I did my first oil change in my 991S at 3000 miles. I faithfully observed the official break-in procedure then after 2000 miles took it to a DE event.

I cut the filter apart and found many very tiny silver (assuming aluminum) particles in the filter folds. I assume this would be acceptable for a new motor? Thoughts?

 

BradB - thanks for posting this. Very interesting findings and I am really surprised that you haven't had more response from the community! I changed my own oil recently, and hadn't even thought to break-open the filter to inspect. I understand that some minor debri might be present in a new motor, but is that what all of us would find if we looked at the original filter?

What will be really interesting is whether at the next filter change you inspect the filter paper and find the same type of bits....

 

Hopefully some more folks will respond! I sent my oil sample in to Blackstone Labs today. I am interested in what they say about the oil condition. I'll be especially anxious to see if they find any metal deposits in the oil.

I will do the same oil filter check near the end of the year, I imagine. I change oil twice a year normally, because I do a few track events in summer.

As an aside, I had a Cayman S that I performed the same oil filter checks on and they have always been totally clean. But I bought the car used so I didn't get a chance to do a new car check.

 

I really hope there isn't that kind of debris after the second change.. I would presume it is initial break in residue..

I was a bit surprised at how much but admittedly I've never cracked open the filter on a new porsche engine..

 

I think what you're seeing is normal. New engines will have some wear and bits of metal floating around, which is why the break-in is considered (by some) to be very important. And why folks that intend to keep their cars a long time will do a pre-emptive oil change at 1000 miles or so.

I don't worry about that stuff any more because I figure that the filter is doing its job, and so those metal bits aren't going to harm anything.

 

+1

On the subject of early oil changes.. Yeah that's exactly why it's hard for some of us to accept the 10K miles for the first change.

I'll preface that I've not built any Modern Porsche engines and the closest I ever came would be an old VW beatle engine. Most of my experience was with V8's of the 60's and 70's era or with piston aircraft engines.

But the thing that we always did was put the engine together with a lot of assembly grease.. Which essentially lets you get all the bearings and things that would other wise rub during not only the assembly process but at the initial engine startup until your oil pressure comes up. And after the oil pressure comes up all of that "lube" is essentially forced out and ends up back in the oil sump and potentially the oil filter. As well as all of the other light oils and stuff that we sprayed on the cylinder walls as well.

And bottom line, since all of this contributes to dilution of the motor oil changing the oil the first time at about 1000miles made sense since that was about the same time that all of the metallic surfaces were done breaking in as well.

That's why I struggle with waiting so long for a first oil change. Admittedly in a production environment.. maybe they assemble the engines differently and don't use the qty of non-motor oil lubricants.. As well as a having a 9 quart sump.. so anything there is diluted over a large sump.. So bottom line I can accept it isn't necessary.

That said.. I like getting all that crap out of my engine as quick as possible.