First Service for Cayman S

When is the first service for a Cayman S ? Thank you, AllanS

For the 2006 and 2007 MY, the first service is 20K miles. Porsche has changed the first service for MY2008 to 12K miles. I'd check your maintenance schedule in your manual packet to familiarize yourself with what Porsche recommends and when. There are several topics on this forum pertaining to servicing your CS as well as articles in our Article section if you want to do it yourself. Probably one of the biggest discussed topics here is if you should change the oil prior to the 20K mile mark as recommended by Porsche. Do a search on oil changes and maintenance and see some of the topics that have been discussed here. Good Luck, and welcome to the Cayman Club!

Crud! Now I'm really confused . I had to take my '06 CS in the other day with about 11,000 miles on it because the "see your serviceman" (or whatever it says) light came on. When I dropped it off, they said they would probably need to do the first service on it, and I said that was fine. When I picked it up, they said that I had probably not closed the gas cap all the way at some point, causing the warning to appear. I also asked if they had performed the first service and they said no, wait until 20,000 miles. I'm guessing that there is no significant difference between the '06 and '08 MY engines (unless the '08 will have DFI), so, what gives? Have they discovered that the '06-'07 CS needs servicing more often than 20,000 miles? I'm now just under 13,000 miles--should I have the first service done?

No need to be confused, there has been speculation that the dealers had their hand in the change so that they had more opportunities to have contact with the consumer to sell them parts, services and upgrade their cars. Whether that is true or not is anybodies guess but it makes sense. You might read the posts in this thread to see some discussion on this very topic: http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-chat/12520-my08-equipment-color-changes.html

I will never see 10k or 20k miles so after almost 2 years I took mine in for service. I had 2k miles on it. Russ

Geez, Russ, you must have super control of your impulses. Mine is an '06 and I do not use it for work or running errands, I just can't stay away from it for too long! Mine has ~12,700 miles on it. I gotta drive it!

TX-KmanS, Thanks for clarifying things for me. I just called my service manager about this and am waiting for his return call.

My mechanic, whom I have trusted for more than 30 years, tells me that the very long oil change intervals specified by some manufacturers are proving to be too long. By 100k miles, it is clear that the oil has broken down between changes. Porsche's cutting the oil change interval in half may be a response.

I suspect they may have determined that 20K miles is too long. I'm going to change mine every 10K miles just to be safe (and prob. @ 5K for the first one).

FWIW, I just got off the phone with the service manager at my dealership and he indicated to me that the reason for the change in service intervals for the Cayman was as a result of a research study that PCNA did. They determined that the service intervals needed to be shortened as a result of poorer quality of fuel and crude coming into this country and the quality of refined fuel decreasing. He indicated to me that he was issued a memo from PCNA laying out this information. I asked for it and he told me when he finds it he will send me a copy. As soon as I get it, I will post it in a thread as well as the Files section. Not sure why fuel quality would effect the oil in the cars since it is synthetic. If this is true, I can see where it might clog up the fuel filter , but that's about it. I'm looking forward to seeing this memo to shed some light on the differences. As soon as I get it, I will pass it on.

'06 and '07 engines are made from Unobtainium purchased from Formula 1 teams . This proved too expensive so Porsche has switched to cheaper materials for '08 . ...... Seriously , I always thought 20k was stretching it a bit much . my car is only 3mths old , but i plan on doing my 1st oil change at around 10k .

TX I have some serious doubts about that advice given my Oil & Gas background. But I learn something new everyday. If you post the memo I'll try it out on the experts in the business to get some responses.

