Posts: 33
Threads: 14
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
So.... after having my 968 for about 400-500 miles of spirited driving I checked the oil and noticed it was low, so added more mobil1. As it turns out it took nearly 2 quarts to get it near the max line.
Now, it may not have been topped off before, so its hard to gauge, but what is normal oil consumption on these engines? Also, with it having ran a bit low anything I should check out? Oil pressure was always fine and never had any warning lights.
Thanks
1994 Guards Red Coupe, 58k, 6-Speed
Posts: 879
Threads: 76
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
Lack of warning light when you are down two quarts is strange, though mine does not come on at only one quart low. My old S2 burned oil and the light would come on somewhere short of two quarts low.
Your owner's manual will tell you that it is normal for Porsches to 'consume' oil in normal operation. I think the acceptable rate is up to 1.5 liters per 1000 kilometers (1.58 quarts per 621 miles). This has always seemed a bit high for my tastes. The key for you is to carefully monitor your consumption in the next few thousand miles.
Ralph
2002 Carrera Coupe - Orient Red Metallic
'93 968 Coupe Amazon Green Metallic w/airbox mod (sold 2009)
'89 944 S2 (gone to live in the Midwest)
'77 911S (RIP)
And a whole bunch of VWs over the years...
Posts: 33
Threads: 14
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
[quote name='RPM' date='Jun 23 2006, 05:56 AM']Lack of warning light when you are down two quarts is strange, though mine does not come on at only one quart low. My old S2 burned oil and the light would come on somewhere short of two quarts low.
Your owner's manual will tell you that it is normal for Porsches to 'consume' oil in normal operation. I think the acceptable rate is up to 1.5 liters per 1000 kilometers (1.58 quarts per 621 miles). This has always seemed a bit high for my tastes. The key for you is to carefully monitor your consumption in the next few thousand miles.
[right][post="23175"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Wow, that is quite a high consumption rate, will have to monitor it much more closely. Thankfully it wasn't being driven hard lately, nor for long durations, and not low enough to lose any oil pressure.
1994 Guards Red Coupe, 58k, 6-Speed
Posts: 82
Threads: 10
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
[quote name='flash' date='Jun 23 2006, 11:38 AM']i seem to have a direct correlation between oil consumption and miles i put on the car - with little to no mileage increase over the last year, i find that i use more oil when the car sits - when i am driving it regularly, i go through a half quart every 2k or so - basically one top off between oil changes
now that the car has been sitting so much, it seems that every time i take it out, i need to add a quart of oil
my suspicion is that the rings collapse a bit when sitting, and need to be worked regularly to provide the seal - i also notice that the second day in a row of driving, the engine is stronger than the first - this would seem to confirm that suspicion
so, bottom line, i need to drive my car more, so i can stop burning so much oil - just doing my part for the environment - lol
[right][post="23181"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Flash, you have just descriped the exact way my car uses oil. I thought I was having some sort of internal leaking or something..
________________________
[color="#3366FF"]1995 Porsche 968 Cabriolet
1997 Mercedes Benz E320
2007 Mercedes Benz ML350[/color]
Posts: 879
Threads: 76
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
There is a theory (I am going to say theory as I don't recall the exact source) that you get water build up in the oil over time. In normal driving of short duration the water is not consumed. However, sustained highway speeds will consume and/or evaporate (remember I am trying to recall the specifics here) the water. Therefore your oil level can seem to diminish rapidly after high speed driving.
Or I could be completely mis-remembering something that was not accurate to begin with... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Ralph
2002 Carrera Coupe - Orient Red Metallic
'93 968 Coupe Amazon Green Metallic w/airbox mod (sold 2009)
'89 944 S2 (gone to live in the Midwest)
'77 911S (RIP)
And a whole bunch of VWs over the years...
Posts: 33
Threads: 14
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
[quote name='flash' date='Jun 23 2006, 10:18 AM']lol - jim - my car sits for months at a time - i've driven it twice since april 1, and it was for a total of maybe 30 miles - try parking it for over a month - you'll probably have a similar thing going on - it's full when you start and a quart low when you get back
heck, it's pretty common for me to have the lifters tick when i first fire it up after sitting like that
i REALLY need to drive the car more
[right][post="23186"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
That has probably got alot to do with it, since the car only sees a few hundred miles a month, if that.
1994 Guards Red Coupe, 58k, 6-Speed
Posts: 118
Threads: 14
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation:
0
[quote name='bave' date='Jun 23 2006, 07:31 AM']Wow, that is quite a high consumption rate, will have to monitor it much more closely. Thankfully it wasn't being driven hard lately, nor for long durations, and not low enough to lose any oil pressure.
[right][post="23176"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Those figures are what the factory calls acceptable consumption figures, when they have to shell out $$ for warranty repair. As for what's reasonable, I would start planning for major work when I hit 1 qt. every 500 mi., but that's me.
Also, in my 911 if I tried to keep it at the full line all the time I would be adding oil every time I drove it. My car is very happy at the halfway point between full and add. In fact, when I change oil I only fill it to that point and no more and I go 3K mi. between changes w/o adding a drop. So don't try to keep it at the full mark, however, do keep it above the add mark, 2 qts. is too low, as you know.
Bill W.
'93 968 6 spd. coupe; '97 993 Cab
'91 BMW R100GS/PD
Posts: 82
Threads: 10
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
This thread inspired me..
Until today, I had only put 220 miles on my car this year..
Today I added another 120 miles to my total.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
When I first started driving the car today it was a little sluggish but after about 50 miles it was very spirited. I have the Promax 7200 chip in the car and today was the first time I tested the rev limiter. (Third gear ~90mph.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )
If I drove this car daily, I would probably put Johnny Law's kids thru college.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
________________________
[color="#3366FF"]1995 Porsche 968 Cabriolet
1997 Mercedes Benz E320
2007 Mercedes Benz ML350[/color]