Oil Change For Dummies....?

Car booked in for an annual service with OPC this Friday. They do a check over or check over & oil change for about another £120 or so. If I go for the cheaper option, is it easy enough to change the oil and filter on a 996? Thanks, Rob

It's a doddle, if you can get the car up in the air. There are some instructions here: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7055

Hi Richard, Thanks for that...... Will save myself some money and get my handy dirty for a change and do it myself. Quick question, I dont have a ramp. If jack the car from one side or use axle stands the car will either be tilting to one side or with the rear in the air. I would assume that would prohibit some of the oil from draining? Also, my car is now 11 years old and 115,000 miles and runs well. On some posts I have read in the past, people reccommend a thicker oil. What do you think? Thanks, Rob ps. any thoughts on changing plugs diy?

You really need to get it up high enough to get a drain tray underneath, and reasonably flat so that the oil drains completely. Get it warm first (but not too hot to scald yourself) and leave the drain plug out for at least 20 minutes before refilling. I always use a 5W-40 oil. If you still have good oil pressure, maybe try that, or possibly a 5W-50. There is a spark plug change DIY on RennTech too, in the same section. HTH

This is a set of boxster oil change instruction without using a jack - assuming you can still get to the drain plug n filter housing then it can be done ! I will be posting some pics soon, but here's the deal... Go to Checker Auto Parts (or other auto parts store) and pick up a Blitz 12qt. oil[/b] change container. It is about 3 inches high, and has a yellow funnel type device with it. Also pick up an El cheapo black 7 1/2qt. oil[/b] drain pan, an 8mm hex socket (the kind that works with recessed oil[/b] plugs like ours), and get a torque wrench if you haven't got one... Preface: The best way to perform the following instructions is to lay on your back-along the drives's side of the car- with your feet pointing to the front of the car, and your head just forward of the rear tire. this is actually not an uncomfortable position. The only limitation is that you can only use your right hand/arm. 1. Slide the Blitz container under the car, and position it under the drain plug. 2. Attach the yellow funnel that came with the Blitz container. 3. Move the container just enough for you to reach the drainplug with your 8mm wrench. 4. Loosen, but do not remove the oil[/b] drain plug. 5. Slide the oil[/b] change container around, so that the recessed area at the center of the drain container (where the funnel was stored) is under the drain plug. 6. Remove the plug, let it drop into the recess, and quickly slide the container over, so that the yellow funnel is under the plug hole, and catching the oil[/b]. 7. Let drain...this will take a while, so be patient...have a beer or something. 8. When draining is complete, remove yellow funnel, and slide the oil[/b] change container out from under the car. Remember that the recessed area of the container has a little oil[/b] in it, and the drain plug, so don't make a mess! 9. Slide the El cheapo black drain pan under the oil[/b] filter, unscrew it, and put it in the black drain pan. (get the Porsche oil[/b] filter wrench...automotion sells it for $12.00.) 10. Remove the paper element, and drop it into the drain pan as well. 11. Once the dripping has stopped, remove the drain pan. 13. Put the new crush ring on the drain plug, and put the plug back in hand tight. 14. Torque the drain plug to 37 LB/Ft 15. Push the new filter element into place on the engine(there will be some resistance, but it will pop on.) 16. Remove the old o-ring from the oil[/b] filter cap-that big[/b] black hollow thing ;-) 17. Coat the new o-ring with a little motor oil[/b], and install it onto the oil[/b] filter cap 18. Install the cap, and tighten to 18 LB/Ft put 8.75 liters of Mobile 1 15W50 motor into the rear trunk oil[/b] fill area. 19. wait 15 minutes, and then turn the ignition on one click, and take an oil[/b] reading. 20. If all is OK, go driving! You earned it!

I change my oil without jacking it up as my drain tray leaves 1 inch of space for me to slip my hand in to undo the drain plug. Just be careful if the hole in your drain tray is too small, the warm oil gushing out of the sump might be quicker than it draining through the hole and you end up with a couple of liters on the ground. If possible use a drain try that is completely open. I think Sealey or Draper sell them for little money. The filter casing should be easy enough to get to without jacking the car up. A tip is to fill the filter container 3/4 full of oil and then slowly offer it up to the new filter and screw it tight so you don't run too long without oil.

Got to love those Americans.... Have a beer whilst working on your car... And then take it for a drive...[&:] Good job their beer is low on the alcohol content [:'(]

Thanks for the heads up chaps....... Mark, I noticed that as well... With the money I saved on Porsche £100 ph + vat I can treat myself to a pint of bubbly!