If, in fact they are seeing fuel quality go down then this can impact the level of contaminants in the oil. The oiling system in the cars direct oil to specific spots, including the tops of the pistons, under pressure and what's left does get pumped back into the system - as opposed to most motors where the oil is basically "thrown" around the engine and then allowed to use gravity to return to the oil pan. I can see where the pressure-fed system in the Porsche could pick up more contaminants, if the gas is lower quality. The service intervals don't really matter to me anyway... since I autocross and track the car, I change the oil every 5-6K miles anyway. Even if I didn't run the car hard, I'd be changing the oil every 10k miles minimum anyway. Even at $150 (dealer price, no less) every year or 10k miles, it seems like the right thing to do for a $75k car. If you can't afford approx. $150 every 10k miles to keep this car up to snuff, then you have no business owning a machine like this, imo. brad

I am driving my Cayman today and I now have 2900 miles on it! As a contractor it is not practical to drive this car onto job sites for all the obvious and not so obvious reasons, so driving during the week is usually out. On weekends as previoulsly mentioned, there is only so many places to go on a fairly small Island. I will have to say that when I leave for work in the morning I gaze upon my baby sitting there wishing that I was going to be driving it instead of my little Toyota P/U truck. Russ

The latest Car and Driver has a long term test report on a BMW 330i which has a service indicator and their first oil change came in at just over 19,000 miles. Porsche is not the only one extending service intervals. I plan to follow the recommended schedule for my 07 CS, ie. 20,000 ml. or 2 years for first service.

I with Brad on this one. 10,000 miles or 1 Year - needed or not. For those with no previous Porsche experience, the engines get warm and in the case of 911s , the filter gets welded in place, figuratively. And getting it off, sometimes requires heroic efforts or really big channel lock pliers. The filter housing in the Cayman may be less thermally sensitive. But I certainly wouldn't want it to ever be stuck. And the longer interval between changes, the more likely it is that that could happen. Waiting for 20,000 miles won't kill your engine, but it will likely shorten its life. And it is that shortened life part where there is no warranty and Porsche is waiting for that engine work on our dime, dollar, bank account, whatever ...

does porsche recommend an oil change/service every year regardless of mileage? it seems that even a car with very little mileage (e.g. russk) should have at least an oil change every year..

If you look at the manual it has a qualification to the recommended 20,000 service based on useage. The question remains unaswered as to why the new models have a shortened interval recommendation for the '07 model. Other than it makes sense to do but I suppose Porsche would never admit that the orginal plan was ambitious.

I'm still waiting for that memo in question. He did tell me it could take a day and that he might have to fax it to me. Regardless, as soon as I get it, I will scan and post it or upload the document and attach it. But I will get something.

Unburned fuel, including contaminants, inevitably find their way past the rings into the oil. In addition, cold starts, short runs, colder climates & urban stop & go driving can accelerate oil deterioration. So, the need to change oil is not just a function of miles, but a host of variables. Car makers, for marketing reasons, try to advertise the longest service intervals their engineering & legal depts will allow. Since I intend to keep my CS for a while, I change oil/filter at the earlier of 5,000 miles or 1 year w/the 1st change after 2,500 miles because, as Brad suggested, it's cheap insurance. Edit: based on oil analysis, I've extended my oil changes to 7,500 or 1 year.

Some engine experts I've talked to recommend an oil change at least once a year (if using synthetic oil) even if you haven't hit the mileage recommendation. Their point is if you haven't done the mileage, you're probably making shorter trips which leads to more oil contamination. Once a year seems reasonable to me.

i agree.. thats the guideline i'd use if i was under the mileage.

I agree with this entirely. It's nuts, IMO, to wait to change oil for 20,000 miles. I have used Mobil 1 since the very first time it was sold, and have great confidence in its quality, but 20,000 miles in a car likely to be driven hard? No way. BTW, I changed my oil today at ~2700 miles. Cost me $75 for the oil and filter, and took 20 minutes. It's easier to change the oil in the Cayman than other cars I've owned!

I am also in the more frequent oil change camp. My dealer said that we live in a dusty environment so change the oil every year or 7,500 miles. Actually, it's cheap insurance even with synthetic oil. I also recall reading a few years back that governments were pushing auto manufacturers to increase oil change intervals in order to reduce waste oil pollution. Maybe Porsche decided this had gone to far.

