Starting around 2005 or so, a majority of European vehicles including Porsches, were engineered to NOT have a mechanical engine oil dipstick which could easily be pulled out of the oil sump to check the engine oil level. Instead, the “old trusty” dipstick was replaced with an electronic level sensor and digital readout in the instrument cluster (gauge to the right of the center tachometer). While there is much debate as to why this change occurred (ease of packaging/manufacturing and thus cost savings for Porsche, better integration into vehicle electronics and more Porsche safeguards for warranty claims involving low oil level, supposed convenience, funneling frustrated owners into dealerships/service centers, etc.), what isn’t as debatable are some of the misunderstandings and frustrations with an electronic sensor readout.

Let’s start with checking the engine oil level after a fresh oil/filter change. With the previous mechanical dipstick, anyone could easily check and physically see the oil level on the dipstick minutes after letting the fresh oil settle into the oil sump. Even after a short test drive, and then letting settle once again, the level could be quickly checked a second time and the vehicle is ready to go. Let’s start with checking the engine oil level after a fresh oil/filter change. With the previous mechanical dipstick, anyone could easily check and physically see the oil level on the dipstick minutes after letting the fresh oil settle into the oil sump. Even after a short test drive, and then letting the oil settle once again, the level could be quickly checked a second time and the vehicle is ready to go. With the electronic dipstick, the vehicle needs to be driven with fresh oil in order for the oil level to populate on the gauge. This can take up to 30 – 40 minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes this long, which is partly why oil changes have continued to increase in price, beyond the increasing labor time required to remove/re-install the myriad of panels to access components, as well as the ever-increasing synthetic oil and OEM oil filter costs. (Note: e-Hybrids are even more challenging and time-consuming to populate the oil level as more often than not, the battery pack is powering the vehicle vs the engine, so the engine is stone cold when it comes in for an oil change, and thus we have to get the engine warmed up to be able to begin the oil change process).

Some of you may be asking why the gauge readout is important as long as the engine is filled with the proper specified quantity of oil. Since our clients want to be able to see the gauge readout themselves so they know everything is good to go, we need to make sure that the readout is providing accurate information to them. While there are some Porsche models that allow our technicians to view the oil level with the computer scan tool, the vehicle still needs to be driven before the oil level will be populated in the gauge for the client to see.

When driving after the oil change, the oil level gauge readout will show “Oil level information currently unavailable” as the vehicle has determined that the oil isn’t yet up to temp and therefore the system can’t accurately gauge the oil level:

Once the Porsche has been driven enough for the oil level readout to populate, one flaw in the engineering is that if more oil needs to be added to the engine and you want to watch a live change in the oil level on the gauge as oil is added, as soon as the hood/rear decklid is opened to add more oil, the level readout disappears (an open hood/decklid icon is now visible instead), and you cannot see the level readout again until you drive a second time to re-populate the level readout. Not convenient in the least.

Some of you may also be asking; what if I’m driving around while waiting for the electronic readout to populate and I have too little or too much engine oil, how will I know? Yes, this is a potential issue since there is no mechanical dipstick to initially check your “baseline” oil level, and unfortunately, you won’t know whether the engine is underfilled or overfilled for possibly 40+min. Scary we know. This is why it’s crucial to make sure as much oil is initially drained out as possible while the engine is at least warm, and then filling with the specific quantity and proper oil spec (specs are continuing to evolve; currently at least 5 different possible engine oils for Porsches). At our 3 shop locations, our techs will initially fill with just-under the specific quantity, then drive for the oil level to populate, re-check what this specific vehicle’s gauge is communicating to us/client, and then we’ll top off oil as needed, aiming for the final level (green vertical “bar”) to rest in the middle of Max and Min, like this:

The reason we aim for this level is that we’ve found that the electronic level sensors vary in accuracy from car to car, and we don’t want to end up with the gauge showing a final level at Max like this:

The reason we don’t want to end up with the oil level at Max is that even though the message says, “Oil level is correct,” as the car is driven even more, the oil gets even hotter/thins out/level rises further and then an overfilled “Above Max” warning can display as seen below, which then requires oil to be drained out of the oil sump, creating inconvenience for everyone:

