2006 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA oil check

118
Controls, Instruments
OIL
Display and measurement of the engine
oil level
Caution!
Risk of engine damage.
fRegularly check the oil level after refuelling.
fDo not allow the oil level to fall below the mini-mum mark.
Conditions for measuring the oil level
1. It is important to ensure that the vehicle is
horizontal for correct oil level measurement
to occur.
2. Engine is off.
3. Ignition on.Oil return time
Before the oil level is measured, the engine oil has
to have flowed back into the oil pan.
The time taken for the engine oil to flow back de-
pends on the engine temperature and how long
the engine has been stopped.
This waiting time is counted down in the on-board
computer display when the ignition is switched on.
The oil level display segments start to “cycle”.
fIt is best to measure the engine oil level before
embarking on a journey (if the vehicle has not
been driven for an extended period) or with the
engine at operating temperature. Shorter wait-
ing times are achieved in this way.Initiating oil level measurement
fSwitch ignition on (do not start the engine).
The engine-oil level measurement display ap-
pears in the on-board computer.
fAllow waiting time to elapse.
fOnce the measurement has been completed,
you can read off the engine oil level on the seg-
ment display.
– If the segments are filled in up to the top line,
the oil level has reached the maximum mark.
fUnder no circumstances add engine oil.

122
Controls, Instruments
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-board computerIf a warning message appears, always refer to the corresponding chapters in the Owner’s Manual.
Warning messages are issued only if all measurement preconditions are met. Therefore, check all fluid levels regularly –
in particular, always check the engine oil level after refuelling.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure
Seat belt Driver and passengers must fasten their seat
belts.
Handbrake Handbrake is still on.
Ignition key
not removed
Replace battery
in ignition keyReplace the remote-control battery.
Ignition lock faulty,
please go to workshopHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Ignition lock faulty,
visit workshop nowHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Relieve steering Relieve the steering l o c k b y m o v i n g t h e s t e e r i n g
wheel to the left or right.
Steering locked The steering wheel lock remains engaged.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Lights on
Parking light on

124
Controls, Instruments
Fuel gauge war-
ning lightConsider remaining range Refuel at next opportunity.
Check engine oil level Start engine oil level measurement in the
on-board computer.
The vehicle must be horizontal and the ignition
must be switched on.
Engine oil pressure too low Stop immediately at a suitable place, measure
oil level with the on-board computer and, if ne-
cessary, add engine oil.
Warning light
Temperature gau-
geEngine temperature too high Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary,
add coolant.
Temperature gau-
ge warning light
flashesCheck coolant level Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary, add
coolant.
Engine diagnostics – workshop Consult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Reduced engine power Consult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Temperature gau-
ge warning light
flashesFailure of
engine compartment blowerConsult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning Battery/generator Stop at a safe place and switch the engine off.
Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil pressure gauge faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil level display faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure

126
Controls, Instruments
Sport mode failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Airbag system fault Airbag is faulty.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Check passenger’s seat setting Weight sensing is impaired on the front
passenger's seat (Advanced Airbag).
Correct the seating position, set the backrest
upright, do not support weight on the armrests,
or lift on the handles.
Failure spoiler control Driving stability is impaired.
Adjust your driving style. Reduce speed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Display of
selector lever posi-
tion flashesSelector lever is not engaged Tiptronic S:
Selector lever can be between two positions.
Engage the selector lever correctly.
Move selector lever to P Tiptronic S:
Move selector lever to position P before with-
drawing key from ignition lock.
Apply brake Tiptronic S:
Apply the brake when starting.
Depress clutch pedal Manual transmission:
Depress clutch pedal when starting.
Move selector lever
to position P or NTiptronic S:
The vehicle can be started only in the selector
lever position P or N.
Display of
selector lever posi-
tion flashesTiptronic emergency run Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure

Maintenance, Car Care
201
Engine Oil Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the
lubricant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil
level at all, even after 600 miles (1,000 km) or
more. This is because the oil is gradually becom-
ing diluted with fuel or moisture, making it appear
that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are
dusty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil
change intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed,
climatic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as
driving conditions will determine the rate of oil
consumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to
lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked
regularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level
checked at every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occuring when lit, if en-
gine rpm is above idle speed.
Engine Oil Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 198.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 118.
The difference between the minimum and maxi-
mum marks on the segment display is approx.
1.2 liters.
Each segment of the display corresponds to ap-
prox. 0.4 liter.
f f f

