Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Dear all,

This is my first post having recently acquired a 2006 Lapis Blue Cayman S.

My question involves the electronic oil gauge. I filled up with petrol after only three days ownership of the car and after a couple of miles appeared a warning 'check oil' message. When the system allowed it the oil gauge flagged up below minimum. This surprised me as my other cars had never had oil issues (both Audi's TT and S5). Anyway i immediately, under usual manual directions, topped up. Since then i've had conflicting gauge readings - sometimes showing completely full, but on two occasions showing 3/4 and 1/2 full but full again since then without any additional oil added.

Can anyone tell me if i'm doing something wrong during the checking procedure? I'm always checking on the flat road surface, mainly when engine is cold, but occasionally when engine has been used (but with a gap allowing for oil return. Any ideas - is there a dip stick?!! Just joking!

Many thanks in advance for your help.

BTW I've booked the car in for a 2 hour visual and mechanical health check at Tech 9 (indi Porsche specialist) in Hale, near Liverpool. Does anyone have any experience with these guys at all?

Mark
(alias Sonatina)

It sounds like the gauge is faulty to me.

My 996 will show full on the gauge and will then show 2 bars below full after a 2 minute run. 40 minutes cold and its full again.

Don't know anything about Cayman or bogsters, but if it is like 911 system, there is a rigid system to check your oil, whether it be by the gauge or the dipstic, and always with a hot engine with thermostats open. If you are unsure how to do it, read your manual, and carry out instructions to the letter, if you don't you will always have conflicting info. Try whenever possible to check your oil level in the same place, nice flat surface.

Many thanks for your help guys. Do you think the scheduled health check on my car will flag this up if it happens to be a gauge fault and any idea if that would be a software update to remedy, or a physical/ mechanical fix? I've taken out an extended warranty which covers the car up to 1K per warranty-claim ...

Another little trivia query please - how common (percentage-wise or other stats) is Lapis Blue on Cayman's??

Cheers, Mark

If its faulty i would have thought it should show up when they plug in the diagnostics.

Ask them to check it out, whilst it is in.

No idea on the number in Lapis, a question for Porsche in Reading.

Instrument failures in the 996, 997, 986 Boxster, 987Boxster and Cayman are reasonably regular. But they can be repaired.

Senders can cause some problems, but often it turns out to be the electronics in the instruments.

Lapis blue, if the ones I see are anything to go by, not a super rare colour, but certainly down the list in colours that are regular or usual. Seems like they had a run on gun metal grey ones from what I see in the workshop

Lapis blue is a cool colour for them though

Many thanks for all the info Sean and jmgarage! All booked in at Tech 9 for a week Wednesday to investigate ....

Lapis is a bit Jeckyll & Hyde ... on cloudy days it appears like a flat-looking navy blue-like colour, but when it's sunny it suddenly becomes a vibrant electric blue thanks to its metallic component. It suits the Cayman shape so well imho. I spent a good few hours detailing the paintwork at the weekend to get to know it better.

Cheers, Mark

Let us know how you get on.

Well i had the thorough check of the car last week. Regarding the oil level indicator, no fault codes where reported and it's more a question of educating myself to use it properly! There where a number of minor advisory points - some split rubber seals on such things as the fuel cap/ strap setup/ side lights holding moisture, corroded bolts on the exhaust system and other things. More pressing is the need for 4 new tyres (Mich Pilot Sports) and a/c receiver drier and consequently re-gas a/c system. A total estimate for all the bits and pieces of about 1700 quid. Duly booked in for attention.

I'm also looking into the fitting of wheel spacers ... any advice folks on sizes? I'm thinking approx. 15mm rear and approx. 5mm front??

While at Tech 9, they offered me a Cargraphic backbox and tips, brand new, at approx 1500 fitted for free. Can anyone provide information on this product - how loud it is for example and if there are any noticeable gains? I've checked it out on the Cargraphic website, but just trying to gauge users opinions on the ground so-to-speak...

Best regards, Mark

Bit late this Mark but I'm having the same oil level issue - inconsistent readings etc... I now try to check it at exactly the same time - 15 mins after stopping driving. It used (after it was serviced at purchase) a litre of oil in 900 miles which was a bit scary! I've heard peeps say 'it's normal', 'could be a faulty sender or air oil separator', 'that's excessive use' etc., etc. so I just closely monitor it now and cross fingers. Is yours still misbehavin' like this?

BTW What the hell are wheel spacers?