21k miles advice

Hi All, coming up on 21k miles. I get the oil changed (or do it myself) every 3k miles. In addition, I plan this time to replace the brake pads with the Hawk pads to reduce the amount of brake dust. They are sitting on my table already. Question: Change the coolant (never been done)? Change the brake fluid (been done once)? Alignment (never been done)? Inputs appreciated.

Brake fluid should be swapped out every 2 years. If it hasn't been done in the past 2 years, it's time. You have low miles but the car is going on 8 years old. Pull the serp belt and spin the water pump pulley. Mileage & time wear on the water pump do to the nature of the coolant. There really is no such thing as lifetime coolant so it couldn't hurt to change it if it has never been done. Oil should also be changed considering time & mileage, not mileage alone. Air filter? cabin filter? spark plugs? Coils if they have started to crack? Make sure you follow the bedding instructions for the new pads.

The coolant is supposed to be "lifetime" coolant and not need replacment. However, I don't think it's a bad idea. Many people consider the water pump to be a wear item, and you can certainly change the fluid when you change the pump. The brake fluid change is an absolute must. That should be changed every 2 years at a minimum. Brake fluid is hydrophilic - meaning that it has an affinity to water. Water in the brake lines reduces the effectiveness of the brake fluid, especially at extremes where it can "boil" in the brake lines and essentially render your brakes useless. As for alignment, how are your tires wearing? Have you noticed any issues or unusual wear?

no issues. just replaced the tires all around. no unusual wear, and I don't beat the car. I work from home and drive to to the golf course a few times a week. lately been trying to drive it more on errands etc. I think the cabin filter was done last year.

RMS done earlier this year too and the dealer didn't report anything unusual... but they are highly suggestible and I don't want to talk myself into a large bill

Spark plugs for sure, before you get a seized plug. You are well past the required time interval. Brake fluid was already mentioned. Same with coolant. You should also consider your trans/gear fluid/oil. If you are changing the oil yearly, that's great. But if you are changing in every 3,000 miles, that's too often in my opinion. 5-7,000 would be better, or yearly. New tires? Yes, get an alignment. Costs about $120-300. Depending on dealership vs. indy shop.

well 21k miles/7 years is about 3k miles, so I think that's OK. so it looks like: brake fluid plugs oil coolant gear oil

Quotes source post: 9064568

Serp. Belt Alignment (to protect your +$1,500 tires) Does a 996 have a fuel filter? I think so.

Quotes source post: 9064436

While Porsche states the coolant is lifetime the coolant over time becomes acidic and its corrosion inhibitors degrade. While the large engine castings won't corrode through there is a lot of surface area that consists of very thin metal between the coolant and the engine oil (at the engine oil cooler) and the outside (the radiators and heat exchanger). Porsche techs also tell me that the coolant provides some water pump seal lubrication and in fact a bit of coolant can leak past the seal and out of the water pump. There should never be any signs of wetness and while this 'leak' can result in a whitish stain of dried coolant the size and location of the stain is even spelled out by Porsche. The techs did not share the details of the size and location of the stain to me. (When I found a water pump bad on my car it was because it was noisy and the belt was rubbing and the pulley/shaft had a bit of play. There was some stain/coolant residue but no signs of wetness. I had the water pump replaced because of the noise/play.) My advice is to drain and refill the cooling system using a proper mix of Porsche anti-freeze and distilled water. I have always had this done at the dealer because the dealer uses a nice vacuum system to pull a vacuum on the cooling system which results in an air-pocket refill of the cooling system. As others I'm sure have pointed out the brake fluid is scheduled to be flushed/bled every 2 years. As for the alignment... Likely it is off due to the springs settling and such. It is hard for some to justify the expense of an alignment absent any signs of one being needed. I would do an alignment just to ensure the alignment is spot on. But if you want to forego having one done that is up to you. I would be reluctant to do anything else to the car since it appears to need nothing. I'm not a big fan of replacing items that do not appear to need to be replaced, like coils, water pumps. seals, and such simply because of the expense. Generally I let the car tell me what it needs. Oh, be sure the car body water drains are clear/clean and if you haven't done it consider removing the front bumper cover and cleaning the trash from the radiator ducts and between the A/C condensor and radiator (at each corner) that collects. Sincerely, Macster.

Good advice. I think if one considers all the possible items like plugs, polyrib, etc, then the tradeoff analysis has to include extending the powertrain warranty again instead. Especially if not replacing the *** bearing.