204
Maintenance, Car Care
Oil change The engine oil has to be changed at the intervals
listed in your Maintenance Schedule.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 291.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed at your Porsche dealer, who has the re-
quired oils and the necessary filling equipment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the engine have your
dealer check it out immediately.
All current engine oils are compatible with each
other, i. e. when making an oil change it is not nec-
essary to flush the engine if you wish to use a dif-
ferent brand or grade of oil.
Since, however, each brand of oil has a special
composition, you should, if possible, use the
same oil brand if it becomes necessary to top up
between oil changes.
Porsche engines have long intervals between oil
changes. You can make best use of these long oil
change intervals by using multigrade oils since
these are largely independent of seasonal fluctua-
tions in temperature. If your vehicle is used frequently in stop-and-go
traffic in cold weather, the engine will not always
be properly warmed up.
Condensation from products of combustion may
accumulate in the oil. In this case, it is advisable
to change the oil more frequently so that your en-
gine once again has 100% efficient engine oil.
Engine oil performance class Engine oil is not only a lubricant, but also serves
to keep the engine clean, to neutralize the dirt
which penetrates into the engine through combus-
tion and to protect the engine against corrosion.
To perform these functions, the oil is provided with
additives which have been specially developed for
these functions.
The efficiency of an oil is expressed, for example,
by the API, ILSAC or ACEA classifications.
Viscosity Like all liquids, engine oil is viscous when cold,
and thin-bodied when warm. The viscosity of an oil
is expressed by its SAE class. For cold viscosity
(measured at temperatures below 32°
F/0°
C) the
SAE class is given as a number and the letter “W”
(as in winter), for hot viscosity (measured at
212°
F/100°
C) the SAE class is given only as a
number.
The viscosity of an oil is, therefore, always the
same if it has the same number of an SAE class.
Oils with two viscosities are called multigrade oils;
oils with only one viscosity are termed single-
grade oils.
Single-grade oils can not be used in your engine.
The viscosity of the engine oil for your Porsche
has to be chosen according to the ambient tem-
perature given in the engine oil recommendation
table.

Maintenance, Car Care
205
Brake Fluid Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 198.
fUse only new (unused) Original Porsche
brake fluid.
Warning!
Brake fluid is hazardous to your health, and
may be fatal if swallowed.
Brake fluid also attacks paintwork.
fKeep brake fluid out of children’s reach.
fTake care while topping off brake fluid not to
soil the luggage compartment or items of lug-gage.
Example: 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera SChecking the brake fluid levelThe reservoir for the hydraulic braking and clutch
systems is located in the luggage compartment.
1. Open and remove cover flap A.
2. Regularly check the brake-fluid level on the
transparent expansion tank through the
window B.
The fluid level should always lie between the
minimum and maximum marks.A slight decrease in the fluid level due to wear and
automatic readjustment of the disc brakes is
normal.
If, however, the fluid level falls markedly or below
the minimum mark, the braking system may have
developed a leak.
fHave the brake system checked without delay
at an authorized Porsche dealer.

Maintenance, Car Care
215
Air Filter A dirty air filter not only reduces engine perform-
ance, but can lead to premature engine wear.
Regular filter replacement is part of the routine
maintenance service.
fIn dusty conditions, check the filter element
more frequently and replace if necessary.Combination Filter The fresh air passing through the combination fil-
ter into the passenger compartment is virtually
free of dust, pollen, and unpleasant odors.
fIf the outside air is polluted by exhaust fumes,
press the circulating-air button.
A dirty filter can be the cause of reduced air flow:
fHave filter replaced by your authorized
Porsche dealer.
Regular filter replacement is part of the routine
maintenance service.
Manual Transmission Oil The transmission oil has to be checked and
changed at the intervals listed in your Maintenance
Schedule.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 291.
We recommend that you have the transmission oil
changed at your Porsche dealer, who has the re-
quired lubricants and the necessary filling equip-
ment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the transmission, have
your authorized Porsche dealer check it out imme-
diately.
Automatic Transmission Fluid The torque converter and the transmission are lu-
bricated with Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
The final drive requires transmission oil. See “Ca-
pacities”.
Do not tow the car or run the engine without ATF
in the transmission. The automatic transmission
may be damaged by even a tiny speck of dirt, only
a clean funnel or spout must be used when adding
AT F.
The ATF and transmission oil has to be checked
and changed at the intervals listed in your Mainte-
nance Schedule.
We recommend that you have the ATF and trans-
mission oil changed at your Porsche dealer, who
has the required lubricants and the necessary fill-
ing equipment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the transmission, have
your authorized Porsche dealer check it out imme-
diately.