Oil Change

I was told that the oil should be change with the car at normal operating temperature, is that correct , why, if is done when the engine is cold what could happend?

nothing bad, you get more oil out and theoreticly more contaminats with the engine hot

It's not as bad as it sounds temperature-wise. Just get in the car, drive it around very briefly and when the needle starts moving bring it back into the garage and get it up on your lift, etc. Just be carefuly some of the parts under there are pretty warm. I usually get it up pretty high and then loosen the drain plug and then twist it 1 quick turn at a time moving my hand away wach time till the drain plug drops into my oil drain container. I then let the car get back level and let it drain for an hour. Gives me planty of time to enjoy a few beverages or get some chores done.

ummmmm beverages while chaging oil.................wonder if i could do that

hehehe, nice one Brad.

Isn't that the German way!

Also, be aware.. 1) Hot oil is not something you want all over you, your skin and your clothes - be careful 2) When hot, the oil comes out really quickly so be ready with a large oil pan - it's too late to be getting it into position once that drain plug is loose! 3) Your significant other will hate you if you spill a drop, so get yourself some sheets of cardboard, or old carpet (which I prefer) and cover the area under the engine before you start 4) Don't wear your best shirt and pants!

I now wear a thick rubber glove when removing the drain plug. Got tired of burns and near burns. Also gives you a better chance of not dropping the drain plug into the hot oil. Nothing quite as much fun as fishing for a drain plug in hot oil.

Thanks guys, just waiting for the jack pad, already have 9 qts of Mobile 1, filter, filter tool, oil plug aluminum washer, 15 qts oil pan, torque wrench and will get an old rug.

How often should you change the oil? I know that with synthetic the intervals are not as often when compared to conventional. I also assume that if you drive in stop and go traffic the intervals should be closer. With respect to synthetic, is Mobile 1 still the best choice?

once a year or 7500 miles more often if you race it

more oil will be out of the sump and unless one is prepared to wait a while less oil will drain from the engine. A dead cold engine with of course dead cold oil will see the oil drain like molasses. A engine fully up to temperature is kind of risky to work around and the oil can be scalding hot. What I've found the best compromise is to drive my Boxster until coolant gage needle about half way from cold and 180 degs. F. marks, then back car up on Rihino ramps and drain the oil. Oil temperature is maybe 120 to 140 degs. F. which is still pretty hot. I wear mechanics's rubber gloves (old oil's full of nasty chemicals) and change them several times as they get slippery with oil. (Buy them by the box at local auto parts store. One box lasts maybe half dozen oil changes. Use them when replaced brake pads/rotors too.) After oil draining from drain plug hole slows to a very thin trickle -- takes maybe 5 minutes or so -- just enough time to prepare oil filter housing (see below), I install clean plug -- wiping oil drain hole with clean towel first -- with new washer, then torque tight. I remove the filter housing, clean where it fits, then install and torque tighten another housing (I have two filter housings) already outfitted with new filter element -- and new o-ring oiled with some clean oil -- and the housing prefilled with clean/fresh oil. I add however much oil the engine calls for, make sure all tools/etc. from under car, start engine, check/listen for any signs of trouble, then drive off ramps and shut off engine. Check for leaks. Pick up tools, clean up, then give dipstick quick check for proper oil level, check in-dash read-out for oil level and if both are a "go" I go for a drive. I've found no need to lower car from ramps - actually raised front end with jacks to bring car level. Not enough oil drains out to make the effort worthwhile. Really the engine's designed that under just about any kind of tilt your likely to be able to park the car in while you change the oil, the oil will drain to sump and out the drain plug hole. Bottom line is you want the oil at Goldilocks temperature: Not too hot. Not too cold. Sincerely, Macster.

I have Rhino ramps, but I just about sh*t my pants everytime I back up those things, feels like I am going to launch right over them and into the wall. I don't like that feeling, but the height seems just right.

Disposable plastic painter's tarp ($2 at Home Depot) works nicely to keep the floor clean. Latex/nitrile gloves from the drugstore. Rhino ramps are great.

You should try driving up 4 at once! Now that's scary!

i don't think you need to jack up your suv to do an oil change do you.....?

True, but if you have it on ramps to do diffs, T-case and auto trans fluid, you may as well do it while you're immobilized. Or should that be im-Mobil1-ized!

Sorry for this quick thread hijack but what is the torque Spec for the oil drain plug? Did a quick search with no specific answer. I have not changed oil on my Pcar yet, just getting ready Thanks much...

Bao, 37 ft-lbs for the drain plug and 19 for the filter cover.

Thanks for the info on the Rhino ramps

Thanks Dell for the torque Spec info,... taking notes , greatly appreciate it.

very welcome

One last question, I hope, can I put the 9 qts of Mobil 1? Don't think that the extra 0.02 qts (911 Carrera 3.4 liter engine oil capacity is 8.98 US quarts) will do any harm.

I usually put in about 8.5 and then start it up, let it run for a minute, wait about 15 min then check the oil level with both dip stick and electronic measurement. If I show ANYWHERE close to full then I am done. I check in the morning one last time to let ALL the oil drain down. The last thing you want to do is OVERFILL. However, if you do overfill, there is a way to remove a small amount without doing a full drain or going anywhere near the drain plug.

Dell is right on this one. You are not going to get every drop of oil out of that engine, so don't just put 9 quarts in it. You will overfill.

Thanks guys, will do the 8.5, wait the suggested time and take it from there. Once again, thanks. Although I'm new to these forums (yes these, rennlist is not the only web-forum/website I visit) I do think LVDell is entitle to his oppinion, is very helpful and should continue posting on the 996 forum. Regards hi8ha