Oil Tank Filter Failure - BEWARE!!

[ajc]

Just had an annoying experience with the failure of the oil tank filter (located behind a cover in the offside rear wheel arch).

It went suddenly causing quite a loss of oil because it had CORRODED!! I spoke to a local independent who diagnosed the problem and I changed the filter myself.

Are these things meant to be replaced as part of routine servicing?? My car has full OPC history and is at 51K miles.

Does anyone have any views or experiences? Any comeback against the servicing dealer??

Cheers

Stan

 

[ajc]

Thanks for your reply Maurice

It's been to 2 or 3 OPC's but I've had the big 48K and following 12K services done at the same OPC - they should have replaced it as per your confirmation.

I'll check the canister tonight.

This now makes me very uneasy about the rest of the services e.g. with the 48K service the book was stamped 24K but after I went back to clarify, they wrote to say that a 48K service was done - yet no gearbox oil was shown on the invoice?? - they said that the oil and a fuel filter was part of the service kit which was shown on the invoice. (I've not come across this before)

This lack of confidence is not good given the £premium they charge. I'll take it up with them.

Stan

 

[LK_991GTS]

This is worrying. If the filter that's easy to get at hasn't been changed, then there's not much hope for the other filter.

 

[ajc]

Looks like I can draw a line under this one.

Went to see another OPC (who didn't know me or the car) - they said that the life expectancy from this filter can be as short as 12-18 mths which catches my scenario and also they will not change the filter on an annual service unless requested to do so. They said that they would have told the customer of this though! They also said that the gearbox oil could have been billed in with the engine oil!?

One to put down to experience I suppose and to make sure that both filters are done at every oil change - something that you would have taken for granted. I still think it's time to try an IPC at the next service!

 

[LK_991GTS]

Even if the OPC can "justify" the filter not being changed, I really think that an inspection of the filter should have been carried out to trap such problems. (They ought to be aware of such possibilities.) I find it hard to believe that a filter can corrode to such an extent within a 12 month period. (My grandfather once had a car for 12 years without changing the oil filter and it hadn't corroded through!)

 

[Shane Hodges]

I'm a bit late joining the conversation, but the filter that sits in the rear arch on the drivers side of my car went at 44,000 miles, three months after I bought the car from an OPC.

OPC said it would be changed at 48k service and there was nothing they could do. Wrote to the warranty company and lo and behold .... got nothing from them either!

I've just dug out my invoice from my 48k service and there is no gearbox oil shown on the invoice - however, the last line of the invoice states "Gearbox and diff oil replaced". The first line also states "Carry out 48,000 mile service to Porsche specification" with a large number next to it, so I assume the gearbox and diff oil are caught up in there.

I have to admit, the manner in which the OPC I use bills is very bizarre, and it is not easy to see what you are being charged - I always dissect my bills to check exactly what is going on!