Boxster oil change (capacity)

[wvu1966]

Last yr I had the dealer do an oil/filter change on my '06 Boxster. The invoice showed I was charger for 10 quarts. I challanged that number based on my reading of the oil capacity in the owner's manual and got credit back for 2 qts. Last week I took the car in for 2 yr service and again the invoice showed 10 qts which I challanged and got knocked back to 8. Just curious if other dealers are trying to rip you folks off or is it just mine??

[Padawan]

My 986 took a bit over nine quarts (with filter change) to bring the level near the upper mark on the dipstick when I changed mine recently.

[Tool Pants]

Covered this before. I assume your dealer uses the 1 quart plastic containers.

If they use 9.2 quarts you get charged for 10. Someone in the shop gets to keep the .8 leftover.

If they use brake cleaner to clean something, and use 2 shots from the can. You pay for the entire can.

[wvu1966]

This shop dispenses from a hose with a metered hand held nozzle so they should be able to get accurate measurement to a fraction. And I did have the priveledge of paying for the whole can of break cleaner. Next time I go in I'll ask that if I'm to be chagred for a can that the rest of it be put in the trunk- and see what happens.

[davzin]

The last time I changed oil in the Boxster, the level mark was spot on with about
8.2 quarts of fluid. This included a change of the filter as well...so 10 quarts is about 20% too much according to htose numbers.

[LowFlyR]

Originally Posted by Tool Pants

Covered this before. I assume your dealer uses the 1 quart plastic containers.

If they use 9.2 quarts you get charged for 10. Someone in the shop gets to keep the .8 leftover.

2 weeks ago I changed my oil first time. Engine was @ operating temp and I let it drain for over an hour. I also changed the filter. So, stupid me, (in somekind of hurry to get to drive again), poured 9qts in. And of course it was over full.

I had to take filter off twice and empty it, before it was just 'full'.

[wconley]

I did my first oil change a few weeks ago. After warming the car up I put it on jack stands so it was level, drained the oil for probably 30 minutes while replacing the oil filter. I expected around 9.2 qts per the manual but it took about 9.7 qts to get it to the full mark. The dashboard meter reads all bars if it's set level overnight, otherwise it reads right on the full mark.

[Lil bastard]

Back in '99, Porsche revised the engine oil capacity for the M96 engine from:

Oil Change w/o filter

• from: 7.75L (8.18Q)
  to: 8.5L (8.98Q)

Oil Change w/ filter

• from: 8.25L (8.71Q)
  to: 8.75L (9.24Q)

This change was noted in TSB# Boxster 2/99 1 1701

Prior to this change, the proper fill level was 1 Bar from the top on the digital gauge and to the 'Full' mark on the dipstick (where applicable).

The problem is, while Porsche changed the capacity, they did NOT change the means by which to measure the proper level. There has been no revision to the digital Sending unit nor have they released a dipstick with a modified mark to reflect the change in capacity. Pretty stupid if you ask me, but there it is.

So, according to this TSB, running at the revised capacity, you should be filling to slightly over the 'Full' mark on the dipstick, and to the top mark on the digi gauge (though this is impossible to really measure because there is no longer an 'Overfull' indicator). In other words, there is no longer an acurate way to measure the 'Full' level at all.

Realize that the digi gauge gives you a very generous OK range of 7 (formerly 6) Bars. Each Bar represents 1 Cup. This means that the OK range is equal to 1.75 Qts.

Obsessing about getting the crankcase 'Full' risks having an overfill which can damage the engine due to foaming of the Oil, etc.

If you stick to the old marks on the guage and the dipstick, while you may not be running at the absolute revised capacity, you will nonetheless remain well within the OK range.

If truly anal about it, you can always measure exactly how much oil you take out when draining it (including the filter) and refill only that amount. Just be sure to give the car at least 20 min. drain time to be sure you get out most of the old oil.

[bnordin]

I have owned my 987 since January and changed the oil at 3000 miles. The dealer charged me for 9 quarts and it is approaching time to service again. My question, is it necessary to change synthetic oils this often?

[kabel]

bnordin, please see other thread already in progress:
Oil change intervals?

Originally Posted by bnordin

My question, is it necessary to change synthetic oils this often?