Nov 8th, 2022

We have updated our previously released directive on properly setting engine oil level in your 1997-08 Boxster, Cayman or 911 Porsche car with more detailed information. The purpose of this directive is to address concerns with excessive oil consumption due to overfilling.

NOTES:

• Per Porsche ATI SC1 0604, the maximum value for engine oil consumption is up to 1.5 liters in 1000 kilometers or 1.6 quarts in 622 miles. 
• Normal oil consumption for an engine with low tension rings and Nikasil plated bores is 1 quart in 1000 miles. 

Oil level on this generation of engine is done via dipstick on early models (preferred method) or with electronic oil level sensor. Later vehicles are not fitted with dipsticks, so you may be limited to using the electronic oil level indicator with level indicated on the dash instrument cluster.

Oil level should be checked and corrected only when the vehicle has not been operated for a minimum of 8 hours with engine cold and parked on a level surface. Do not start up the engine prior to checking oil. Countdown after engine shutdown is insufficient to allow time for oil to drain back to the sump completely. Waiting for the countdown to zero to read the oil level is not sufficient time to allow all the oil to drain back to the sump.

It is recommended to run the oil level ½ a quart low, however Porsche put out revised programming and dipsticks beginning in the 2002 model year which effectively reduced total system volume by this amount.

1997-2008 911 (996) models

Starting at engine number # 662 11795 for the 2002 model year, Porsche already adjusted the oil level sender and dipstick on Porsche 911 models to read ½ a quart lower to reduce smoking at high engine speed under cornering. Vehicles fitted with updated dipstick part number 996-107-014-55 should have the oil level set to the full mark. This applies to vehicles beginning with production on January 8th, 2002 as of the following VINs:

99 52S 62 1921 – Coupe

99 02S 63 5312 – Targa

99 X2S 64 2784 – Cabriolet

996 models fitted with the 996-107-014-54 dipstick should have their oil levels set to half way between the min and max marks on the dipstick.

On the 996 dipsticks, the newest revision -55 shows the complete part number (996-107-014-55). The revised part also has two o-ring grooves with only one o-ring installed versus the -44 which has two o-rings installed. Lastly, the -55 dipstick is more of an orange color and also has to retention prongs not found on the -54 revision.

1997-2008 Boxster and Cayman

Similarly, Porsche also reduced the oil fill level on Boxster models. We do not have engine and vehicle vin numbers identifying when this change occurred during Boxster production, however vehicles fitted with the 996-107-014-01 and 996-107-014-02 revision dipsticks should set the oil level half way between the min and max level marks. Vehicles with the updated 996-107-014-03 dipstick should have their oil levels set to the maximum level.

On the Boxster dipsticks, only the last five digits of the part number are indicated on the part (last two being the revision number). The Boxster -03 revision is shown with two grooves for o-rings, but only one is used, where the -01 and -02 revisions only have a single o-ring groove.

Do not add oil unless the oil level indicator or dipstick shows oil level at the minimum level or a low oil indicator is triggered indicating oil needs to be added. You can safely add a maximum of ½ a quart of oil at any one time; the difference between min and max oil levels is approximately 1 quart. Wait a minimum of 10 minutes before re-checking oil level and adding more oil, if required. If you over-fill your engine, excess oil must be drained and oil level verified using the above procedure.

Adding a .5 quart deep sump restores the oil capacity to full OEM volume while allowing for optimal oil level for reducing crankcase windage and improving AOS performance and is recommended for all street driven models.

Cars that are tracked should be fitted with a 2 quart deep sump and should consider the addition of a Motorsports AOS.

If your vehicle has been fitted with an LN .5 quart or 2 quart deep sump, oil level will be correctly reported with dipstick or electronic oil level indicator.

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