How long between oil changes? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

mptoledo · 10-14-2009, 09:34 PM

I change mine every year before I put it away for the winter(1yr or 5k miles). Throw porsche's recommendation out the window. $60 DIY oil change per year is a cheap alternative to a new engine!!! I use catro syntec 10w40 and napa gold filter. If your too lazy to change it once a year, buy a HONDA!/!(no offense, but seriously change it once a year)!!

Jake Raby · 10-14-2009, 10:08 PM

Three times a year or 5K miles..
Extended oil service intervals are what kills hydraulic lifters, hydraulic chain tensioners and timing chain wear pads!

Purging contaminated lubricant is the key to so many aspects of the M96 engine.

23109VC · 10-15-2009, 06:37 AM

Mechanic said 150 to change oil. I believe they use mobile 1. If I do it myself, sounds like it's not that hard. I don't have a lift or oil drain pan , but have floor jack and jack stands. I can do it I'm sure, just need time to do it and then dump my oil. Where do most of u take the oil to get rid of it? Will parts storesor oil change places take it for a fee?

I'll change the oil! Thanks for the advice!

JFP in PA · 10-15-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23109VC

Mechanic said 150 to change oil. I believe they use mobile 1. If I do it myself, sounds like it's not that hard. I don't have a lift or oil drain pan , but have floor jack and jack stands. I can do it I'm sure, just need time to do it and then dump my oil. Where do most of u take the oil to get rid of it? Will parts storesor oil change places take it for a fee?

I'll change the oil! Thanks for the advice!

These days, just about everyone that sells oil has a recycling program; ask the store that sells you the oil. Second bet would be local repair shops that will often take it free of charge........

mptoledo · 10-15-2009, 08:51 AM

get the walmart/autozone 10 or 12 quart oil drain pan($10 its the big black one) as it fits under the car when you lower the jack and give it 30 minutes to drain. Walmart also has a free recycle program,up to 5 gallons. Try to get the big jugs of oil (I use Castro syntec 10W40) as it is easy to refill them to take them in for recycling. I tried to refill the quarts and it wasn't pretty. Live and learn I say!!

Yes it is a pretty simple job. You do need to get the socket for the bottom of the oil filter, $6 bucks at autozone. you just insert your socket end into it and it screws right off. I beleive i used an allen or star wrench for the oil plug. I like to change it when the oil is pretty warm as the contaminents haven't had a change to settle out of the oil. Just watch as it comes out pretty fast and if its hot it can really cause some pain. I believe there is a thread in the DIY forum. It will save you some bucks and I feel more attached to my car afterwards.

Oil drain pan
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/accessories/accProductDetails.jsp?categoryDisplayName=&fromString=&itemIdentifier=2278_0_0_&productId=2278&sortType=&parentId=1311-10&filterByKeyWord=&categoryNValue=&navValue=101035&fromWhere=&itemId=1035-10&displayName=15+qt.+Oil+Recycle+Pan&store=781&skuDisplayName=15+qt.+Oil+Recycle+Pan&brandName=Blitz
Oil filter cap wrench. (not sure which one it was so I bought two to make sure).
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/accessories/accProductDetails.jsp?categoryDisplayName=Oil+and+ Fluid+Change&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=153159_0_0_&productId=153159&sortType=&parentId=1311-10&filterByKeyWord=pil+wrench&categoryNValue=101311&navValue=100774&fromWhere=&itemId=774-10&displayName=93+mm.+dia.+oil+filter+%22C%22+cap+wre nch&store=781&skuDisplayName=93+mm.+dia.+oil+filter+%22C%22+cap+ wrench&brandName=OEM

Brucelee · 10-15-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Three times a year or 5K miles..
Extended oil service intervals are what kills hydraulic lifters, hydraulic chain tensioners and timing chain wear pads!

Purging contaminated lubricant is the key to so many aspects of the M96 engine.

I would go with Jake on this one. He does the autopsy on many engines.

I do think if one uses Red Line or Amsoil top of the line, you could extend that just a bit.

mikefocke · 10-15-2009, 09:38 AM

I doubt I put 2k a year on my car, always 12 miles or more after start up before I stop so the needle does show 180. Never taken out when temps below 40F.

What is the science behind the 3 times a year recommendation?

JFP in PA · 10-15-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikefocke

What is the science behind the 3 times a year recommendation?

More than likely, the fact that so many M96 owners continue to run 0W-40 Mobil 1; so the less time it is in there, the better the chance it has not totally crapped out yet………..

Jake Raby · 10-15-2009, 11:42 AM

I knew I never should have tried to offer an opinion. Thanks for reminding me that I should keep my mouth shut totally on this topic.

But changing the oil would not have kept this failure from happening.. The piston exploded at 70 MPH on the freeway.. Female driver..

We just took this one apart an hour ago. Mofde of failure #21

jmatta · 10-15-2009, 02:20 PM

My, that isn't pretty. What would cause the piston to explode like that? As you say, oil wasn't the issue here, but frequent changes can help with the other 20 modes of failure.

I'm starting to save up for my IMS bearing replacement...

Jake Raby · 10-15-2009, 02:40 PM

Component failure plain and simple.

This car was owned by a Female from day one, she never tracked it and it only has 40K miles on it.. You can see how slow she has driven it in the carbon thats built up on the pistons/ etc.

23109VC · 10-15-2009, 03:02 PM

maybe i'll give this one a shot as a DIY. I have done brake pads/rotors on my own cars before, as well as suspension (shocks/springs). I'm no mechanic, but I can bolt/unbolt stuff and am not afraid to get dirty.

for me, it's the PITA / time factor. if it costs me $50 to do it myself and $250 to pay someone, and it takes me on ehour....i'd rather do it myself. if it costs me $50 to do ti myself, $100 to pay someone to do it, and it will take two hours and be a nasty dirty job, I'd rather fork over the $50 for some other person to get all dirty.

this job sounds like it's not too hard. i can do it myself in my garage. i just need that drain pain and the right tool to pull the drain plug out.

Frodo · 10-15-2009, 03:29 PM

Just don't do what I did the first time. I got, I'm pretty sure, the exact same drain pan that mptoledo linked. It's got one hole in the center to catch and drain the old oil. When removing the drain plug (which was still hot), I managed to drop it and, of course, it went into that one and only hole.

Ended up with a pool of used motor oil roughly 6' in diameter on the driveway. It was a terrifically fun clean-up, sarcasm intended. Afterwards, got my electric drill and put on the biggest bit I had (1/2") and drilled about 8 holes in the top, around the center hole. Predictably, I've never dropped the plug into the center hole since.

I still (and would recommend to others) put down newspaper below and around the catch pan. When the oil comes out, it often hits the top of the pan (the part I drilled the holes in) and sends out this wave of used motor oil beyond the outer perimeter of the drain pan. Last time I didn't get a drop on the driveway, though I make no guarantees I'll always be able to achieve that.