The six hour oil change!

[Brad B.]

I was told the oil change on the Carrera was an awful job. It cost a fortune at the Porsche dealer. Two filters, a couple gaskets, 11.5 quarts of 15W50 Mobil1, and several hours of labor at $90 an hour.

So I decided to do it myself. I downloaded a "tip sheet" off the internet from Rennlist, the best Porsche website. It's 10 pages long!

It started out rough when I learned that I couldn't use my hydraulic lift because one of the filters and one of the drain locations (there are two) is located on the side of the car near the rear wheel where the lift would be in the way. So I had to use my regular jacks. The process was long and slow. You have to drain two seperate areas because the Carrera pushes oil to the front of the car where the oil coolers are located. Then the second oil filter is located in a position almost imposible to reach high up in the engine. You have to remove many shrouds and oil return lines and heat ducts. Then I discovered the filter was on far too tight. I had to fight it off. It took over three hours of pounding, scratching, clawing and brute force to get it off. All the while it was dripping on me from the holes I put in it. (see the pic) I ended up throwing away my shirt it was so saturated with oil! I started the job after dinner and probably woke up my sleeping neighbors after midnight with my slammimg tools and cussing! Now I have bloody knuckles and sore arms. Luckily I need only do this once a year!

Next weekend: Spark Plugs! Stay Tuned!

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[Pats300zx]

Just imagine what would of happened if u took it to Jiffy Lube..:scared

[Fr0zen]

hahah yah they probley would have just said they changed it put in a window sticker and set you on your way

[BradE]

Sheesh, that must be the hardest oil change there is. My filter looks that way when I take it off my Lincoln too. For mine the filter is mounted right above some suspension parts and it's harder than hell to get off and mounted back on. I feel your pain!

Good luck with the spark plugs, car makers like to make them absurdly difficult now. When I changed them on my Explorer it took 4 hours.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

that filter looks like its been thru World War III! yipes...

[raymond_ho2002]

Geez, that sounds and looks tough.

I know this probably is much easier in comparison, but the new Nissan Sentras seem pretty tough too. I was going to offer to do a change for someone, figuring it'd be pretty easy, until i saw how deeply buried it was. One look at where it was and i already gave up.

[BW]

Brad, have you considered something like Griot's oil change pumps?

[4DSC]

Holy cow! That Porsche sure has a different oil change routine that's for sure!

TWO oil filters, one of which is HUGE and the other inconveniently located.
11.5 quarts of 15w50

Sounds like a nightmare....

[AkronSi]

Man, and I thought my 3 hour change on my girlfriends Civic was bad.

I gave myself a few blisters trying to get the filter off that time.

[jonw440]

I can feel your pain!!
When I had my 83 911Sc I HATED the oil changes. 12 QTs of oil . I only had the one filter that was right next to the oil tank in the engine compartment. But I do remeber one time I forgot to replcae the brass washer on the oil tank when I drained it. It was dripping a drop of oil every minute or so. I thought (my first mistake) I could take the drain plug out put my finger over the hole and change the washer. I V-E-R-Y slowly loosened the plug and kept going until I thought it was close to coming all the way out.When to my suprise the weight of the oil in the tank forced the plug from my fingers and 6-7 quarts of oil emptied from the tank in about 1.873 seconds!!
Wouldnt you know I didnt have the drain pan anyware near me!!!
So from then on I always made sure I put the NEW brass washer on the lpug when I was draining the oil.

[Brad B.]

Originally posted by jonw440
....and 6-7 quarts of oil emptied from the tank in about 1.873 seconds!!

[jonw440]

Originally posted by Brad B.

Next weekend: Spark Plugs! Stay Tuned!

HEHEHE
Spark plugs in a Porsche
If the spark plugs go through the valve covers.......................
Here is a tip I did. I taped the socket extention onto the sparkplug socket. It really $ucks when you try and pull the spark plug, socket and extention out, and only see the extention.
Also make sure the "rubber round grommet" is in the sparkplug socket. It will hold the sparkplug in the socket. With the duct tape and rubber grommet in place everything goes in AND out as one unit.
As for R&R the two rear plugs..... Hire a 10 year old boy. They fit really well in there. Just ask my Son when he helped with mine!!
Good luck.
Jon