Slightly odd question,

[jl-c]

This is an odd question I know, bare with me it makes sense. What part of our 911 ‘s is level? At home my drive way looks level to me, at work the car park looks level to me, the oil level disagrees! Check the oil at home, it is one bar low, check at work it’s full. I put a spirit level on the door sill cover it reads differently from the outermost surface of the door aperture, I decided as this has the be part of the shell and nothing is stuck to it (as the sill cover is) then it must be the most level part of the car. Level test at home, rear down a little, level test at work seems to be level, so check oil at work? Agree or disagree?

[JFP in PA]

36 minutes ago, jl-c said:

This is an odd question I know, bare with me it makes sense. What part of our 911 ‘s is level? At home my drive way looks level to me, at work the car park looks level to me, the oil level disagrees! Check the oil at home, it is one bar low, check at work it’s full. I put a spirit level on the door sill cover it reads differently from the outermost surface of the door aperture, I decided as this has the be part of the shell and nothing is stuck to it (as the sill cover is) then it must be the most level part of the car. Level test at home, rear down a little, level test at work seems to be level, so check oil at work? Agree or disagree?

 

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you have too much time on your hands.

 

First of all, being a shop, we see a lot of different examples of just about every car, and basically none of them sit completely level.  Depending upon suspension age, tire wear, modifications, and allowed factory tolerances, they are all leaning one way or another slightly.  Having said that, what you really need to determine is how level is the spot you park the car at home, and if that area is relatively level (again, almost none are absolutely level), and use that as your oil level reference point.  With the car sitting in that spot, and stone cold (like having sat there overnight), your oil level should be about one bar below the top mark.  Once it has checked out there, ignore what the level sensor says at any other location, or at any other time than the first thing in the morning, stone cold conditions.

 

People seem to forget that it can take hours for all of the oil to drain back into the sump after even a short running period, and oil in the sump takes hours to cool back down after running, so worrying about different readings in different locations, or after the car has been run is not a useful exercise.

[jl-c]

OK thanks, just me I guess? I’ll find something else to worry about! Still think its crazy that it should be so finicky though, whats wrong with a proper dipstick? ??