Hello from a newbie...
I have a 2004 996tt cab which is running fine - last oil change about a year ago. The low oil light just went on - I guess no surprise that this car burns thru oil (and there is no evidence of an oil leak in my garage). My (hopefully simple) question - is can I just add a couple of quarts (I am sure I can figure out how or bring it to a local gas station)? I don't have the time to schedule and bring it to my dealer for an oil change now.

thanks in advance!

-michael

 

Add 1 quart then check the oil level. Do not overfill the oil or you will be going to the dealer.

 

it wouldn't be imprudent for you to check your oil more frequently. i've never had to add more than a half a quart to bring it up to the highest level ( one tick above full ). you may also find the car runs more smoothly and even sounds better with the proper amount of oil. if i were you would change my schedule to accomodate a more pro active oil change interval. but that's just me. absent that, fill it a quart and check the level. add very slowly after that until it registers "full".

 

I find that my car uses about a quart of oil every 3K - 3.5K miles. A lot depends on how hard I drive the car. How may miles have you driven since the last change? Even though I only drive about 5K miles per year, I try to change the oil every year.

 

Yikes, I check the oil level every couple of weeks on my cars just to be safe.

 

Wowser, I change mine every couple of days. Just kiddin, really, every two weeks? Seems a little OCD.

 

I didn't really mean exactly two weeks. Sometimes it could be 3 or 4 weeks . Depends a bit on the vehicle. I check it regularly on our '07 GTI since those engines are notorious for burning oil. I also check it every week on my bike since it is such a high revving engine.

My other cars don't burn oil, so I check it maybe every two months orso.

 

yikes - now you have me worried!
now - next silly question - what do you suggested?
typically summer driving (I live in Ohio).....

-michael

 

Don't worry too much. The oil light is there for a reason . Just check the level through the computer and add a little oil at a time. Just buy the same weight oil. Chance is high you have 0w40 in there.

Not all engines burn oil btw. Our SUV has 127k mi on it and literally does not burn a drop.

 

Not to put too fine a point on it but shame on you for ignoring a very critical fluid level until the low oil level idiot light came on.

There is really no excuse for this. You can check the oil level once the engine is up to temp at a stop light. I check my 03 Turbo's level as soon as I can after I start the engine in the AM and before I shut off the engine for the day.

When you refuel the car is another good time to check the level.

I would not take the car to a gas station for anything other than gasoline. The 'tech' might put in the wrong oil or put the oil in the wrong filler tube/reservior.

You should have a quart of the proper oil in the car to have on hand to when you check the oil level and you find it getting down towards the bottom of the reading you can add a quart to bring the level up.

Sincerely,

Macster.

 

No.

Do not mix oil brands or types...they can use different stabilizer chemistries, so only add the same.

In a pinch, add anything- but change the oils ASAP.

 

Oh, I agree. I would only do this as a temporary fix before changing the oil.

 

don't mix oils?
I guess to a degree that makes sense - which means I need to figure out what was used..... ugh

what about some of these additives to gas to clean the injectors/etc?

-michael

 

Macster
I appreciate your comments - hence my admission that I am new to this (as I am used to no maintenance Japanese cars). Obviously I want to keep my 911tt running great for a long time - but the cost of routine stuff getting a little out of control sometimes. Any and all advice is welcome - this car appears to burn a lot of oil - at least compared to my Infiniti G35, which has never had an issue.

-michael

 

my 2002 had the exact same issues, topped off with oil and checked, i would check every other week or so just to be on the safe side.