On the other end of the spectrum, below is a picture of the cryptic and difficult to understand underfilled message, which is trying to communicate that while it’s possible to keep driving the vehicle for some time, it wants a maximum of 1 quart of oil to be added ASAP as the level is currently at minimum. Note; remember that just like with the old trusty mechanical dipstick, the volume between Min and Max lines is 1 quart worth. Min causes confusion for some drivers, as Min doesn’t mean that the engine doesn’t have very much oil in it, for even at Min most Porsche engines still have 6+ quarts in the oil sump:

All in all, we’re personally not fans of vehicle manufacturers moving from mechanical dipsticks to ONLY electronic dipstick readouts. We feel the old trusty mechanical dipsticks should have been retained as a secondary tool when the electronic dipstick was implemented, for the mechanical dipstick is a more reliable and quicker method of physically checking oil levels. Yes, the electronic dipstick in the gauge cluster is a convenient way to view oil level without getting out of the vehicle, but solely relying on an electronic sensor which can possibly read less-than-accurately, and is also SO much more time-consuming for everyone to deal with, is a disservice to the vehicle and driver.

Here’s another puzzler to chew on; while the newer Porsche Cayenne’s don’t have mechanical dipsticks, their siblings the Audi Q7 and VW Touareg still do. Hmmm…

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 [email protected]

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  • After clicking Submit, check your emails for a Password Reset email from ORPCA.
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  • The Join Us! site will now show a welcome message and options to join PCA, read about the ORPCA membership benefits and a button for contacting  our Membership Chair if you encountered any issues or need help.

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To join PCA, please visit https://www.pca.org/join-porsche-club-america or give PCA a call at 410-381-0911, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm ET.

Please make sure to have the VIN # of your Porsche handy when you are ready to join.

We look forward to seeing you at a PCA event soon!

Own a Porsche? Join the club. Over 150,000 of your fellow Porsche owners already have.

For over 65 years, the Porsche Club of America has been dedicated to enhancing the Porsche ownership experience. No matter what your interest – social, technical, or competitive – PCA has something to offer every Porsche owner.

We know the unbridled joy that owning a Porsche can provide, and we’ve built a community around that very feeling. The Porsche Club of America offers driving experience, technical assistance, member benefits, and camaraderie second to none. Over the years, our club has grown to 147 Regions across North America. We guarantee there is a PCA Region near you filled with friendly Porsche fanatics.

At PCA, we believe all Porsches are equal. So, whether you are passionate about your 356, 911, 912, 914, 924, 928, 944, 968, Macan, Cayenne, Cayman, Boxster, Taycan, Panamera or any of the other amazing Porsche models, you are always welcome at our events and gatherings.

From over 3,500 local and national events including driving activities, social gatherings, autocross, track days, high performance driver education, club racing, tech sessions, car shows, insider exclusives and premieres: there’s something for everyone at PCA. 

Membership is open to all Porsche owners, co-owners, or lessees who are 18 years of age or older. At the time of joining, the member of record is permitted to name either a relative or other interested person to become an affiliate member, at no additional cost. The family or affiliate member also must be 18 years of age or older.

If you don’t yet own a Porsche but want to join PCA, consider entering our PCA Test Drive program.

PCA membership is available in three payment options: 

  • 1 year…..  $56
  • 2 years…  $110
  • 3 years…  $162

Membership dues are payable in U.S. funds by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. The fee includes a subscription to Porsche Panorama, PCA’s award-winning monthly magazine and the world’s premier publication dedicated to Porsches.

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PCA Membership Fee is $56 / 1 year, $110 / 2 years, $162 / 3 years

Benefits of ORPCA Membership

  • Join any of our 70 plus Driving Events, 15 plus Social Events, 10 plus Garage Events
  • Online access to the two most recent, award winning monthly Anzeiger magazines with articles about club events and drives, calendar of upcoming events, classifieds 
  • Receive our weekly Member email with information about upcoming events and information about registration dates and times. This enable you to register to our events early as many fill up quickly.
  • Free access to our Digital Navigation Account with RidewithGPS. All our drives and tours are in the tour library.
  • Receive a yearly ORPCA Member Directory
  • Receive an annual Calendar with select pictures from our events
  • Receive an ORPCA Name Badge
  • Receive anniversary pins for the name badge every 5 years

The yearly membership fee is $35

President's Message

Carol Hedstrom

People Power

I have been an advocate and cheerleader of our many volunteers for several years. This year we have
had even more members step up and help out! Clearly, in order to organize and host over 100 separate events, it takes some peoplepower. As we are at mid-year, I want to share an update on what our volunteers are doing for the Club. It’s your Club and we want all of you to enjoy the fun and of course help out if you feel inclined to do so. 