I am also in the more frequent oil change camp. My dealer said that we live in a dusty environment so change the oil every year or 7,500 miles. Actually, it's cheap insurance even with synthetic oil. I'm always skeptical getting advice from someone with a vested interest, unless the advice doesn't benefit him. If the frequent oil changes give you peace of mind, then I suppose it's worth the extra money.

my wifes Mini Cooper has a digital indicator as well and the first svc/oil chng was at 20k miles . the next one is showing at 40k miles but by then the lease will be up . i'm not sure if any long term side effects will arise for the next owner . But i guess Mini/ BMW thinks it is alright since the svc indicator counts down till the next svc is needed . it is a bit scary to think that a 3yr old car will only have 1 oil chng/svc during that period .

Not that resale matters for your leased car, but many used car buyers (especially Porsches) ask for service records. 1 oil change in 3 years would make me look elsewhere regardless of whether or not it was "by the book."

Oil is cheap, heh we are driving a vehicle that cost anywhere from 50 to 100 grand, screw what Porsche says, change at least every 5000 miles. Mobil One is the best but keep the contaminates out of the engine. Only an oil and filter change can take care of that. My last oil change with filter cost me 75 bucks plus $25 for the service on it to change. I wish I could crawl under it to do it and I just don't trust me with those drive up ramps.

My dealer told me that Porsche wants you to do a service at 20,000 miles but they (the dealer) suggests an oil change at 10,000 miles. I'll probably do that.

Oil change indicators I don't know about the Mini but the Corvette oil change indication system has a heck of a lot of engineering in it. They monitor speeds, temperatures, times, revs, etc. Even a frequent oil change bigot I know was convinced after talking to the GM engine engineers. His stance now is follow the indicator or once a year. Since the Porsche doesn't have the indicator, it's moot for us.

Since MINI is BMW, and new Bimmers do the same thing, its monitoring something. Despite the fact people have done oil analysis returned after more than 15K miles and the oil was fine, many people just follow the old ... "My father changed the oil every 3,000 miles and so am I" It doesn't matter that was 30 years ago. Fast lube place advertising may have brainwashed a new generation of car owners.

20 ways you waste money on your car - MSN Money "Using the dealer’s maintenance schedule instead of the factory’s. Of course he thinks you should have a major tune-up every 30,000 miles. Most of the tasks that we generally think of under the heading of “tune-up” are now handled electronically. Stick to the manufacturer’s schedule unless your car is not running well. If your engine doesn't "miss" -- skip a beat or make other odd noises -- don’t change the spark plugs or wires until the manufacturer says so." Of course the dealer recommends you change your oil before 20K miles .... how else do they make money?

Check out the Sears Lift N Secure System in the Articles section. Ramps aren't needed.

It has been documented that BMW (and MINI's) oil change intervals basically rely on 600 gallons of gas being burned through the engine. Variances in mileage for the service reflect how hard the engine was run by the gas mileage. I followed the factory recommendations for my E46 M3 (56K miles over almost 3 years) and it still ran like a top. I am not scared to go 20K miles on synthetic oil as recommended.

initial oil change never paid close attention to this issue before, because until now, it didn't affect me - but my car is currently almost thirteen months old; it has 6400 relatively easy miles on it; and back at the end of april, i received a letter from my dealership's service manager stating that it "may" require an oil and filter service, plus a general inspection. but when i called pioneer to schedule an appointment just now, i was informed that there had been a little 'confusion' on the topic and that, even with such low mileage, there was no need to bring it in until the car was two years old or had 20k miles on the clock. opinions expressed on this thread [as well intentioned as i'm sure they are] seem to be all over the place and i was really hoping to find some sort of strong concensus. so i'm wondering if anybody reading this has any updated information on the topic that i should take into account before deciding what i will ultimately do? my genuine thanks, in advance, to anyone and everyone who may reply.

I guess you won't want to hear my take, but I had mine changed at 2K along with a full service, all filters etc. total cost was about $400. In fact I posted the service ticket on this site. Russ