So I got my 2003 C4S with 6190 miles (before test drive, so more like 62XX once I picked it up after it had been CPO'd and they did the first scheduled maintenence.

Ive put roughly 700 miles on it so far and in the last week the digital oil measurement had only 3 out of 8 bars light up (just under 1/2 way). So I was thinking that seemed pretty high oil consumption so far. So today I goto a gas station and after I start the car it says "check oil" when I start it up. When I got home since the car had already been running it made me wait 1 minute to do a oil check again, this time only 1 bar was lit up. But I figured maybe it was extra low because the car was just running. So I let it sit for an hour and go back down to check the oil.

I checked it digitally again and strangely it now reads 5 out of 8 bars lit up, so just over 1/2. Kinda weird since for the past week it was 3 out of 8 bars lit.

So I check manually with the dipstick and only the very tip of the plastic thing on the end had a spec of oil, so it was definitely under. So I put in 1/2 a quart of mobil 1 0w-40 and now the digital says 7 out of 8 bars lit, and unfortunatly I didnt check the oil again with the dipstick because I had already thrown away my only paper towel.

So, seems like a lot of oil was used in only 700 miles and it also seems the digital oil meter is not all that accurate.

Anybody know whats going on? Should I be worried? When they CPO'ed the car I asked if they check for RMS and they said yes.

 

Dont worry. All is pretty normal. The digital gauge varies depending on when you check...I'd be careful trusting it too much...if you have a question, take it back to the dealer, have them top it off. They will let you know if its low or not. I ignore the dig gauge unless it shows no bars...I do check the dipstick every once in a while....

 

I don't put much stock in the digital reading. Use it as a crude measurement and follow up with manual inspection if it shows anything odd.

 

I put in 1/2 a quart and the dipstick now reads in the middle of the suggested area, so it ate/leaked/burned at least 1/2 a quart if not more in 700 miles/3 weeks.

 

Don't worry about it, this is entirely normal! The digital gauge is notoriously inaccurate!

 

How do you know the dealer put in enough oil after at the CPO inspection? Just keep an eye on it...Porsche 996's dont use alot of oil, so if it's a leak, you'll know quickly.

 

watch the levels. i haven't had to add any oil in my '99 after 5000 miles and 8 track days.

FWIW i find the electronic dipstick accurate. YMMV. the most accurate readings are the one's you take after it's been sitting for hours i.e. first thing in the morning.