Do I need to go to local Porsche dealer for Oil change?

[coolmib]

I bought this 2004 boxter last year with only 7000 miles on it.
Now the car has 8500 miles and I'm thinking to give it a oil change.
Do I need to go to Porsche dealership to do this or any oil change place is fine?
Thanks for your advises.

[mikesz]

personally I have had mixed results going to my local oil change, speedy, Valvoline, etc. I have started changing my own oil. For my 99 Boxster I bought the filter element online and bought 2 5 gallon containers of Mobil 1 for European cars total cost was $60.

[tonycarreon]

there's nothing "special" about changing the oil. it's just that most cars have an oil filter in a throw away housing whereas the boxster has a paper filter in a plastic housing.

anyone should be able to do it. that said, not everyone will have the filter.

my suggestion is to learn to do it yourself. it's super easy and will certainly make you feel like you accomplished something.

if you don't want to do it or can't for whatever reason (bad back, afraid of getting oil on your hands, etc) then i would find a decent shop (not the quick change oil and lube places) and bring your own filter and oil.

they'll usually charge less since you're supplying everything. you'll pay the labor and shop fees.

it will be way less than a dealer.

[Deserion]

The dealer is not required, and I most certainly would not take the car to just "any oil change place". If I was paying someone else to do it, it would be a Porsche specialist or German/European shop.

Napa should have a Mann or Mahle filter, local stores will have an oil that you prefer.

I don't take mine to the dealer because I feel that $300 for an oil change and inspection is not worth the cost. Plus I actually like changing the oil and looking underneath.

[recycledsixtie]

If you are not sure how to change the oil then you can buy Wayne's book 101 Projects for your Boxster. However you should have a torque wrench, oil filter, oil filter housing removal tool etc to do the job. The other benefit is that you get to see what is in the oil filter if anything. If you overtorque anything then you can cause lots of damage =$$$$.

If you are not totally confident in what you are doing then a Porsche shop or good indy shop should be able to do it right. They charge about $300 for the job or if you do it yourself about $100(excluding tools).

Guy

[seningen]

Originally Posted by coolmib

I bought this 2004 boxter last year with only 7000 miles on it.
Now the car has 8500 miles and I'm thinking to give it a oil change.
Do I need to go to Porsche dealership to do this or any oil change place is fine?
Thanks for your advises.

If you are unable or unwilling to do it yourself (which is very easy to do),
I would find an independent garage who does P-car work.

Good way to have your car looked over for anything obvious while getting the oil changed.
Some will even let you bring your own oil and filter. You can find the filters for <$15 at
most parts stores and oil should be less than $60-70 assuming something like Mobil 1.
Heck most Walmarts have Mobil 1 at $5/qt. Get 2 large jugs and your set (you car takes 9qts,
and you have 1 qt left over for top offs). Note: Oil is like religion -- everyone will have their opinions,
so the Mobil 1 is just an example.

If you don't know a place. Find your local PCA chapter -- search on google for
their website. Someone there will be more than happy to introduce you to
a good local indy.

BTW, use a good synthetic and change it every 6 months or 6K miles.

Mike

[Joe B]

I agree, change it yourself, or find an independent dealer you trust. It's very easy to do. However, FWIW, mine will only take 8 1/2 qts., including what goes into the filter, and then it's completely full.

[Jinx]

Do a search on YouTube or Google.

Very east to do.
In my opinion all Porsche dealers are overpriced.
Our Porsche dealer hourly rate is more than my
Attorney..


Jinx

[runjmc2]

NO!!!!! Take it to Mcilvain Motors. Scott will chage a lot less and give the car a good look over and a very honest assessment of what needs to be done. He has better Porsche training than most of the mechanics at the dealership and a lot of experience. He is very fair, great rates, and I trust him!

[Perfectlap]

To the DIY'ers, the 101 Projects book says to add 5 quarts and then half a quart thereafter.
Do you guys actually do this?

[epapp]

No.....I stop at 8 and check from there, adding small amounts.

That book has some useful things....and some not so useful things

[evo-r]

Originally Posted by epapp

No.....I stop at 8 and check from there, adding small amounts.

That book has some useful things....and some not so useful things

Ditto and mine takes about 8.5 qts.

[Fintro11]

If you get some one else to change your oil, I would buy porsche filter and make sure you do not use diffrent oil, if it has mobile 1 in it from the po stick to the same stuff.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by epapp

No.....I stop at 8 and check from there, adding small amounts.

That book has some useful things....and some not so useful things

I think the author takes 'novice errors' into account and plays it safe.
Some probably lose count of how many empty bottles are on the floor...

[schnellman]

Please, do not go to the stealership for an oil change. I buy my oil at O'Reilly's Auto Parts and have it changed by my independent mechanic. For me, it's the perfect solution.

[coolmib]

Thank you all above for the advises/suggestions.

Based on your input, I think I'm going to find a local professional to do it for me. Any such professionals or shops to recommend in metro Phoenix area, especially in the east valley? Thanks...

In the even that I bring my own oil and filter, what brand oil and what types of filters do you guys recommend ？ Thanks again .... I'm a NOVICE

[coolmib]

Ok. Say I decided to use a local professional to do it, what brand of oil and filter do I need to bring? Where to buy them?

Any reputable Porsche/European professionals to recommend in the metro Phoenix area?

Thank you all！

[thstone]

Originally Posted by coolmib

...what brand of oil and filter do I need to bring? Where to buy them?

First, make sure that your local mechanic will install parts that you bring in. Some will and some won't.

Second, do a search of this site. Oil and filters have been covered many, many times.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by coolmib

what brand of oil and filter do I need to bring?

Oh, oh. Suit up for the impending holy war.

[coolmib]

Originally Posted by runjmc2

NO!!!!! Take it to Mcilvain Motors. Scott will chage a lot less and give the car a good look over and a very honest assessment of what needs to be done. He has better Porsche training than most of the mechanics at the dealership and a lot of experience. He is very fair, great rates, and I trust him!

Thanks for the tips...I'll bring it to McIlvain