991 Service intervals
 

Hi all, anyone know why the UK has service intervals of 20k miles or 2 years and the US has 10k miles and 1 year for the 991 ? I have a 991.1 GTS that was serviced on it's second Birthday at 7.5k miles. Personally as the car will probably be a keeper, I will pay for a dealer oil change at every 10k miles if I cover that before July 19. I would actually be much happier at 2 years or 10k miles. To change a modern oil every year seems excessive to not change for 20k miles seems wrong !

I find that odd.

It is odd, and it seems like that on all Porsche models. Being that I put on very little mileage, I'd love to follow the UK service intervals. But the psychological aspect messes with you. Are U.S intervals set to be more "healthy" for the cars than UK intervals? If so, then why would they risk UK cars? Or is is more because of the litigious/demanding/gullible nature of U.S consumers? Hard to know for sure.

Built in US dealer service department revenues. This makes no sense, same car, oil, filters and parts. I wonder if it has to do with any EPA regulated inspections that must be a carried out at least once manually as part of vehicle certificate.

Me: (to UK OPC) I'd like an 800 mile running-in oil change.
OPC: Not necessary until 20,000 miles.
Me: All the same, call me old fashioned, I'd like it done,
OPC: There really is no need. The car will be fine.
Me: I want it done.
OPC: OK, you're the customer, we'll do it as you're persistent (whilst giving me a 'fool and their money are easily parted' look).

Honestly, I'm no oil expert, but considering EU (HOMELAND) intervals are 2 years when mileage isn't met, I have a REALLY hard time believing that synthetic oil "spoils" in a year, for cars under the mileage limit. Just seems like a waste of money getting an oil change when a car has been driven 3-5K miles in a year (I'm talking cars that do proper warm up procedures and are driven at least a couple times a week) within a years period, taking advantage of the classically worried American consumer still trained into an archaic "3K mile oil changes" frame of mind (some older guys still change their Porsche oils at 3K miles because they can't wrap their heads around 10K mile intervals).

But, I digress. I follow U.S intervals anyway. Annoying as it is.

My previous car was a 2005 997. The oil change interval was 2/20,000. 2 years later the 2007 997 changed to 1/15,000. Then in 2012 the 991 changed to 1/10,000. It is all about dealer service revenue.

Once out of warranty I would have no qualms going 2 years and under 10,000 on mobil 1. I had my 1.5 year old oil tested by Blackstone once at 10,000 miles (my previous 997) and their report suggested I go another 5,000 miles.

Shocking customer service. :(

I do 6 months or 5000 miles whichever comes first, but I like doing it, it gives me peace of mind and is cheap insurance. From everything I've read, oil doesn't necessarily break down per se, but loses detergents and becomes quite acidic over time. Do blackstone study and go by their interval recommendations if you want to deviate from factory reccs - in my opinion.

Good question - perhaps it's 20k KM instead of miles?

In my country the local dealer recommends to change the oil once a year or every 10.000 km........ and they charge a lot of money to do it.

Changing the oil on my 911 is my New Years Day tradition. Don't take that away from me :-)

I was an automotive Engineer, have degree in automotive engineering and used to build F1 engines, so have some understanding. Most modern oils are superb at managing moisture, retaining carbon, avoiding breakdown from petrol, other gases etc, etc. But there comes a point where the amazing filtration system and the stellar oil are getting a little stretched. If Porsche are happy at 20k, 2 years I bet the last 2,000 miles in the last 3 months will be the hardest. Just not sure how much headroom there is. I feel much more comfortable changing at 10k miles or 2 years. Modern synthetics will be fine after 1 year, I have no doubt. Worst case I have waisted a few hundred pounds every 10k miles .....

Carrera2RS what other cars have you had and were there oil change intervals extended as well.