How much for oil change? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

z12358 · 10-31-2006, 12:50 PM

Bmussatti wrote about a $110 quote for an oil change somewhere in his neck of the woods ($67 if you bring your own oil. Why would you when implicitly they price M1 at $5/qt?). Thought it would be interesting to see quotes for a Boxster oil change from around the country. I propose the following format:

Price State Dealer/non-Dealer

I'll start:

$225+tax CT Dealer
$200 CT non-Dealer
$260 (tax?) NYC Dealer

How I wish I had my own garage with jacks and all...

Z.

Esoril 540iT · 10-31-2006, 01:06 PM

For my yearly service at a Porsche dealer (2005 Boxster S): (at 1600 miles)

oil change (Mobil 10w40) + filter
cabin filter
wiper change,
other minor stuff.

Not worth imo.

drburton · 10-31-2006, 01:26 PM

Not an exact comparison but my first oil change is coming with the 'hibernation' package to prep my car for storage. This includes the oil change, 100+ point inspection, fuel stabalizer, cleaning, inflate tires etc (can't remember everything).

Package is $200 and is at a Porsche dealer
For $280 they also detail the car

And I get a loaner, not sure what it will be b/c I don't bring it in for another couple of weeks.

blue2000s · 10-31-2006, 01:43 PM

I'm not poor, but I am cheap:

$5.10/qt x 8.75 qt Royal Purple 10w40 => $44.63
$10.85 Mahl oil filter with o-ring and crush washer, ebay => $10.85

Low profile oil pan (no jack required), oil filter wrench, torque wrench, 8mm socket amortized over, lets say 5 oil changes => $14.40

=> $69.88

10-31-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I'm not poor, but I am cheap:

$5.10/qt x 8.75 qt Royal Purple 10w40 => $44.63
$10.85 Mahl oil filter with o-ring and crush washer, ebay => $10.85

Low profile oil pan (no jack required), oil filter wrench, torque wrench, 8mm socket amortized over, lets say 5 oil changes => $14.40

=> $69.88

Blue2000s (and others), don't forget to include the "value of your time" in this equation! I don't want to get too philosophical, but it truly has "value" and should be part of your "value proposition".

For round numbers, someone making $100K/year equates to about $50/hour. I think for even an experienced DIY it take at least an hour to do an oil change on our cars. Especially if you include the time to get out your tools, do the work, clean-up and then drive your oil to a proper reclamation center.

And I am sure there are members on this Forum who earn north of $300-500/hour. So, that DIY oil change becomes very expensive in true value terms.

Sure, you can say that you have the time anyways. And I would agree. It is just a matter of how you want to "invest" the very limited time that we all have after a full work-week and the added pressures of family life, staying in shape, helping a sick family member, or any of the other potential hundreds of demands against our personal time.

And for others still, it is the personal enjoyment they gain from doing a high quality repair or maintenance to their beloved Boxsters. And I get that too.

For me, I could change my own oil, but I rather drive my car an extra hour, or play at the park with my young daughters or share a cup of coffee with my wife at the local java house.

It's all about personal choice. But never under estimate the value of your time!

OK, I am off my soap-box and the door bell keeps ringing. Trick or Treat!!

blue2000s · 10-31-2006, 03:55 PM

It takes about fifteen minutes to actually warm up and wrench on the car. The other 15 minutes is waiting for the oil to drain. I'm at home the whole time so I can hang out with my family too. Win-win really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Blue2000s (and others), don't forget to include the "value of your time" in this equation! I don't want to get too philosophical, but it truly has "value" and should be part of your "value proposition".

For round numbers, someone making $100K/year equates to about $50/hour. I think for even an experienced DIY it take at least an hour to do an oil change on our cars. Especially if you include the time to get out your tools, do the work, clean-up and then drive your oil to a proper reclamation center.

And I am sure there are members on this Forum who earn north of $300-500/hour. So, that DIY oil change becomes very expensive in true value terms.

Sure, you can say that you have the time anyways. And I would agree. It is just a matter of how you want to "invest" the very limited time that we all have after a full work-week and the added pressures of family life, staying in shape, helping a sick family member, or any of the other potential hundreds of demands against our personal time.

And for others still, it is the personal enjoyment they gain from doing a high quality repair or maintenance to their beloved Boxsters. And I get that too.

For me, I could change my own oil, but I rather drive my car an extra hour, or play at the park with my young daughters or share a cup of coffee with my wife at the local java house.

