How often to change oil?
 

Hey all

Newby question. I've look in the owner manual about the oil change frequency and all it say is: Oil change should be done frequently as per your schedule maintenance.

But I dont have the schedule maintenance, so how often should it be done. The last 2 car I bought were schedule to every 8000km (5000miles) Honda fit and Scion tC. But my older MR2 MKI was at every 5000km (3000 miles) So with a Posrche in between in age, should I do it at 3000miles or 5000miles?

Thanks
Chris

Every 15,000 miles or when you are comfortable doing so. I do mine every 5,000 miles.

I do mine every 1k

Every 5,000 here.

Everyone has a different approach on this. Porsche recommends every 15k. I think the majoriity of owners do it around 5k. I tend to be between 3-5k. Serves 2 purposes: good engine maintenance and an opportunity to see if I am having an IMS issue by monitoring for metal shavings in the filter.

I also change it before storing in the winter.

5K for me, 5-40 Castrol Syntec.

+ 1 But I use 10w-40 Castrol Syntec. :)

Due to my minimum miles per year I do mine every January. Usually less than 2k on the clock. I switched this year to Castrol 5-40. I also do the usual inspection of everything, i.e. cutting apart the filter and examining the magnetic drain plug. I think the Porsche recommended change intervals are too long. Just my opinion.

sean

With a magnetic drain plug, any reason not to just change the filter and cut that open for inspection every 1-2K rather than dump 9 quarts of Synthetic every time?

Previous poster was correct - Porsche schedule calls for 15,000 mile intervals.

Mobil 1 10W-40 High Mileage every 3K miles or 4-6 track days, which ever comes first (usually the track days comes first because my daily commute is pretty short).

Might be overkill but the engine gets a real workout on the track and there's not much else to be done to help engine longevity and reliability.

On Pedro's forum, he suggested on higher mileage cars, use Mobil-1.. 15W 50.

Every year, prior to winter hibernation:

987S Every 5-7,000 miles. First 4 years used Red Line 5W40. Now running Mobil 5W50 (hard to find oil). Blackstone UOA's are excellent.

993TT Every 5,000 miles. Running Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 (yes, a motorcycle oil). UOA's are also excellent.

*Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner prior to oil change.

Why the switch from Red Line? I switched to their 5W40 last oil change and could not be happier.

Every 10,000km using Agip 5W40.

At the end of every driving season (~8000 km or 5000 miles), Castrol 5W-40. I'd use 10W-40, but we Canadians aren't allowed that weight.

Red Line is an excellent product, in my experience. I switched to Mobil 1 for a few reasons:

1) I wanted to try something different

2) The only Porsche approved 5W50 is Mobil 1's

3) I wantd to use a 5W50

I'll run the 5W50 for at least 2 driving seasons (2011 and 2012). This will give me enough time to get an accurate read on the UOA's. Then I'll decide if I'm staying with it, going back to Red Line or try another quality product (maybe Motul).

Why do you guys wait so long before changing your massage oil ? I change mine after every rub down .

Since this post has predictably turned into a discussion of which oil is best, I'll put in my 2 cents worth.

I was first convinced that, based on several on line sources, I should use a heavier weight oil, I used both 15-50 and 20-50 for "flush" oil changes of about 1k miles each (I just got my car and the previous owner went long on the oil change intervals), both to try to get rid of the start up rattle and since I live in Miami Florida where its always hot, to protect against heat breakdown of oil. The heavier weight oils made no demonstrable difference in start up clatter.

Then I read the article below and I am a now a convert to M1 0-40. The long and the short of the article is that oil flow is what is important. You want as much volume going through the motor as possible at all times. Since 0-X weight oil is thinner when cold than a 5, 10, 20-X oil, it will provide more volume while the motor is warming up.

And remember, oil temp lags behind coolant temp during warmup. My Durametric shows that oil temp is about 10 C degrees behing coolant temp until the coolant gets close to 90 C, which takes a good 20 minutes in my car with combined city/highway driving. Once its up to temp, the oil temp is a little less than 10 C hotter than the collant temp, in the 100-105 C. range.

Once the oil is hot, the viscosity in now at 40, which at the oil temps I am running, is more than enough to protect the motor. Now, if I were running my car on the track, oil temps might be significantly higher, so I might consider a heavier oil.

But for the type of driving I do, I am convinced a 0-40 oil will protect the engine better during the crucial warm up, which if you do a lot of short trip city driving, will be a big portion of the time you are driving your car.


http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-tech/60791-calling-all-engineers-motor-heads.html

I used to have Motul 0-40 with Ester in my MR2. Good or not for the Boxster? I'm Canadian and will run the car all winter long. -20C or even -30C is usual here.

wawa

The first choice should be 10W40 year round use. At least summer. If you are in a realy cold climate, 5W40 for winter. If you can't get 10 weight, just go with 5 weight. 0 is not recomended. These engines run very hot so stay with 40 or higher.