Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Component Tests and General Diagnostics


WM 170301 Checking oil pressure - checking operation of variable oil pump

Tools





Technical values






Information regarding function test on variable oil pump

Information

- The PIWIS Tester, version 19.000 and later versions, can be used to call up a short test for the variable oil pump. If the short test is not displayed in the PIWIS Tester, a software update for the DFI control unit must be performed.

- If an oil-pressure gauge needs to be connected for further tests, proceed according to the instructions starting from "Preliminary work".

1. Perform "Variable oil pump" short test in DME. The short test is active when the oil temperature is 60 °C or higher.
1.1. Start the engine.
1.2. Call up "Variable oil pump" short test in DME.
1.3. Press and hold the accelerator and brake pedals simultaneously as instructed. The short test is performed and the message OK or not OK is then displayed.

Preliminary work

Information

If vehicles have fault entries relating to oil pressure, oil pump activation, oil pressure monitoring, etc. in the DME control unit (and a warning light comes "on" on the instrument cluster), proceed as follows:

- Check the oil level.

- Delete related faults.

- Do not replace components, such as the oil pump, oil pressure sensor or oil pressure control valve if you suspect that they are faulty.

If the vehicle has not been driven for a long time (months), the control mechanism in the oil pump can become stiff ("stick").

Very short trips and a lot of loading/manoeuvring can cause the oil to become very diluted => Oil pressure very low. For example, 20 cold starts in quick succession can reduce the viscosity of the engine oil by 30%.

- Change the engine oil. Test-drive the vehicle.

- If error messages/warnings are displayed again, proceed in accordance with the instructions under Guided Fault Finding in the PIWIS Tester.

1. Remove Y-pipe or intake pipes upstream of the throttle valve to create unrestricted access to the drive belt and to the oil pressure sensor. -> 243519 Removing and installing air box for throttle housing on DFI engines (intake pipes upstream of throttle valve) - section on "Removing" Service and Repair
2. Remove drive belt in the area of the lower deflection roller. For details, see -> 137819 Removing and installing drive belt on 4.8-litre DFI engines - section on "Removing" 137819 Removing and installing drive belt on 4.8 l DFI engine
3. Remove oil dipstick with guide tube. -1, 2, 3 and 11- Soak up emerging engine oil with a cloth.





Oil guide housing with accessories





4. Remove deflection roller between the vibration balancer and generator. To do this, use a small screwdriver to prise off the lid and loosen the screw. Remove deflection roller with screw. -1-





Belt drive






Tools and materials

Tools





Oil pressure tester





Checking oil pressure

WARNING

Toxic substances

- Danger of poisoning or suffocation

-> Ventilate the work area well.
-> Never ingest or inhale.
-> Read specific information on the Hazard Sheet.
-> Wear personal protective gear.

WARNING

Hot fluid

- Danger of scalding

-> Let the fluid cool down.
-> Wear personal protective gear.

WARNING

Highly inflammable or explosive materials

- Danger of fire or explosion

-> Avoid contact with hot parts or sources of ignition.
-> Use suction to remove ignitable vapours.
-> Attach warning sign in a clearly visible position.

Information

The oil pressure may be too low for a number of reasons:

- Oil is diluted (e.g. fuel gets into the oil due to too many cold starts without warming up the engine afterwards).

- Oil pump is faulty.

- Too much bearing clearance (e.g. crankshaft bearing).

- Oil level is too low.

- Oil pressure regulating valve is faulty.

- Oil pressure sensor is faulty.

- Incorrect oil has been used. Use only oil that has been approved by Porsche for the measurement.

Information

The oil pressure may be too high for a number of reasons:

- Oil has thickened or is very cold after a cold start and high engine speeds.

- Oil pump is faulty.

- Mechanical oil pump pressure relief valve is faulty (oil pump needs to be replaced).

- Oil pressure regulating valve is faulty.

- Cable plug of oil pressure regulating valve has fallen off or open circuit between it and the control unit (oil pressure may be up to 11 bar, engine loses approximately 10 kW of engine power)

- Oil pressure sensor is faulty.

