Dealer says: Change oil in spring?

[MikenOH]

I would think changing it in the fall before laying it up makes more sense. New,clean oil without contaminents would seem to make more sense for long term storage.

I'm sure there are others on the board with specific knowledge, but IIRC, the main culpert is acid in the higher mileage oil with can work on bearings, etc..

I'll yield to my learned colleges...

[z12358]

There's 4300 miles on the car. Bought new in May.

Z, how many miles do you have? I could see you going either way on this is you have only 2-3,000 miles. If you have close to 7,000 you are about due regardless.

I changed my oil at 1,200 and again at 7,200 just before storage. I did one long drive the weekend before storage, of about 350 miles.

If you change it now, then you would probably establish the pattern to do it each year prior to winter storage, and this might be your best option.

Maybe the dealership is planning a big price increase for 2007 and wants to nick ya in the Spring!!

[z12358]

Looks like even with only 4400 miles (and especially since those include the break-in miles) the best is to change the oil before storage.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by MikenOH

I would think changing it in the fall before laying it up makes more sense. New,clean oil without contaminents would seem to make more sense for long term storage.

I'm sure there are others on the board with specific knowledge, but IIRC, the main culpert is acid in the higher mileage oil with can work on bearings, etc..

I'll yield to my learned colleges...

Hi,

You're correct, changing before storage is the recommended procedure. In-service Oil can acumulate acidic compounds, and Fuel, which will strip the Oil from the Internals. But, perhaps the biggest reason to change the Oil is to flush the moisture (a natural combustion by-product) which has accumulated.

If this moisture is allowed to remain in the engine through the storage period, as the temperature swings, the moisture will evaporate and will later condense as water on the cool engine internals causing corrosion and pitting.

This is considered the preferred method by every Museum, longterm storage facility and article on longterm storage, no real debate on it. Even the local Porsche Dealership offers a Winter Storage Service and this includes a fresh Oil Change as well. There is no advantage whatever in storing a car with used Oil in it. I assume they are going by mileage, but the Oil should be changed at the Mileage Interval (preferrably sooner than Porsche's recommended Interval - 7500 mi. is best), or annually. Sorry, but the other dealer is just plain wrong...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99