - 3000 dollars and end up with maybe 20 HP.

If you really want a lot more horsepower then sell the car and buy a turbo - fairly easy to get over 500 HP in turbo.

If you can change a tire you can change your own oil for less than $60. There is a DIY Tutorial here.

[logray]

These are true words of wisdom!

[Rapewta]

My 996 uses around 1 quart per 3,500 miles. The digital dash graph always shows less oil than what is on the dipstick. I use the dipstick for accuracy. Two independant Porsche repair shops in Sacramento that can help are Shatz & Crumb and Frank's Automotive.

Edited December 25, 2011 by Rapewta

[goldenwarrior1]

I guess I am the exception. My car just passed 96K (45K on Porsche Warranty replacement motor in 2006 because of IMS failure) and uses absolutely no oil between oil changes. I target about 7500 miles between oil service and have never added oil other than the oil change. Motor is tight and not even any slight weeping on any seals. Recently replaced the clutch and the IMS was as dry as the day it was installed. Guess I am one of the fortunate ones.

[DrGr33nThumb215]

Thank you Sir!!! Do you know any good Porsche service centers in Sacramento area, I don't really want to go back to the Renn Shop in Santa Clara because with traffic it is about a 3hr drive, But I really like there professionalism and there service is amazing will be worth it to get the oil changed there if I get some mods done at the same time...I am thinking some catless race exhaust & ecu tuning.

You can't go "catless" in California and still pass smog.

IMHO chipping a 996 is a waste of money - very little horsepower there. You can spend 2000 - 3000 dollars and end up with maybe 20 HP.

If you really want a lot more horsepower then sell the car and buy a turbo - fairly easy to get over 500 HP in turbo.

If you can change a tire you can change your own oil for less than $60. There is a DIY Tutorial here.

Sorry for the confusion, I want to get a bolt on catless race exhaust that i can drive 364 days a year, and the one day I have to take a smog test, the night before I want to put the Factory PSE back on so I can pass smog, and then put the race exhaust back on, any suggestion on a Race Exhaust that is catless and quite loud?

I will definitely give the oil change on my 996 a try, I have done so many bolt on mods & maintenance on my STi for years, and do all my maintenance on my GSX-R 1000's, just with the Porsche I'm hesitant because I don't want to **** something up or if it requires a special reset for the oil meter on the dash, with that guide I'm sure it will be cake. I will let you know how it goes! Thank You for the link I am always trying to save a buck, a penny saved is a penny earned.

I want a 996/997 Turbo so bad, but being 23 and driving a 911 I feel blessed that my hardwork in life has paid off thus far. But It's finding something in my price range that's affordable, and a good deal. I wasn't even in the market for a 911 when I bought this car. I was actually shopping for a 07 STi or a CLS 63 AMG, saw the Porsche and fell in love all over again because I almost bought one 2 years back. Then almost bought a cayenne S a few weeks prior to getting this 911 (it sold before I could pick it up). This 911 was a steal at 20k with 55k miles and all the factory options, figured I could buy it and turn a small profit and drive it for a few thousand miles...now I don't think I will ever get rid of it. I am in love! I am Shopping for a CLS at the moment or a S550 to use as my daily driver, as the 911 is my daily driver at the moment, I drive it about 3 days a week and have put 800 miles on it in 2 months which I think is alot, if I can sell this 996 for 25-26k I would spend the extra 15 grand to get a turbo, if it was in the same condition as this 996...but that would be 4-6 months down the road.

[DrGr33nThumb215]

On another note I have been on this forum for a week and I must say the environment here is so much more friendly and helpful then the GSXR & iClub forums, bunch of guys trying to prove they are better then the next, here everyone is so nice and helpful...Great Place to Come if your are a new Porsche Owner!

[logray]

Sure you can bolt on your cat bypass and it will be louder than hell.

I wouldn't do it personally, O2 sensors are important to the life and performance of your engine.

I've had aftermarket headers, 100 cell cats, and aftermarket mufflers and nearly went deaf. Yes it was fun for a while and I do miss that exotic sound, especially through tunnels... but would I do that again? I doubt it.

On the straight pipes, it is REALLY loud. Like rally car loud. Bleeding ear drums loud. Not fun for your neighbors who will hear you from a mile down the road loud. If you are doing it just for fun occasionally, you could bolt them on, but I would think you would want to run stock more as a daily driver than the other way around.