Changing Oil Filter without Changing oil?

[sonny200]

I just purchased a used '03 S from a pvt seller with 15.5k miles on the odo. During the PPI, the dealer found the RMS to be leaking a little so the seller had it replaced prior to the sale. The 15k maintenance wasn't performed prior to the sale. The dealer only changed the oil during the RMS replacement but not the oil filter. They said I can just have the filter changed.

I'm a DIY kinda guy so am wondering if I could change the filter without changing the oil. On my STi, for instance, this wouldn't be possible without having most of the oil drain out as the filter is located at the lowest point of the oil pan.

Anyone?

You can do it just fine, you will only loose about a couple cups of oil.

[Adam]

According to the scheduled maintence recommended by Porsche they say change the filter every other oil change or every 30k miles. This is probably why they changed the oil, but not the filter. I don't follow that routine, but that's what they say for 986 maintence.

[Tool Pants]

You can change just the filter and only 1 1/2 cups of oil will come out.

The rear main seal is above the oil level so oil is not usually replaced for an RMS replacement. The intermediate shaft seal is below the level so when that seal is replaced the oil is drained.

If the seal was replaced under warranty then most likely the filter was not replaced because Porsche will not pay the dealer for it. Porsche says the filter is good for 30k miles anyway.