Engine Drivetrain 3rd Gen Most liked posts in thread: How to check the oil on an F56

If it did have a dipstick, you'd still have to buy a better one than it came with

 

Maybe your car will tweet you that your oil is low.

Better yet, Maybe it will post it on Facebook that you don't take care of your car and you are low on washer fluid, oil, air in tires, and your brakes.

 

Hey, I bet none of you guys dip your fuel tank with a calibrated stick, like real men do*, and instead you just rely on that silly little gauge on the dashboard.....

*I believe the last car that came with a marked stick for dipping the fuel tank was the Trabant, that triumph of the East German peoples' car industry. As an example of superior design, note how the reinforcing rod for the hood makes an handy place to store the dipstick when not in use:

 

I think it's funny the car has no dipstick, because most people (dipsticks) that buy new cars of any make ever check the oil or even know how too.

Most people do not even check the tire pressure without a monitor light coming on or look at brakes until they see the brake pad light. Ugh the world is so lazy.

Will next Gen will come with a air filter light?

 

Wait.... What?

It doesn't have a dipsti....

Thats just, just, WTF?

 

I picked up my new Porsche Cayman about a month ago. I'm disappointed in 2 things:

1. No Dipstick... it's all electronic monitoring (though the check process is a bit more intuitive than the one described for the F56).

2. An electric parking brake. Really? For daily driving it's fine, but I used to love doing e-brake turns in the snow.

I guess it's a complete change in the way we see cars... or rather the auto manufacturers finally yielding to the way that 99% of people on the road see their cars: a transportation appliance. The engine in the Cayman isn't accessible via any hatch. I've yet to figure it out, but apparently I've got to remove a fair amount of carpeting and a dozen Torx bolts to be able to see the engine. Much of the major repair work is done by dropping the engine out the bottom of the car. The coolant and oil fill ports are actually INSIDE the cabin area... making me a bit nervous about spillage while refilling (though many Porsche owners will simply go to the dealership for service). Thank goodness I'm in a short lease on this one!

 

I'm very disappointed that there is no dipstick or even anyway to install one

 

They will develop a dipstick and holder for same...

I have no idea really, that is just pure 100% speculation.

However, Kellen, if you do use my idea you know where to send the royalty checks. :ihih:

 

Yup, just the one behind the wheel. :ihih::lol:

 

How do you like the Cayman, apart from it being designed against home mechanics?

 

My question is this: If the oil level sensor/nanny/whatever fails and the engine seizes due to low oil level, who pays the bill? Same goes for a system failure on these dang automatic brake systems with TV commercial idiots falling asleep behind the wheel. The message that sends make my blood boil.

 

You could just drill and tap the sump for a little valve right at the proper oil level. Open the valve and if oil comes out, your good. If no oil comes out, add oil until it does.

I had a 1939 Fordson tractor that had that system for checking the oil.

 

Soon there will be a big label on the hood that says NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. There will also be an 800 phone number & possibly a credit card slot. The world is getting tougher for car guys. :incazzato:

 

I hate this nonsense.
My car is a 2012 Prius Plug-in with 100K miles. I used to think there was nothing I could service, but now I've done all kinds of work on it. The car has a basic four cylinder engine... it's simple enough.

What I learned is that the manufacturer design and maintenance schedule is intended to get you to 100,000 miles or five years trouble-free. After that, they don't care. So Toyota has no recommendations for changing engine coolant, brake fluid, or transmission fluid.

So far I've:
Replaced spark plugs
Replaced engine coolant
Replaced inverter coolant (2nd radiator)
Flushed brake fluid
Lubricated brake caliper pins
(no brake pads - Prius pads last about 200K miles)
Replaced tranny fluid
Cleaned EGR pipe, throttle body and MAF sensor

These are all preventative measures. The most important was lubricating the brake pins. Mine were bone-dry. My next task will be to pull the intake manifold and clean it out to make sure no clogs develop.

All this is just basic maintenance any car should get. Manufacturers shouldn't make this stuff difficult.

 

Good on you for not being one of the sheep who won't open the hood & check fluids. As long as the maker gets your car out of warranty it's all good. After than please buy a new car. :crazy:

 

I'll say! Almost all of the items I mentioned aren't listed in the Toyota maintenance schedule at any mileage! And the spark plugs -- ok, they use radium plugs that last 120K miles, but -- you have to pull out everything beneath the windshield to reach the spark plugs. The wipers come off, then the big plastic thing that runs the width of the car at the windshield base comes off, then the huge windshield wiper motor assembly beast comes out, then the tray beneath which spans the width of the car comes out -- and THEN you can access the spark plugs!

I just came back from the Mini dealership, and accessibility on a Mini looks worse -- at least, a Mini with a turbo looks pretty bad for access. But that John Cooper Works car looks pretty sweet.