Why does the Boxster hold so much oil?

[Brucelee]

Larger oil capacity vs size of engine also allows for longer periods between changes, esp. whey you use synthetic oil.

[wetstuff]

Our Mercedes SUV does the same thing: Mobil1 and lots of it! ... annual oil change.


Jim

[Ronzi]

I suspect the oil capacity has something to do with the "integrated dry sump" lubrication system, and constant pressure throughout the system, instead of the oil return being essentially under no pressure as in wet sump systems.
The air cooled 911s had an absolutely enormous oil capacity, with a completely separate oil tank that held about 12 qts, and supposedly if you drained the entire oil system, you ended up with about 16 qts! Of course the engine was about as much oil-cooled as it was air cooled, too.