I just picked up my 993 from the docks here in Hawaii on Friday and spent yesterday cleaning and doing my first DIY project... changing the transmission oil.

I had a chance to drive this car on the mainland after purchasing it in Arizona and driving it to the docks in Long Beach. I loved the car, but one of the things I did not like about it was a slight grind between gears (mostly lower gears) unless I shifted slowly. I was concerned I might have bought a car with transmission problems, but the PO was an older retired gentleman who definitely did not abuse the car.

Yesterday, the first thing I wanted to do after washing and checking for shipping damage was to address the gearbox. I spent the afternoon learning how to jack and support the car (what a royal PITA this is, but that will be a subject of another post, soon. )

I struggled with getting the fill plug off for a bit. Word of advice... use an allen bit socket. I tried for a long time with just a 10mm allen wrench but just could not apply enough pressure to break it loose. After jury rigging a sawed off piece of the allen and using a 10mm socket with a 1/2 breaker bar, it literally popped loose with enough leverage applied.

I used Redline 75W90 synthetic oil to refill. It was the only high quality gear oil readily available locally. I've used this brand previously and have been quite pleased with the results. I was hoping for any small improvement that changing the fluid would bring.

Upon driving the car after completion, I could not believe the change in the shifting. Absolutely no grinding in any gear and the shifting feels smoother with a lot less resistance between gears. I am truly amazed by what a dramatic difference this one DIY has made.

The car has 46k miles on it and I think this must be the original oil from the factory. It looked relatively clean coming out, but the magnetic drain plug did have the magnetic particle "fuzz" on it. Not much... about the same amount as the pics on Robin's site.

If your car has some grinding when shifting you may want to consider a transmission oil change soon. I cannot believe how much of an improvement it has made to the car.

Next, if I can improve the heavy clutch pedal stroke, I will be in love with the car.

Sigh, and so it begins... and I Love it!!!

 

Kelly, welcome to p-car ownership. If you have not been there yet, check out Robin's site p-car.com. It has most the DIY projects you will need, including the easiest way to jack up the car and get it onto stands.

 

Tom,

thanks... I've been reading from Robin's site even before purchasing my vehicle. I've read the procedure on putting the car up on jackstands and even though I thought I understood how to do it, I had a very difficult time raising the car from the lift points due to the odd configuration of those "plates" from which to lift and then trying to use my jackstands on the plates provided. Just seems they could have had designed a much easier way to do a very rudimentary task.

Needless to say, after I was done, I have a couple of jacks points that look a bit odd.

 

Congrats on your first DIY, and thanks for the advice. Sometimes a little TLC can go a long way. Enjoy the new car!