Oil capacity

[Citgot]

 

I am finally done with all the winter’s projects on my -00 996 3.4. I filled it with new oil -8.5 litres including 0.5 litres in the filter. However both the dipstick and the electric meter says that it just reaches minimum. So I filled more, and checked, and even more, and checked. Ran the car. Checked. Filled even more. And checked. Ran the car. I have now almost 10 litres in the car and the dipstick says it is on the minimum line and the electric meter says one bar over minimum.

 

There are no leaks as far as I can see. The car sat with oil a few weeks before the transmission was reinstalled so I could check for leaks.

 

So what should I do now? This is just strange.

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by Citgot

[judgejon]

Maybe read manual re specs?

[Citgot]

Well. I thought my initial post was clear enough about that I did just that as I said the amount.

Obviously the engine takes more oil than Porsche intended but I can’t run the car low on oil just because the manual states a certain capacity. The oil has to be between the indicators. My question was more how this could be and what to do about it. I have never heard about a 996 3.4 taking 11 litres of oil. That’s 2,5 more than specs. 

[Loren]

Model/Capacity in Liters (US quarts) (approx.)
911 Carrera (3.4 liter engine)

• 8.50 liters (8.98 US quarts)

911 Carrera (3.6 liter engine)

• 8.25 liters (8.71 US quarts)

Boxster

• 8.50 liters (8.98 US quarts)

[judgejon]

Loren’s got it.  I always thought of electric meter as a guide as to when to check dipstick.  Overfill on air-cooled engines was deadly.  Not really sure about 996. I did notice 996 does not burn off as much oil as 911’s, if any. 

[Citgot]

8.5 liters won’t do it for me as I then run low on oil. Even 9.7 litres is too low. But maybe as I have removed the sump, chain tensioners, IMS-bearing and a few other things I have drained more than a regular oil change.

I guess I have no other option than to top off a bit more so the dipstick reads OK and leave it at that. And buy more oil than specified next time.

[DBJoe996]

My 99 C2 3.4L engine is bone stock.  I do my own oil changes.   I pull the drain plug and let it drain overnight, then slightly jack  up the left rear of the car so the remaining oil that pools in the sump drains out.  Put in drain plug.  Fill oil filter with oil and install.  Then I put in 10.25 quarts of oil, Liqui-Moly 5W-40 Leichtlauf High Tech.  Comes in a 5.28 U.S. Quart size (5 L) bottle.  I've done this so many times over the years.  I always end up right on the full mark before starting the engine.  I don't burn off much oil between oil changes. My owners manual says the capacity w/filter is 8.7QT/8.25 L.  I find I need more to be at the high mark on the dipstick.  The manual also says that the difference between the high and low mark on the dipstick is 1.6 QTS/1.5L.

 

I  always keep mine near the high mark.  More oil, more oil and  cooling capacity.  I do not track or run the car hard so I'm not sloshing the oil around.  145K miles, 6 month oil changes, so I must be doing something right.

[judgejon]

There you go... right on the money!

[Citgot]

Thanks! Now I feel more confident that nothing is wrong. Just what I wanted to get confirmed!

[Loren]

[hi8ha]

On 6/1/2020 at 4:31 PM, DBJoe996 said:

My 99 C2 3.4L engine is bone stock.  I do my own oil changes.   I pull the drain plug and let it drain overnight, then slightly jack  up the left rear of the car so the remaining oil that pools in the sump drains out.  Put in drain plug.  Fill oil filter with oil and install.  Then I put in 10.25 quarts of oil, Liqui-Moly 5W-40 Leichtlauf High Tech.  Comes in a 5.28 U.S. Quart size (5 L) bottle.  I've done this so many times over the years.  I always end up right on the full mark before starting the engine.  I don't burn off much oil between oil changes. My owners manual says the capacity w/filter is 8.7QT/8.25 L.  I find I need more to be at the high mark on the dipstick.  The manual also says that the difference between the high and low mark on the dipstick is 1.6 QTS/1.5L.

 

I  always keep mine near the high mark.  More oil, more oil and  cooling capacity.  I do not track or run the car hard so I'm not sloshing the oil around.  145K miles, 6 month oil changes, so I must be doing something right.

DBJDBJoe996, What do you use for trnasmisson oil?

[DBJoe996]

OE Porsche Manual Transmission oil 75W-90

I have read that other people have tried different brands of 75W-90 and then develop strange shifting and noises.  Then they take the car to a Porsche specialist to diagnose the problems.  The first thing they do is drain and refill with the Porsche manual transmission oil and the problems go away.  You can get some at a Porsche dealer or many of the online Porsche suppliers.

[hi8ha]

Thanks