today has been the first day i have driven my new (to me used car, close to 100k) in heavy traffic for extended period of time


the car got warmer than i had seen in the past because of the extended sitting, the temp needle was in the middle of the "0" in 180, so past the half way mark....


well anyways at idle while sitting the oil pressure was well be low the "1" mark, if i were to guesstimate it was at about .3, and the oil pressure light would blink on occasionally.....

I stopped let it cool off until the temp was straight up and down like normal and the oil pressure was right at "1" like it always has been....

i hear the belt squealing occasionally, so i think that will defiantly help with the cooling, imagine the belt is slipping and the water pump isn't being turned like it should.....but the oil pressure worries me....any ideas?


oh and this forum is the best!!! i just bought this car and am getting it up to my high standards trying to repair all the little stuff and this place has been the best!!

 

Change the oil. Use the recommended Mobil1 0W40 and check your engine's coolant too. You also might want to keep in mind that the Coolant Tank Reservoir Cap needs to be replaced every two years because they go bad and don't keep the Coolant in the engine at the proper pressure resulting in over heating. This has happened to me and sounds like the same thing. After all this, you can start with a new slate and keep your calendar up to date for oil changes and other stuff.

 

well the oil was changed 3000 miles ago with mobile1 at the factory and the oil level is good.....

i will get a new cap for the coolant and hopefully that wil help...still a little worried bout the oil pressure tho....humph

 

Obviously when your coolant temperature is above 215F as it was in traffic, your oil pressure will be around 1 bar at idle when you use, what, IMO, is the incorrect oil for your car for alot more reasons than pressure. Bump the oil up higher weight than the Mobil Water and you'll see it back to normal and your engine will be better for it. The .3 indication may be a faulty oil sending unit which is fairly easy to replace.

What year is your car?

 

my car is a 99, the only time i have seen the pressure that low was when the car was that warm, drove it for a bit in stop and go traffic with 40 degree weather and of course the car temp stayed straight up and down and at idle the pressure stayed a bit above the "1" mark which is about normal from what i have seen so far.....


i think it is just low from the car getting a little too warm, and the 0-40 is pretty thin, after replacing the coolant cap im hopeing and am pretty sure that will fix all my problems!


what do most people see with a fully warm engine in terms of oil pressure? and of course 0-40 oil

 

The temp problem could also be a cracked reservoir. Mine had a small crack in it a couple of years back and it ran hot. I replaced it and all was fine.

I run 0-40 in Northern CA and even in the hot of the summer I never see the pressure drop below "1" on the gauge at idle. I do see the temp get up to the zero of "180" though and comes back down as soon as the fans kick in.

You could replace the sending unit to be on the safe side but I thought the pressure gauge and the pressure light were on different senders, but I don't know for sure. Never looked at the sender.

 

This temperature problem exists with all stock 996's. They all reach 215F in stop and go traffiic in moderate climates, regardless of what the dash gauge says. Unless you increase the cooling effeciency of the radiators and/or the flow of the water pump, get used to these temps. Subsequentially, your oil pressure will be lower than it could be.

 

so you are saying this is normal?

 

No, it's not normal and this isn't a problem with all 996s. Just change the cap ($20 or so) and pop the pressure relief valve handle and drive it for a day or so with the relief pressure handle up to help get rid of any air bubbles in your coolant system. Should use authorized Porsche coolant if needed too and if that don't fix it after all of that, get with the dealer to check it out.

 

Yes it is common with all 996 that have a stock cooling system. These engines frequently run 215F+ in moderate climates in stop and go traffic.

Out of curioosity, Wardhog, what temperature do you think your engine runs at in situations described above?

 

just curious, does your temps go that high? and if so does your oil pressure drop like mine?

 

I modified the cooling system to maintain coolant temps well below 200F at all times by having the radiator fans run full in around town driving when necessary. I also never use Mobil 0W40 (except for oiling door hinges and the like) 15W50 is my preference.

 

Not 215! Mine stays put around the middle of the 180 mark. What your saying about the temp being so high is not normal. He has a cooling problem and probably the first thing he should do or anyone having this problem is change out his Coolant Tank Cap out. That is the leading cause to high temp readings on these cars because the caps get weak and don't hold th proper pressure. The caps should be changed out every two years, also. I'm talking from personal experience and backed up by the Porsche technician at Chapman Porsche in Tucson, AZ

 

So what I am asking yo is what do you think your temperature is? Not what the gauge says.