ORPCA’s Autocross Team layout courses, set up and take down cones, implement safety procedures, keep time, manage standings, train and encourage new drivers, and do it all at the break of dawn. This is a hardy, knowledge-heavy group of dedicated people who produce one of the strongest autocross organizations in the Pacific Northwest. If you have not participated in autocross, you should. You will be introduced to the sport by some of the best and probably become a better driver. 

Our Social Committee and volunteers organize our monthly dinners, scout locations for future events, and plan the new-member orientation as well as the holiday party. They also monitor tickets for each social event, help prevent allergic reactions, and are on the lookout for all mobility needs. Have you tried one of the new Road and Fork events? These small-scale, intimate, elevated experiences are the brainchild of the Social Committee. Cheers to this team! 

Drive Team volunteers scout routes and roads, lead drives, curate drive groups with leads and sweeps, check out potential stops for restroom breaks, maintain a large library of routes, handle oodles of pre-and-post drive logistics including insurance and follow-up reports. The drive team works closely with the Web Team to ensure that all drives (70+ this year) are listed and described accurately on our website and that registrations open in a timely manner to keep it easy for members to join in drives throughout the year. 

The Membership Team orders and distributes name badges and anniversary pins. Name badges are key, but only one element of the many tasks involved in the Membership purview. Team members are master spreadsheet and database gurus. When questions arise around membership dues: what’s included, when and how to pay, this Team jumps in and clears the confusion. Additionally, Membership and supporting volunteers staff our tents and booths at public events to encourage new members to join and answer all questions relating to ORPCA. 

Our new Community Outreach Committee is currently a small group of volunteers strategizing on how to serve others. This team guides our charitable giving efforts as well as finding opportunities to enhance our image and reputation in the small towns and cities we pass through on our drives. We will hear more from them as the year goes on. Please be sure to check out the June Anzeiger message from member Wendy Wells regarding this team effort. Your input is needed; remember, it’s your club and you can help guide the future. 

Web Team, oh geez, what don’t they do? The Web Team, together with Social Media and Member Email, are the heartbeat of your Club. These people guarantee that you know about drives and upcoming events, and that you can register for events. They maintain lists of who is attending, handle cancelations, provide instructions, share information, and announce changes when needed. 

Northwest Passage Team, a stand- alone, perpetual group, handcrafts an epic journey every spring and then does it again a few months later in the fall. These people know their stuff and are quick to adapt to conditions and unexpected events like road closures due to weather and those unfortunate seasonal fires that pop up in our part of the country. While on the tour they are alert to pitfalls like rocks on the road that may take out tires or create other hazards. They and the event they organize are an example of planning success on every level. 

Your member newsletter, Anzeiger, is produced by a team of people, but mainly the editor and editorial support team. They are joined by a small group of experienced proofreaders, and many member contributors. Anzeiger is a big monthly project that showcases our many events and entices members to participate in future events. 

ORPCA’s Board Members are a classic working board. This group of people, along with numerous chair-people, manage the behind-the-scenes workings of the organization. That means everything from finances and calendar of events to interfacing with the national organizer, outside clubs, advertisers, sponsors, and kickstarting many sub-committees that make up the greater ORPCA organization. They are the hands that guide the other teams and committees and try to stay in the background. 

While I have not listed the names of everyone on the above teams, the list is long. I want to thank the entire unnamed list of people for their efforts, commitment and sense of fun for all that they do. I hope you thank them too! I know that after many events, some people will drop a short line of thanks to the organizer. You may not realize how good that makes them feel, but trust me, a little thanks goes a long way. If you enjoyed reading an article, had a good time on a drive or one of our multi-day tours, please give a nod and a thumbs-up to the organizers and volunteers who made it happen. It’s your club and it is 100% volunteer run.

Let’s Drive!

You can reach me at [email protected]