Porsche 20k/2 year service intervals? A disaster?

[mollytherocker]

I believe that Porsche only introduced this policy to 'compete' with other manufacturers on service intervals. I think it has been a disaster and ill-advised.

How much has this policy contributed to engine premature wear and failure? I realise that most of the failures regarding M96 engines are design related but surely knackered oil must contribute or speed up the issues happening?

Scored bores for example. Oil cools and lubricates (Amongst many other things), a reduction in this due to worn out oil must surely hasten the process since it is a heat related issue?

Does any oil really keep its full spread of properties for 20,000 miles? In a highly stressed performance engine? That may be tracked?

Thoughts?

MTR

[Terminator X]

Understandable in an old diesel worth the square root of fk all, in a porsche ... You / they must be mad!

TX.

[Zyp]

I've been wondering this myself recently.

My Spyder's coming up to 12 months old and 6k miles.
Obviously a long way off its first service, but surely it'd be prudent getting the oil changed at a year old?

Porsche say not to bother, but I'm not so sure....

[mollytherocker]

You know what I would do Zyp!

MTR

[Zyp]

mollytherocker said:

You know what I would do Zyp!

MTR

Sell it and buy a 993?

[Klippie]

mollytherocker said:

Does any oil really keep its full spread of properties for 20,000 miles?

There is only one way to find out and that's by having the oil analysed in a lab to see what has broken down within the oil and also to see what contaminates are present i.e. acid level, metal particles etc etc.

I did a quick Google and found this place - http://www.theoillab.co.uk/ - if the results say the oil is knackered after a years running or say 10K mikes then change it, if its OK Porsche must be correct with their service intervals.

[SlowlnFastOut]

Klippie said:

I did a quick Google and found this place - http://www.theoillab.co.uk/ - if the results say the oil is knackered after a years running or say 10K mikes then change it, if its OK Porsche must be correct with their service intervals.

Thats a great idea.

I've read about these type of companies on US forums and didn't think anyone here would offer this service. If its the same type of report as you get in the states based companies, you receive a very thorough report and are given advice as to whether you are changing the oil too frequently/not enough and other recommendations on intervals and viscosities etc.

[ROK]

this topic is a sisyphean effort to get at any sort of meaningful conclusion.

[doneitnow]

Can you actually change the oil too frequently?

Did the long service intervals not come about in the first place due to synthetic oils and there improved properties?

[supermono]

I doubt you can change the oil too frequently. When i lived in the USA people would drop into the jiffy lube at 4k but I guess they were putting in cheapo dinosaur oil.

To be honest the way I see 99% of Porsches being driven 2 year intervals is probably absolutely fine.

If you're interested in hooning about you're probably keen enough to want to invent your own extra changes which I'm sure are worthwhile.

So my view is no it's not a disaster Porsche saying what they do about intervals given their 21st centuary "I look good in a Porsche" customer base.

My experience of 12k changes admittedly in a Peugeot diesel, is that with 110k of brutal "valves up on the bonnet" driving (and mobil one) it's faultless, doesn't use a drop of oil and still has same top speed from day 1.
SM

[mollytherocker]

ROK said:

this topic is a sisyphean effort to get at any sort of meaningful conclusion.

Thanks for that. I have a new word to use!

MTR

[spyderman8]

I believe the longer schedules stem from European legislation to reduce oil use.

My 2004 986 has a 2-year interval but I always change the oil, and these days brake fluid too, every 12 months.

[MrTickle]

Interesting on Mobil's own site they normally quote 15,000 miles for Mobil 1 lifespan!

[MadMark911]

I've always had a "minor" service every year, regardless of mileage, partially because I want any potential problems spotted earlier and partially becuase I've always thought engines last longer with TLC!

Also, I might be quite deluded, but I swear the engine sounds sweeter and is more punchy after an oil change ....

[anonymous-user]

I would change the oil every 12k miles unless I bought the car new and intended to sell it after a couple of years. Then I would just follow the cost saving Porsche recommendation. For sure 20k intervals are not going to be good news for these cars when they are older. I wouldn't fancy an 80k miler serviced on this regime.

[MogulBoy]

The 100k oil change?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOsQUc26CWc

[Prof Beard]

spyderman8 said:

I believe the longer schedules stem from European legislation to reduce oil use.

My 2004 986 has a 2-year interval but I always change the oil, and these days brake fluid too, every 12 months.

I intend to do this with my 04 996 C4S

[chris7676]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I remember the old E36 (M3) having that feature, but don't remember seeing a Porsche with it. I'm sure they could make it another option and charge keen spec-configurator-users thousands more

[cayman-black]

On the other hand a lot of these cars have done no more than 12k miles in the two years any way.

[SFO]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

981 has a menu item showing when services are due