Oil Change every 15k miles?

[KRAM36]

Is that right? Since I bought my Boxster I've changed the oil every 5k miles, except my last change went 7k miles and I was feeling ashamed I let it go that long.

I'm still going to stick with the 5k mile oil changes. This is my first foreign car and all the cars/trucks before it said to change the oil every 3k miles.

[rdass623]

yep, that's the interval. personally I go with a 5k interval. LN engineering spin on oil filter adapter, and magnetic drain plug makes life a lot easier. with the frequency of all other services Porsche recommends, I really don't understand their oil change philosophy.

[Porsche9]

15k oil changes equals liquid coal.

[Duezzer]

No engine or mechanical mechanism that requires oil as a lubricant has ever failed from changing the oil to often.

[clickman]

While I agree, there is this:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/36191-question%85boxster-s-329-000-miles.html

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by clickman

While I agree, there is this:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/36191-question%85boxster-s-329-000-miles.html

The issue there is that the owner bought his car new back when Mobil 1's formulation was not the same as the formulation you see now. If memory serves, at some point mid-2000's there was change for the worse. Some experts in Excellence Magazine referred to these as "mass market oil that have seen decreasing levels of protective additives". Personally when I see an oil used in Porsches and Mercs being sold cheap at Wal-Mart back when the price of crude was shooting north fast, I have to wonder where they're cutting costs. Which is one reason I like the idea of oil analysis to see for instance how much ZDDP goes in and how much is still present on the way out.

[mikefocke]

Read the definition of "severe service" in the manual.

If you are doing all highway driving at moderate temperatures, you use the higher change interval (though some of the 15k intervals that got published soon got changed to 10k).

But most of us drive in the cold, the heat, in traffic, in dusty conditions, with the a/c adding heat, for short trips, etc. And those call for cutting the interval in half.

I always did 5k or 1 year for my 986s with the M96.

I always believed the extended change intervals were marketing driven making the maintenance costs look good in magazine reviews long term reliability be darned.

Just as I still believe in 1k for the first change on a new or rebuilt engine.

Oil is cheap, engines aren't.

Yes, you can always get an oil analysis and see how your oil with your kind of driving is holding up.

[hancock1701]

I was changing my oil at 5000 miles or every 6 months, but I forgot one time and let the oil go up to 9000 miles. Had the 9000 mile oil tested by Blackstone and all the characteristics were still good. Oil was Mobil1 0W40 and car is at 137,000 miles now.

[Giller]

Personal opinion - change it lots. An extra oil change or two is far far cheaper than a new motor. 15K is silly - as someone pointed out - most manufacturers are now revising that to 10k. Even that seems high, especially on a high-performance, OLDER motor such as what we have.
Treat it well. Give it a fresh shot of oil to keep her clean as often as possible.

[mnc-i]

The funny thing is that no where in my owner's manual or Warranty & Customer Information manual is any kind of maintenance discussed. Kind of weird isn't it.

I had to discover the oil & filter change intervals from my Bentley Service Manual after I about fell down when the mechanic at my local Porsche dealership started telling me that the Boxster was one of the least maintenance intensive vehicles Porsche produces (e.g. oil changes at 15,000 miles, oil & filter changes every 30,000 miles, etc.).

So I checked the Bentley manual and Porsche Boxster (986) FAQ (this was in 2009, so the link may not still be active) and both confirmed what the mechanic was stating.

My 1999 Boxster has over 233,000 miles and I change the oil & filter every 10,000 miles.

You cannot beat that good old German engineering:-)

It would be nice if Porsche had installed an oil useful life sensor like Chevorlet started doing back in 1997 on the Corvette (it provides a estimate of how much useful life your oil has based on a whole lot of parameters such as miles driven, total rpms and operating cycles since the last oil change). That is American engineering!

[Pdwight]

I only drive my S about 2 to 4 K miles a year...change it every spring.....Oil is cheaper than engine parts

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Pdwight

I only drive my S about 2 to 4 K miles a year...change it every spring.....Oil is cheaper than engine parts

If you put it to bed for the winter, you should change the oil before. Don't have the nasties sitting on your precious engine parts all winter.

[rick3000]

When I first got my 986, I changed the oil every 7500 miles. I now change it every 5k miles. I would rather change the oil than the engine.

[KRAM36]

Glad to see 5k is what people are doing normally. My last oil change was perfect (knock on wood) nothing stuck the magnetic drain plug and no debris found in the filter.

[eacallo986]

Originally Posted by KRAM36

Glad to see 5k is what people are doing normally. My last oil change was perfect (knock on wood) nothing stuck the magnetic drain plug and no debris found in the filter.

I change mine every 7k using Mobil1 15 / 50. I live in Northern Calif. I use Synthetic oil because it doesn't break down as fast as non synthetic.

If your changing your oil every 3k to 5k, use a good non synthetic oil and save yourself a little $.

Your comments/opinions especially on using Mobil1 15/ 50 would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Ed

[mnc-i]

eacall0986,

I normally use Mobil 1 10W40 high mileage, but decided to switch to Mobil 1 15W50.

I can purchase both at Walmart for about $25.00 in a 5 quart jug.

I wish Mobil 1 would offer its extended (good for up to 15,000 miles) oil in either the 10W40 or 15W50 weight.

Since my 99 Boxster has over 233000 miles, if the engine goes bad I'll just part it out and move up to that 996 I been wanting since day one.

Just my two-cents.

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by eacallo986

I change mine every 7k using Mobil1 15 / 50. I live in Northern Calif. I use Synthetic oil because it doesn't break down as fast as non synthetic.

If your changing your oil every 3k to 5k, use a good non synthetic oil and save yourself a little $.

Your comments/opinions especially on using Mobil1 15/ 50 would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Ed

I use what Mobil 1 says to use in my car 0W-40

https://mobiloil.com/en/product-selector?Year=2003&Make=UG9yc2NoZQ%3D%3D&Model=Qm94c3Rlcg%3D%3D&Engine=Um9hZHN0ZXIgUyA2LUN5bCAzLjIgKEdBUyk%3D

[eacallo986]

Wow 233k congrats on your '99 impressive! Have to ask the question, any IMS replacements done?
I have a 2001 Boxster S Manual 6 speed with 80K and will need to decide at the time I need a new clutch to have it done or not.

Going to my local Walmart for Mobil 1 as soon as I get a chance. I'm also going to be replacing the transmission fluid. Thinking of using a manual pump from the fill opening to remove the old transmission fluid instead of having to remove the bottom cover and the aluminum brace just to get to the drain. Hopefully I can get it all doing it this way. Advise or thoughts if any?

[eacallo986]

Thanks for the info

[eacallo986]

Originally Posted by KRAM36

I use what Mobil 1 says to use in my car 0W-40

https://mobiloil.com/en/product-selector?Year=2003&Make=UG9yc2NoZQ%3D%3D&Model=Qm94c3Rlcg%3D%3D&Engine=Um9hZHN0ZXIgUyA2LUN5bCAzLjIgKEdBUyk%3D

Thanks for sharing!