How often to change oil?

[wawa]

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

[DenverSteve]

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

[JAAY]

I do mine every 1k

[tnoice]

Every 5,000 here.

[d18mike]

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.

[stephen wilson]

5K for me, 5-40 Castrol Syntec.

[johnsimion]

Originally Posted by d18mike

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.

Whoa! I'm not so sure Porsche recommends changing the oil at 15K miles, at least not for everybody!!! AFAIK, they have changed their recommendations several times. If the OP wants to be official, he needs to get a hold of the official maintenance book. Go to the dealer and order one! That will answer the question for once and for all, and will also be a good reminder of the other maintenance requirements.

I'm pretty sure the own official maintenance book for my 08 Cayman says to change at 12K miles, not 15K. It doesn't matter, however, because there's no way I'm letting the oil be used for that long. As a practical matter, I totally concur with your suggestion to change the oil at 5K and before storing for the winter (in my case, that's the same time).

[ryanwise]

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?

[thstone]

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.

[ryanwise]

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

[Flavor 987S]

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.

[kpm]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

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).

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

[armandodiaz]

I've called 4 Porsche dealers in Florida. They all use only M1 0W-40. They have stated, they have been instructed by Porsche to only use this weight.
As far as intervals, I change mine every 5K. Mainly cause its easier to keep track of oil change intervals. If I had to, I wouldn't go any more than 7.5K.

[schnellman]

Originally Posted by armandodiaz

I've called 4 Porsche dealers in Florida. They all use only M1 0W-40. They have stated, they have been instructed by Porsche to only use this weight.
As far as intervals, I change mine every 5K. Mainly cause its easier to keep track of oil change intervals. If I had to, I wouldn't go any more than 7.5K.

Ditto. I do 5K changes on all of my vehicles because it's simple to keep track of. Each vehicle uses a different weight of M1, but the Box gets and always will get 0W40.

[LAP1DOUG]

I use a time / milage basis, with 6 months or 3500 miles. I now have all my vehicles on the same schedule with one change in the spring, and one change in the fall. The weather is nice outside then...

[madmods]

Those Q's shouldn't be allowed to be asked online in all honesty! Anyone concerned with oil change, who don't know when to change it, should really speak to a track/team side support engineer or the team manager if possible. He/she will simply ask you: "tell me how you drive your porsche, and at what outside/engine temp, and I will tell you when to change your oil".

It is as simple as that. I believe any decent race team or aware track car owner knows that oil should be flushed after each track day/race.

You could translate and apply this into your daily driving. E.g. I would change my motor oil if I would be stuck in traffic for more than 1 (one) hour during a very-very hot summer day for instance. You shouldn’t need to rely on your little km gauge to judge whether you need to change your oil!

If anyone haven't understood the concept of modern "oil" until today, I'd just give up trying to find out and suck on what porsche "generalize" in their (thank god) User manual

[Boxster101]

Madmods, now that you know everything you ever wanted to know about oil, how about working on your English?

[madmods]

Originally Posted by Boxster101

Madmods, now that you know everything you ever wanted to know about oil, how about working on your English?

haha check the forum policy again, nowhere it says that non-native english member can't join or participate in any conversations.

It does say somewhere in there to respect other's differences however... or something in the lines of that, forgot. Can't bother reading them again just for someone that adds up crap to one of the best knowledge base porsche car forum on Internet tho

Small man right?!

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by madmods

Small man right?!

Hey now! Don't make me send one of Johnny Dangers friends after you ..well I'm headed back down to the garage to finish installing more of the suspension components you inspired me to install

[madmods]

Originally Posted by WhipE350

Hey now! Don't make me send one of Johnny Dangers friends after you ..well I'm headed back down to the garage to finish installing more of the suspension components you inspired me to install

Oh crap... again, more people that I will have to pay twice more than what the current employer pays them