That is a great write up and exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

 

Not all Porsche dealer service is the same. Some may overfill, some may not completely drain all the oil. It took mine 2.5 hours for dripping to stop. You can actually reach for the drain plug without lifting the car but I'm afraid I may burn myself from the hot engine/ muffler as I reach underneath. So just jack one side a little, put a ramp on one wheel, loosen drain plug, unscrew plug while it is attached to the allen tip, as it prevents it from dropping down the drain pan, remove ramp, lower car and let drain for 2-3 hrs. This is a pleasurable DIY to do! You don't need a fancy torque wrench, I got mine for $14.99 at Harbor freight.

 

it is pretty cool, isn't it? your welcome!

 

point well taken. it was a surprise to me that i didn't burn myself--i usually do when i undertake such things. the torque is low enough and the threads to the drain plug and the filter are as such that oil doesn't come out until they are removed. not much of a mess either. i did let the allen tip and the plug fall into the drain pan. but i just recovered them when the oil cooled off ;-)

 

You have to have no brains to strip the oil drain plug. It is easy screw in the drain plug by hand in the beginning. Also, no need to overtighten the plug. Just snug without a torque wrench. I worry about having someone else do the oil change as well as put on new tires because it is usually the "lowest" mechanic that is doing these two jobs. Not the "master" mechanic. Heard of and experienced too many over torqued tire lug nuts (or under torqued) and drain plugs being stripped. DIY--you'll be much more careful.

 

What is the recommend oil change frequency. I've read 20,000 miles, 18,000 miles, 10,000 miles or at least once a year (regardless of miles) from the checklist, forum, dealer, etc. What do you guys do?

 

I think Porsche has lowerd the 20k to 10K,

I do mine about every 6k or about once year. Never longer than a year.

On my last oil change I used Motul 5w40 versus Mobil 1 0w40.

Both are on the Porsche approved list.

 

I just called the local dealer (eep!) to inquire about price and how long they drain the oil. The price was okay I guess ($200) but the service advisor told me they drain the oil for only thirty minutes? Should I run the other way and not look back?

 

Geeez.... I was worried that this entire thread was filled with guys without brain cells/nuts. Redemption for this subforum right here. Thank you.

If you don't know how to unscrew a bolt and then screw it back in successfully you probably aren't qualified to drive an automobile.

My car needed a new clutch. Never did anything like it before. I dug into it and 10 hours later I had a new clutch. Cost me $350 verses $2400 the dealer wanted. 15,000 miles later I am still happy I did it.

Grow a pair and change your effin oil. You'll save money and more importantly, time. Buy the oil, change the oil, take the old oil back to the autostore you bought the oil from to dump, buy more oil while you're there for next time.

 

Not sure where the correlation to being reticent about tinkering with a $100,000 sports car equates to having no ********* and equally unsure how spending 10 hours changing a clutch and your own oil saves time but whatever works for ya.

Personally I worry about the 'proper' way of simply cleaning my car so I appreciate the dialog regarding others' opinions on what some consider no-brainer projects like an oil change.

 

randyp,
"30 minutes" is the reason i do it myself. changing oil is perhaps one of the most simple and important things anyone can do to a car. i understand that dealers and mechanics have time constraints. practically speaking, it wouldn't be cost effective for paid mechanics to wait for, in my case, 24+ hours before the oil stopped dripping completely. in order to maintain at least of modicum of peace, i prefer to do it myself.

 

What does the price of the car matter? It's oil, it's a bolt. Counter clockwise and then clockwise. Just do it.

Changing my clutch in 10 hours beats driving it to the dealer and letting them have if for 1-2 days and spending an extra $2000 or so. I don't make $2000 per day, so there is value to doing that as well. Just a bunch of nuts and bolts, if you drive a car like this, you most likely are a car enthusiast and should know how to accomplish the basics with less than a checkbook.

 

Priceless. I love it.
I have to confess that, though I do a bunch of work on my car, I don't quite have the nads or the brain cells to yet do the clutch. But your note does provide some encouragement.
Re the competency for oil changes, I grew up watching my father work on things. He wasn't particularly proficient to be honest but he did ingrain the 'that's just what a guy does' mentality.
If you are of that ilk, than an oil change is a no-brainer. But I increasingly realize that there are at least as many people who grew up without that experience and perspective, and for them, and I'm not at all being critical here, an oil change or anything else that requires mechanical inclination is over-the-top daunting. I used to be a bit more critical of these folks until I realized that it's a lot like foreign languages. A lot easier to learn when you're young.

 

Do you have a lift in your garage? How did you take transmission out, alone?

Just curious - even on jack stands it is not really doable. Car has to be lifted, plus have supports under engine and transmission.

Having done all my mods and just installed that sorry *** plenum for some reason - in 1 hour 40 minutes - I would not try to work on clutch in my amateur garage.

 

It is not a matter of brain power, it is a matter to dump, like, 50 grand into your garage equipment like power tools, hydraulic lift, air compressor, etc to be able to do same jobs that could be done in regular mechanic shop.

For me it is cheaper to do clutch job for $2K than get my garage up to the par with professional shop.