Anzeiger December 2023

Page 23

Electronic Engine Oil Dipsticks:

Friend or Foe? BY JEREMY WILLIAMS, TECHNICAL EDITOR

Jeremy Williams is the Oregon PCA Technical Editor. He co-owns Matrix Integrated (Matrix Integrated Inc.) with his brother Justin. Jeremy can be reached at techeditor@oregonpca.org

S

tarting around 2005 or so, a majority

letting the fresh oil settle into the oil sump.

of European vehicles including

Even after a short test drive, and then

Porsches, were engineered to NOT

letting the oil settle once again, the level

have a mechanical engine oil dipstick

could be quickly checked a second time

which could easily be pulled out of the oil

and the vehicle is ready to go. With the

sump to check the engine oil level. Instead,

electronic dipstick, the vehicle needs to

the “old trusty” dipstick was replaced

be driven with fresh oil for the oil level to

with an electronic level sensor and digital

populate on the gauge. This can take up to

readout in the instrument cluster (gauge

30 – 40 minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes

to the right of the center tachometer).

it takes this long, which is partly why oil

While there is much debate as to why this

changes have continued to increase in

change occurred (ease of packaging/

price, beyond the increasing labor time

manufacturing and thus cost savings for

required to remove/re-install the myriad of

Porsche, better integration into vehicle

panels to access components, as well as

electronics and more Porsche safeguards

the ever-increasing synthetic oil and OEM

for warranty claims involving low oil

oil filter costs. (Note; e-Hybrids are even

level, supposed convenience, funneling

more challenging and time-consuming to

frustrated owners into dealerships/service

populate oil level as more often than not,

centers, etc.), what isn’t as debatable

the battery pack is powering the vehicle

are some of the misunderstandings and

vs. the engine, so the engine is stone cold

frustrations with an electronic sensor

when it comes in for an oil change, and

readout.

thus we have to get the engine warmed

Let’s start with checking the engine oil level after a fresh oil/filter change. With the previous mechanical dipstick, anyone

up to be able to begin the oil change process). Some of you may be asking why the

could easily check and physically see

gauge readout is important as long as the

the oil level on the dipstick minutes after

engine is filled with the proper specified

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Anzeiger | December, 2023 | 23


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