997.1 Turbo servicing intervals
Discussion
I'm considering buying a 2009 997 turbo from an OPC. It's a one owner with FPSH from the supplying dealer - who is now offering it to me. It's only done 7k miles from new. They said it had 3 services but it seems the first service at 3.5k miles in 2012 didn't include an oil change. The salesman says it didn't need one as mileage was so low. The first oil change appears to be in 2014 at about 5k miles as part of a major service. It then had an oil change/minor service in March 2017 at 7k miles. I just wondered whether anyone considers this could be a problem and if anyone has any suggestions (e.g. changing oil after another 1k miles to act as a flush). Thanks all.
Servicing is every two years so it should have had a service 2011 , 2013, 2015, and 2017. I assume it will be serviced before delivery (ask for a major inc spark plugs). Sound like a v.nice car if you do not go for it PM me details of car pls.
When you buy it I'd service it every year personally.
When you buy it I'd service it every year personally.
Yep should have four services - really with oil changed and full service every second service with brake fluid change and a/c regas.
Not sure on the first service, how they determined an oil+filter change wasn't required. Even if it hasn't exceeded the mileage by some margin, it's at the two year mark.
Not sure on the first service, how they determined an oil+filter change wasn't required. Even if it hasn't exceeded the mileage by some margin, it's at the two year mark.
I was in the same dilemma 3 years ago. Bought a 2008 Turbo that didn't have its first service until 2012 at 12k miles approx. Now mine did have its oil changed then, but had much higher miles than what you are looking at.
The specialists I spoke to at the time said it shouldn't be a problem given that it was still very low miles for a turbo, was still within the mileage based service interval and that the engines are relatively bulletproof.
The car did more miles in the following few years and I took the plunge when the car had 30 miles in 2014 and had just had a major service. I have done 10k miles in the interim and it hasn't given me any trouble at all. I get the oil changed annually but I get the sense my specialist thinks I'm wasting money tbh.
With the mileage you are talking about, I certainly wouldn't worry if everything else on the car checks out and especially considering its coming from an OPC presumably with some amount of warranty.
As regards whether there is anything you can do to flush/rectify the situtation......I dont think another oil change will do anything that the oil change it had back in march wouldn't have done.
The only consideration here for yourself is probably how long you want to keep the car. While you might be satisfied that theres no issue, you will get some people when you go to sell it that will be real sticklers for a perfect history, regardless of whether that was warranted or not.
In my situation, I knew I would be keeping the car for at least a few years so I knew that in that time I would have built up a history and that the lack of a 2010 service would not be significant any longer by the time I went to sell.
This might not be an issue for you but just something to consider.
The specialists I spoke to at the time said it shouldn't be a problem given that it was still very low miles for a turbo, was still within the mileage based service interval and that the engines are relatively bulletproof.
The car did more miles in the following few years and I took the plunge when the car had 30 miles in 2014 and had just had a major service. I have done 10k miles in the interim and it hasn't given me any trouble at all. I get the oil changed annually but I get the sense my specialist thinks I'm wasting money tbh.
With the mileage you are talking about, I certainly wouldn't worry if everything else on the car checks out and especially considering its coming from an OPC presumably with some amount of warranty.
As regards whether there is anything you can do to flush/rectify the situtation......I dont think another oil change will do anything that the oil change it had back in march wouldn't have done.
The only consideration here for yourself is probably how long you want to keep the car. While you might be satisfied that theres no issue, you will get some people when you go to sell it that will be real sticklers for a perfect history, regardless of whether that was warranted or not.
In my situation, I knew I would be keeping the car for at least a few years so I knew that in that time I would have built up a history and that the lack of a 2010 service would not be significant any longer by the time I went to sell.
This might not be an issue for you but just something to consider.
Thanks Bunk - much appreciated. I agree that another oil change is unlikely to do anything more, but perhaps a change with a specialist in one years time is the way to go. I plan to keep it for many years so I will build up the service history with lots of oil changes. I've now spoken to a lot of Porsche/independent technicians about this and everyone says it's fine. Some have pointed out that with modern fully synthetic oils they don't degrade/separate and dry sump means they have lots of oil in them which helps dilute any contamination etc. The oil was also checked at the OPC twice in that 5 year period and was deemed fine with no degrading so it was just fully topped up. Thanks again.
Richynor said:
Thanks Bunk - much appreciated. I agree that another oil change is unlikely to do anything more, but perhaps a change with a specialist in one years time is the way to go. I plan to keep it for many years so I will build up the service history with lots of oil changes. I've now spoken to a lot of Porsche/independent technicians about this and everyone says it's fine. Some have pointed out that with modern fully synthetic oils they don't degrade/separate and dry sump means they have lots of oil in them which helps dilute any contamination etc. The oil was also checked at the OPC twice in that 5 year period and was deemed fine with no degrading so it was just fully topped up. Thanks again.
To find one with ultra low miles via an OPC is gold dust. V.well done. You must post pics when you pick her up Richynor said:
Thanks Bunk - much appreciated. I agree that another oil change is unlikely to do anything more, but perhaps a change with a specialist in one years time is the way to go. I plan to keep it for many years so I will build up the service history with lots of oil changes. I've now spoken to a lot of Porsche/independent technicians about this and everyone says it's fine. Some have pointed out that with modern fully synthetic oils they don't degrade/separate and dry sump means they have lots of oil in them which helps dilute any contamination etc. The oil was also checked at the OPC twice in that 5 year period and was deemed fine with no degrading so it was just fully topped up. Thanks again.
Yeah, I change my oil annually even though its probably not required. Force of habit. Actually, what I would be more concerned about with your car is the other stuff that comes with a garage queen (and I think 7k miles over 8 years qualifies it as a garage queen).
Any suspension bushings, rubber parts all that sort of stuff that goes brittle and hard if not used/lubricated frequently. I had bad experiences with garage queens from two well known italian marques and while the build quality is not the same as porsche they gave me lots of niggly problems that were down to not being used. So be prepared for some stuff like that to go wrong. Nothing show stopping, and nothing to worry about but something to factor in mentally to be prepared for.
Other than that, congratulations and put some pics up when you get it.
I didn't expect to love my Turbo as much as I do now when I got it. I bought it when disposing of one of the aforesaid temperamental italians and it didn't have anything like the noise or drama I was used to.
But over the years it has grown on me enormously simply due to the sheer usability of the car. You can go anywhere without much attention, but then when you find a backroad the pace of the car is incredible and really as fast as you could possibly want to go on the public road. Great cars and good value in this market I think for what they offer (obvioulsy everything has gone crazy so its all relative but you know what I mean!)
I have had my 997.1 turbo for 5 years now, and it’s due mot in the next few days.
It’s got full OPC history and had major and plugs last year. However, I have been getting my Indy to do a oil change every year between OPC services. I always thought this a good idea, but I only average 2-3k Miles a year and keep getting told I am wasting my money doing the extra changes.
OPC said there would be such a minor difference in oil on the mileage I do, that they said it’s not worth it. Perhaps with older oils it’s a good idea, Porsche themselves recommend air cooled is changed each year.
Is this overkill these days?
It’s got full OPC history and had major and plugs last year. However, I have been getting my Indy to do a oil change every year between OPC services. I always thought this a good idea, but I only average 2-3k Miles a year and keep getting told I am wasting my money doing the extra changes.
OPC said there would be such a minor difference in oil on the mileage I do, that they said it’s not worth it. Perhaps with older oils it’s a good idea, Porsche themselves recommend air cooled is changed each year.
Is this overkill these days?
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