It's all about personal choice. But never under estimate the value of your time!

OK, I am off my soap-box and the door bell keeps ringing. Trick or Treat!!

10-31-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z12358

Bmussatti wrote about a $110 quote for an oil change somewhere in his neck of the woods ($67 if you bring your own oil. Why would you when implicitly they price M1 at $5/qt?). Thought it would be interesting to see quotes for a Boxster oil change from around the country. I propose the following format:

Price State Dealer/non-Dealer

I'll start:

$225+tax CT Dealer
$200 CT non-Dealer
$260 (tax?) NYC Dealer

How I wish I had my own garage with jacks and all...

Z.

FYI- I brought my own oil a couple weeks ago because I wanted to try Red Line 5W40. The oil cost me about $7/quart.

z12358 · 10-31-2006, 01:58 PM

"Low profile oil pan (no jack required),"

I thought you have to lift the car to be able to access the engine from below. Please explain.

Z.

P.S. Is there a Bentley (or similar) manual for 987 yet ?

CJ_Boxster · 10-31-2006, 02:13 PM

Lets, see, $19 for filter from Porsche dealer, and $64 for 9 quarts Royal Purple. and $14 for my dads shop to do the change.

z12358 · 10-31-2006, 02:16 PM

"Lets, see, $19 for filter from Porsche dealer, and $64 for 9 quarts Royal Purple. and $14 for my dads shop to do the change."

Gee, thanks. That was very helpful. I'll let my dad know.

Z.

10-31-2006, 02:21 PM

There are about 6 Porsche dealers in the Chicago area, and the prices for an oil change ranges from $110-$280.

z12358 · 10-31-2006, 02:22 PM

bmus, I remember it was discussed before but I forgot the conclusion. Do the warranty rules state that all maintenance and repair has to be done within the Porsche dealer network? Anybody knows for sure? I don't have the booklets with me.

Z.

CJ_Boxster · 10-31-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z12358

"Lets, see, $19 for filter from Porsche dealer, and $64 for 9 quarts Royal Purple. and $14 for my dads shop to do the change."

Gee, thanks. That was very helpful. I'll let my dad know.

Z.

And dont forget to show him your report card.

ukchris · 10-31-2006, 06:32 PM

$20 Filter, About $50 for oil and $12 of culled 2"x12" from Home Depot. Drive on, drain, wait, fill, drive off!

Rail26 · 10-31-2006, 02:26 PM

Right on...that is how I do it.

19 clams for the filter
64 clams for the oil
17 clams for the jiffy lube to change it.

They allow me to watch the entire process to make sure the oil filter is properly installed and oil nut is properly secured. I keep the reciept and put it in my book 'o Porsche. I also change my oil every 7500 miles so if I used the dealer I would be broke!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ_Boxster

Lets, see, $19 for filter from Porsche dealer, and $64 for 9 quarts Royal Purple. and $14 for my dads shop to do the change.

z12358 · 10-31-2006, 02:35 PM

Rail26:
"They allow me to watch the entire process to make sure the oil filter is properly installed and oil nut is properly secured. I keep the reciept and put it in my book 'o Porsche. I also change my oil every 7500 miles so if I used the dealer I would be broke!"

Just wondering and I'm being serious. What happens if they screwed something up? What's the dealer going to say when you bring it to him to be fixed? If someone else has been working on your engine, can that be used by PCNA to deny a future warranty claim on ANYTHING -- especially if the warranty rules specifically prohibit it?

MNBoxster · 10-31-2006, 02:36 PM

Hi,

Costs me about $46 (+ my time as bmus points out). I buy Mobil1 0-40 directly from the local Exxon-Mobil distributor as a Will Call for just over $4/qt. Filter, 'O' ring and crushwasher $14. I use the Raise-Drop method (raise car, place pan, loosen drain plug, filter, drop car and wait 30 min. to insure all the Oil is out, the raise car button everything.)

I get the value of your time thing, but for me a big part of the Sports Car experience is doing the work, as much as you can. It is therapy for me, so it is what I want to do with my time.

It also gives you greater pride of ownership and allows you to get more intimate with the car as you can thoroughly inspect everything while you're under there.

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

blue2000s · 10-31-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z12358

"Low profile oil pan (no jack required),"

I thought you have to lift the car to be able to access the engine from below. Please explain.

Z.

P.S. Is there a Bentley (or similar) manual for 987 yet ?

It's a bit of a reach, but I guess I have long arms.