Care & Feeding Of A Garage Queen - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Porsche Chick · 06-20-2013, 05:09 PM

No, the title does not refer to me, it refers to my car.

I have noticed that I tend not to drive my car. I've had it for 10 months and put about 600 miles on it. I drive it a few miles every couple of weeks. I'm wondering what I should do to maintain it. If I wait for 3,000 miles to change the oil, it will be 5 years before it's changed! That doesn't sound like a good idea.

And what about all the other bits: those little rubber seals around the windows, the tires, the battery, the top? I plan to keep it about 10 years, so I want it to be okay. No issues so far, knock on wood.

The environment is very humid, hot, never below freezing, garaged. I'm thinking about putting one of those buckets of desiccant inside the car to pull the humidity out of the air so the leather doesn't get moldy (I had that happen in another car. The steering wheel was actually furry

). Maybe a battery tender? It starts well, so far.

Any other ideas?

litespeedp · 06-20-2013, 05:35 PM

I've always changed the oil each year regardless of miles as the stuff gets contaminated and dirty fairly quickly.You don't want that junk sitting in there.In a perfect world, the short drives should be long enough to thoroughly warm the car--maybe 30 minutes and after it is completely warmed,run it pretty hard.Let it cool down a bit before parking.

Don't know where you live, but Arkansas is Captain Humidity King with nothing separating us from the constant gulf air but soggy Louisiana! Have never tried a desiccant but seems like a good idea.

My 2000 S,purchased last year,could use a good rubber treatment to keep the very expensive weather stripping/trim soft and pliable.There has been a very recent thread on "rubber moldings" within the last day or so.I'm getting the stuff they recommend and applying it to my car.

Keeping the car OUT OF THE SUN is number one.

Johnny Danger · 06-20-2013, 06:22 PM

I'm in similar situation, where I don't get to drive my vehicle much either. In fact, I've only clocked 2k miles in the last 3 1/2 years. However, since my vehicle is always garaged, and it's never experienced the effects of direct sunlight or harsh weather of any kind. Being extremely OCD has helped.

Anyway, keeping the vehicle meticulously clean and serviced annually, along with a battery tender has been essential to it's longevity.

rp17 · 06-20-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

In fact, I've only clocked 2k miles in the last 3 1/2 years.

Are you guys serious about these mileage quotes? Well, changing the oil once a year at least should be standard practice. Battery maintainer also. Usually cars that sit too long end up with dead batteries and shorter life span alternators.

thstone · 06-20-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

... I've only clocked 2k miles in the last 3 1/2 years.

Wow. With 25 track days in the plan, I'll do 2K miles this year entirely AT REDLINE (or near enough).

As for maintenance, Perfectlap got it spot on - oil change yearly, battery tender, and get it up to temp monthly to cook the water out of the oil.

Topless · 06-20-2013, 06:35 PM

Awwww poor thing. She is being neglected all alone in that musty old garage. Boxsters are a lot like dogs. They need lots of love, attention, and regular exercise.

Hey! This gives me a great idea for a second career. Professional Porsche exerciser. I could saddle them up for a weekly canyon carving session in the local mountains. A nice 2 hour drive to shake out the cobwebs and bring her home tired, happy, and satisfied.... Sure it could happen.

Perfectlap · 06-20-2013, 06:55 PM

The best thing you can do is to make a point of planning one long trip in the car each month. And when you take it out for short trips after about 10 mins of driving shift only above 3k rpm and try to keep it above that mark when driving.

evo-r · 06-24-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

The best thing you can do is to make a point of planning one long trip in the car each month. And when you take it out for short trips after about 10 mins of driving shift only above 3k rpm and try to keep it above that mark when driving.

Being a Porsche newbie, and I've seen people writing about shifting past 3k rpm (or drive it like you stole it)... so what's the real reason behind this? to burn off carbon deposite?

paintboy · 06-24-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo-r

Being a Porsche newbie, and I've seen people writing about shifting past 3k rpm (or drive it like you stole it)... so what's the real reason behind this? to burn off carbon deposite?

Get the oils everywheres.

Porsche Chick · 06-30-2013, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintboy

Get the oils everywheres.

