Although anywhere in the range is within spec, I usually keep it right in the middle of the min/max lines. I've been told that too low is better than too high. Also, keep in mind that the gauge is only showing you the top fraction of the amount of oil you have. Even if the oil level is at the min, there is still plenty of oil in the car. I usually wait until 1-2 bars above the min since a quart fills up about 4 bars.

I've had the countdown timer as high as 15 seconds (usually, if I start the car back up after it has already been warmed up), but it's typically counting down from 5 seconds if the car is warmed up.

 

Sorry mate you were told wrong. Keeping it at the middle is not clever. Our digital meter is same as measuring stalk. Stalk equipped Porsches always say top up to max. There is plenty of headroom for oil at the max level; 1/2 litre at least. So, better to have proper level than being ½ litre down at all times.

 

only to add that keeping it fully topped up results in far smoother running, and less engine noise. i've said this already, but i've never understood the wisdom of allowing the car to run low ( albeit within spec ) at all.

 

I just had my oil changed today and on the way home about a mile later the check oil level display appeared. Called my shop and swear they filled it. I checked the oil level and it is showing the very bottom level with a flashing bar.

To clarify your statement above, my oil is actually over the max?

 

crap, I now find out that from bottom to top of the bars is 1.5 liters, no wonder I fill and do not get fully filled I thought that was a liter

I usually get 3/4 full but missing a 2-3 bars from the top, oil here it comes!

 

Well, looks like we'll just have to accept that there are different opinions out there from various experts. Since the person who told me this is the lead mechanic at a local Porsche dealership, and has an extensive background on a professional race team, I can't discount his advice so easily. I'll double check that I didn't hear him incorrectly.

 

When I do my own oil/filter changes with the specified amount in the manual,most of the time I am 1 bar below the top when the oil is fully warmed up...

 

Hm, let me think; USA local Porsche dealer or Stuttgart Senior Tech? Sorry mate, but I will go with the later. .

As far as his race pedigree is concerned…

I would never starve my engine for a whole litre, especially on the race track! As I said before if you fill to max you have loads of headroom left to account for hot oil. Also on the race track or any really fast driving road you will chew through oil. Just go on the German autobahn and drive it quickly for 30 minutes solid between 120-150mph (BTW this is the norm on the Bahn). Then stop at the petrol station and measure your oil. Our cars start consuming oil at speed. If I drive normally I don’t consume any oil. If I take a 300 mile trip on the autobahn, and drive fast, I lose two bars.

It seems you aren’t aware of this. So, you can do the maths of how much oil you will have on such a fast return trip? Maybe your tech will put money where his mouth is and buy you a new engine when it goes poof at 170mph?

Something to think about?

I get nervous when I am two bars down from max. Do yourself a favour and top it up so you are 2 bars from max, if you really need “don’t fill too much” psychological piece of mind.