Oil change[s] for 987

juliany27 · Nov 7, 2005

Can someone who both knows and understands the issues please have a look at http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=154257&mpage=1&key=&#154257 and indicate whether the same considerations apply to a 'new' 987/987S.

I do not own a 987 but feel that this issue is extremely important for owners who wish to really look after their cars.

Black80XSA · Nov 7, 2005

2 yeasr or 20k miles [&:]

juliany27 · Nov 7, 2005

David

Thanks for your response.

I realise that the company recommend bi-annual changes but is that the best way of looking after a car? Regardless of what Porsche says, the other forum seems to indicate that an annual change of oil is best.

IMO Boxster owners should consider this issue most carefully.

To make matters quite clear, I have no personal interst in this debate, but raised the issue becasue it seemed very important to owners of 987s.

oilman · Nov 10, 2005

Regardless of quality (and some synthetics are darn good) I am not an advocate of such change intervals.

I always recommend 12 months / 12000 miles.

The reasoning is simple really, the oil will probably stay around grade after this period if it is a top notch one but the addative pack gets used up.

Cheers
Simon

Guest · Nov 16, 2005

>The reasoning is simple really, the oil will probably stay around grade after this period if it is a top notch one but the addative pack gets used up.

Thanks for the info. So far, sticking with the manufacturer's recommendation on German cars has never let me down that I could tell, so I really WANT to wait 2 yrs/20k miles to try the new intervals. On the other hand, a yearly change is something I'm pretty comfortable with (as opposed to the quarterly changes my US friends and colleagues perform on their cars), and I'm also very keen on regular technical servicing. I'll decide when the date comes around.

thboxster · Nov 16, 2005

Do you follow the manufacturers recommendations or not?

For me, 2 yrs is an awfully long time not to have the car serviced. This is only because all previous cars have gone in every 9-12 months and so doubling the time seems very strange.

I know oil is better than it used to be but it's still going to degrade although can we predict how long it will take. I see more frequent servicing as giving a mechanic more opportunity to spot any problems before they become real problems. I have a suspicion that come June next year mine will be taking a trip for a fresh drink of oil.

It can't hurt to do it more frequently than recommended.

And besides, if you take the car in at 2 yrs and somethings about to break - Too late your warranty's run out[

]

oilman · Nov 16, 2005

The oil will go the distance, what concerns me are the consumables in the oils such as detergents, anti wear etc.

Oil should be changed annually at least.

Cheers

Simon.

JCB.. · Nov 17, 2005

Yes but look at what actually gets 'serviced' during a service.

Oil and filters
Plugs once in a blue moon and the polyrib belt at 48k.
Brake fluid
Windscreen washer reservoir top up!
All the rest is poke and prod.....

As far I am aware there is nothing that an OPC techie can do to predict that something is about to break without starting to take things apart which of course they don't do anymore. [&:]

daro911 · Nov 17, 2005

ORIGINAL: oilman

Oil should be changed annually at least.

[&o] If that was the case why do so many manufacturers recommend oil changes every 2 years or 20-24K miles? Surely the car manufacturers with there vast wealth of R&D info wouldn't make a mistake over something as basic as oil change frequency.

oilman · Nov 17, 2005

Marketing, money and figures.

When a car is developed the manufacturer has to declare what they think the running cost of a car is going to be throught its life time, this mainly applies to european cars, oil is accounted into this, extend the drain intervals, reduce the amount of cost spent on oil annually, makes the figures look better.

Also, variable servicing mainly came about for fleet vehicles, it looks a lot more attractive to a company to buy 'X' brand of car if they do nat have to be serviced so often, a coumpany surly would not by a rep a car that needs to be serviced every 5k.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Simon.

thboxster · Nov 17, 2005

I didn't quite mean it like that John. Of course they're not going to pull the car apart to check everything, but just by looking round and proding things they can see if there are any things which are showing sign of wear of that might not be correct. First signs of oil leaks, shocks, cracks or rust on the exhaust, you know the sort of thing.

JCB.. · Nov 18, 2005

ORIGINAL: oilman

Marketing, money and figures.

When a car is developed the manufacturer has to declare what they think the running cost of a car is going to be throught its life time, this mainly applies to european cars, oil is accounted into this, extend the drain intervals, reduce the amount of cost spent on oil annually, makes the figures look better.

Also, variable servicing mainly came about for fleet vehicles, it looks a lot more attractive to a company to buy 'X' brand of car if they do nat have to be serviced so often, a coumpany surly would not by a rep a car that needs to be serviced every 5k.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Simon.

That may apply for the fleet market but I don't think that people shelling out out upwards of £40k for a new motor are going to be too worried if they have to pay £100 for oil every year or just every two years.

oilman · Nov 18, 2005

I agree and more the reason in my opinion to change the oil every 12000 or 12 months.

I was merely illustrating the need by OEMs to drive down the total cost of ownership figures within their market sector. Even in the £40000 plus market, cars is a highly competitive business!

Cheers
Simon

daro911 · Nov 18, 2005

quote]ORIGINAL: oilman

I agree and more the reason in my opinion to change the oil every 12000 or 12 months.

Simon
[/quote]

[&o] Sorry can't see it myself. I have read in engineering mags that Fully Synthetic Oils today are good for up to 5 years -50k miles between changes but its the filters that let the side down. The filters are still good for 3 years or 30K miles+ so manufacturers going for 2years or 24K miles between changes are still well within tolerances and doing there bit to help save unnecessary wastege of resources be it our ca$h or raw materials

If it ain't broke etc etc

thboxster · Nov 18, 2005

You say filters are supposed to be good for 3 years? This is usually the thing that needs changing, more so than the oil. It's the first time i've atually heard filters being given a shelf (working) life. Did you get this from a manufacturers statement or an independent survey or something?

oilman · Nov 18, 2005

Indeed, that's an odd one.

Even Amsoil and American oil blender that cliams 25000 oil changes with their oil recommends 12000 filter changes.

Cheers
Simon

oilman · Nov 18, 2005

You are most welcome to 50000 miles.

Oil is my business and I sell oils that claim very long drain periods however, I do not personally recommend it for the reasons stated before.

If you were going to do such a thing I would strongly advise good oil analysis tests at 12000 miles / 18000 miles and so on.

For the cost of decent oil today (say £40 for 5L) it's really no worth the risk!

Cheers
Simon

juliany27 · Nov 18, 2005

Since I started this post I really must thank everyone for their impressive and informative contributions.

IMO, since Oilman is an expert, it would be wise to follow his advice and change oil and / or the oil filter every year/12,000 miles and not run the risk of something going awry.

As has been pointed out, spending the best part of £40k on a car and trying to save about £50-100 is a totally false economy, whatever PGB says.

JCB.. · Nov 18, 2005

ORIGINAL: oilman

I agree and more the reason in my opinion to change the oil every 12000 or 12 months.

I was merely illustrating the need by OEMs to drive down the total cost of ownership figures within their market sector. Even in the £40000 plus market, cars is a highly competitive business!

Cheers
Simon

Simon

I still don't see that "because I can afford it" is a reason to change your oil earlier than the manufacturer recommends. I would also be very surprised indeed if there were more than a relative handful of people whose decision on what prestige car to own next was influenced by its service interval. It's much more likely to be a passion for the model, the Marque or the kudos that goes with it.

JCB..