This is what I will tell the police officer.

southernstar · 06-24-2013, 09:07 AM

No, in a car that uses high octane fuel and has a modern fuel injection system, the old 'Italian tune-up' really isn't required to burn off carbon build-up. The most cited reasons are: to ensure that the oil gets up to operating temperature at which point it is better able to lubricate engine internals; to burn off water that can build up in the oil when the car is stored, or used solely for short drives; oil pressure increases with RPM's and again, this leads to better lubrication of engine internals (again, assuming the car is properly warmed up); the latter is also considered a factor in improving splash lubrication to the IMS bearing in cases where it has been upgraded with a bearing without seals and grease- e.g., the LN ceramic IMS bearing upgrade.

Brad

fusionist · 06-24-2013, 09:24 AM

This shift over 3k warning always makes me wonder, how in the world could you ever drive a Boxster and not shift over 3k? It seems impossible.

evo-r · 06-25-2013, 08:29 AM

Thanks for the inputs... I gotta rev higher from now on or press those "-" buttons more often as I noticed the tip upshifts way too early...

Perfectlap · 06-25-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusionist

This shift over 3k warning always makes me wonder, how in the world could you ever drive a Boxster and not shift over 3k? It seems impossible.

This is the contradiction of the typical Porsche driver and the Porsche car itself.

Most Porsches never see a track or autocross event. Even the GT3's.

Many are only driven on weekends to get ice cream cones.

A person of high household net worth, who can afford such an expensive car in the first place, is generally cautious in all of their driving habits.
No speeding for the most part, no high RPM shifting. So the engine bears the brunt of the mismatch in driver and car.

It reminds of me of going to SCCA driving events vs. Porsche events:

At the Porsche event the turn out is smaller. They show up wearing "driving shoes' and Porsche Design shirts and hats. The gaps in the time sheets can be as much a second between cars. Mind you these are the people who actually show up to a driving event in the first place. To be fair Ferrari people are much worse.

Then you go to the SCCA event (mostly Japanese and American sports car). These guys haven't shaved in days and probably did not shower that morning, their jeans must have at least one oil stain per pant leg and they are probably hung over. but they drive the wheels off what they can manage to buy. The gaps in the time sheets might be down to tenths of a second down to sixth place. And if its its Autox you'll be lucky to get in six laps because the turn out is so much higher than the Porsche event.

SeanZ4 · 06-21-2013, 07:28 AM

I'm in the same boat. Less than 2k in the last three or so years. I change the oil once a year. I've gone a little past that this time. I put a batt. tender on the car when I bought it. My battery is 5 years old now and starts like it was new every time. I wish I had more time to put miles on it. I've also got a 'boxer' bmw motorcycle in the same situation.

Flavor 987S · 06-21-2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche Chick

I've had it for 10 months and put about 600 miles on it.

I only did 600 miles too (OK, only 580miles)......................................... ...this past weekend.

1olddude · 06-21-2013, 08:36 AM

I just had a friend that sold his wife's 2007 Boxster S. They purchased new and she never drove it. 8000 miles in 5 years! I don't get it. I bought my 2002 S a year ago from an old man that had driven it 8400 miles since he bought it new. He did all maintenance and it was still new when I bought it for a third of what he paid. I put more miles in a year of ownership than he did in ten years. Drive them! I know they are great to look at but they are much more fun when they are moving!

mountainman · 06-21-2013, 09:09 AM

Can't relate to that. I have 3 of them and put at least 10K on each one in an average year. a set of rear tires and 2 oil changes per car plus the other maintenance. Maybe that is where my money goes. Don't regret a bit of it.

stephen wilson · 06-21-2013, 09:13 AM

I'm confused also, why would anyone not be able to drive it more fequently? Drive it to work, use it for errands, it makes mundane trips much more enjoyable.

patssle · 06-21-2013, 09:22 AM

Drive your cars people!

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

I'm confused also, why would anyone not be able to drive it more fequently? Drive it to work, use it for errands, it makes mundane trips much more enjoyable.

Exactly. There's one part of my commute to work where I pull onto the frontage road of a freeway from a side street....due to light timings there is never a single car around. It is my favorite part of the day!