- Incorrect oil has been used. Use only oil that has been approved by Porsche for the measurement.

1. Remove screw plug at the measuring point -5-. When doing so, make sure that the sealing ring -6- does not fall off. Soak up emerging engine oil with a cloth.





Oil pressure sensor and oil pressure measuring point





2. Screw adapter for oil-pressure gauge -1- with sealing ring -2- into the measuring point. Carefully tighten to max. 10 Nm (7.5 ftlb.).





Adapter in measuring point





Adapter setup

3. Screw oil-pressure gauge -3- onto the adapter -2-. Counter screw torque using an open-ended wrench -1-.





Oil-pressure gauge on adapter

4. Move oil-pressure gauge upwards into position. When doing this, make sure the hose is not touching any rotating components.





Oil-pressure gauge set down securely

5. Fit deflection roller, oil dipstick with guide tube, drive belt and intake pipe for the measurement.
6. Check that there are no rotating components touching the measuring hose and that the pressure gauge is easy to read when positioned.





Oil-pressure gauge set down securely

7. Connect the PIWIS Tester. Connect battery charger.
- Read out DME fault memory and correct faults.
- Use the PIWIS Tester to call up the actual values for oil pressure, engine temperature and engine speed in DME. The oil pressure displayed in the PIWIS Tester is always higher than that on the pressure gauge by the value of the ambient pressure (depending on the altitude, e.g. 1000 hPa).
- The pressure display on the oil-pressure gauge must be the same as the value on the PIWIS Tester once adjusted by the ambient pressure value.
- The pressure display on the oil-pressure gauge is much slower than that on the PIWIS Tester. The measured value on the PIWIS Tester fluctuates rapidly. The trend between the two measuring instruments is significant.
- The measured oil pressure remains virtually constant over different rev ranges. The measurement using the oil-pressure gauge merely confirms that the oil pressure sensor's display is correct.
- A control loop measurement of the variable oil pump system is checked using the "Short test" in the PIWIS Tester.

8. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches the measurement temperature. => Engine temperature: 90°C Measured values (examples)
- For a cold start (e.g. 24 °C), pressure immediately jumps to 8 bar briefly (oil-pressure gauge).
- Following cold start, oil pressure drops briefly to 3 bar (oil-pressure gauge) - 4000 hPa (PIWIS Tester).
- For warm-up phase at idle speed, pressure drops from 3 bar to 1.8 bar (oil-pressure gauge) - 4000 hPa drops to 2800 hPa (PIWIS Tester).
- At engine temperature of 90 °C at idle speed, 1.5 bar to 1.6 bar (oil-pressure gauge) - 2600 hPa (PIWIS Tester).
- At engine temperature of 90 °C at 1000 rpm, 2.8 bar (oil-pressure gauge) - 3800 hPa (PIWIS Tester).
- At engine temperature of 90 °C at between 2000 rpm and 4000 rpm, the oil pressure is almost constant at 3.0 bar (oil-pressure gauge) - 4000 hPa (PIWIS Tester). The value may fluctuate by 0.1 bar (100 hPa).

Subsequent work

1. Remove oil-pressure gauge and adapter again.
2. Refit screw plug with new sealing ring. => Tightening torque: 15 Nm (11 ftlb.)
3. Fit deflection roller between the vibration balancer and generator. Tighten the screw. Press on lid. -1-





Belt drive





4. Fit oil dipstick with guide tube and new sealing ring. -> 171719 Removing and installing guide tube for oil dipstick on DFI engines - section on "Installing" Service and Repair
5. Fit drive belt. For details, see -> 137819 Removing and installing drive belt on 4.8-litre DFI engines - section on "Installing" 137819 Removing and installing drive belt on 4.8 l DFI engine
6. Fit Y-pipe or intake pipes upstream of the throttle valve. -> 243519 Removing and installing air box for throttle housing on DFI engines (intake pipes upstream of throttle valve) - section on "Installing" Service and Repair