My first oil change on a 993 yesterday
12-30-2016, 07:44 PM
#61
Burning Brakes
Had a few tears in my eye as I read this. Wow, initiative is commendable...
I think you may find there is too much oil added.
Just did this job, along with lower left valve cover gasket, so here are a few tips for next time.
Try only putting the rear on the jackstands. Plenty of space for me.
For the small filter, I have progressed to leaving the line attached, use a WIDE catch pan, and drop the oil filter onto the sway bar, slide to the center and it drops out.
Add 5 quarts, pull DME fuse, crank engine till oil pressure comes up. Surprisingly the starter is able to get about 3 on the gauge. This also moves some of the oil out of the tank and into the engine. That way it does not overflow when you add 3-4 more. I add 3, but you pulled the hose, about 1 more quart may be there. Replace the relay, Crank engine, let warm a few, and VERY carefully look for any oil on tip of dipstick. If there is, caution, you are on the edge of overfilling, don't enthusiastically add more! Think, you have 8 + quarts already! Warm it up, best to take a multi mile drive, carefully check the level before adding any.
I think you may find there is too much oil added.
Just did this job, along with lower left valve cover gasket, so here are a few tips for next time.
Try only putting the rear on the jackstands. Plenty of space for me.
For the small filter, I have progressed to leaving the line attached, use a WIDE catch pan, and drop the oil filter onto the sway bar, slide to the center and it drops out.
Add 5 quarts, pull DME fuse, crank engine till oil pressure comes up. Surprisingly the starter is able to get about 3 on the gauge. This also moves some of the oil out of the tank and into the engine. That way it does not overflow when you add 3-4 more. I add 3, but you pulled the hose, about 1 more quart may be there. Replace the relay, Crank engine, let warm a few, and VERY carefully look for any oil on tip of dipstick. If there is, caution, you are on the edge of overfilling, don't enthusiastically add more! Think, you have 8 + quarts already! Warm it up, best to take a multi mile drive, carefully check the level before adding any.
12-30-2016, 08:01 PM
#63
Rennlist Member
Had a few tears in my eye as I read this. Wow, initiative is commendable...
I think you may find there is too much oil added.
Just did this job, along with lower left valve cover gasket, so here are a few tips for next time.
Try only putting the rear on the jackstands. Plenty of space for me.
For the small filter, I have progressed to leaving the line attached, use a WIDE catch pan, and drop the oil filter onto the sway bar, slide to the center and it drops out.
Add 5 quarts, pull DME fuse, crank engine till oil pressure comes up. Surprisingly the starter is able to get about 3 on the gauge. This also moves some of the oil out of the tank and into the engine. That way it does not overflow when you add 3-4 more. I add 3, but you pulled the hose, about 1 more quart may be there. Replace the relay, Crank engine, let warm a few, and VERY carefully look for any oil on tip of dipstick. If there is, caution, you are on the edge of overfilling, don't enthusiastically add more! Think, you have 8 + quarts already! Warm it up, best to take a multi mile drive, carefully check the level before adding any.
I think you may find there is too much oil added.
Just did this job, along with lower left valve cover gasket, so here are a few tips for next time.
Try only putting the rear on the jackstands. Plenty of space for me.
For the small filter, I have progressed to leaving the line attached, use a WIDE catch pan, and drop the oil filter onto the sway bar, slide to the center and it drops out.
Add 5 quarts, pull DME fuse, crank engine till oil pressure comes up. Surprisingly the starter is able to get about 3 on the gauge. This also moves some of the oil out of the tank and into the engine. That way it does not overflow when you add 3-4 more. I add 3, but you pulled the hose, about 1 more quart may be there. Replace the relay, Crank engine, let warm a few, and VERY carefully look for any oil on tip of dipstick. If there is, caution, you are on the edge of overfilling, don't enthusiastically add more! Think, you have 8 + quarts already! Warm it up, best to take a multi mile drive, carefully check the level before adding any.
12-30-2016, 08:12 PM
#64
Race Car
Thanks for bringing up this old thread. Hilarious but also useful lessons here:
1. Never change your own 993 oil unless you are a poor, heavily in debt bloke.......or masochist.
2. Understand your 993 buddies who say it's easy, you should do it yourself, only want you to share their pain and have a laugh at your expense.
3. Realize Porsche clearly pre-planned this so there would be one benefit to the 996, and
4. Gives me the leverage to say to my indie who poo poo's any "amaturish" r-list advice - "How come you charge me 1 1/2 hours shop time when the "r-list amatures" can do it in an hour?"
1. Never change your own 993 oil unless you are a poor, heavily in debt bloke.......or masochist.
2. Understand your 993 buddies who say it's easy, you should do it yourself, only want you to share their pain and have a laugh at your expense.
3. Realize Porsche clearly pre-planned this so there would be one benefit to the 996, and
4. Gives me the leverage to say to my indie who poo poo's any "amaturish" r-list advice - "How come you charge me 1 1/2 hours shop time when the "r-list amatures" can do it in an hour?"
12-30-2016, 08:38 PM
#65
start over...
the good news is it gets easier every time.
12-30-2016, 08:42 PM
#66
Rennlist Member
12-30-2016, 09:34 PM
#67
Race Car
Ha, changing oil is an annual bonding session with your 993. It definitely gets easier and faster. I have never had to take the real wheel off....save time. I also wrap anything u don't want oil splashing into like the heat exchangers with tin foil...makes for easy clean up.
12-30-2016, 10:15 PM
#68
no big deal, they might even be the original o-rings depending on who serviced the car. probably just change them next time. the o-ring on the drain plug should be changed also.
12-30-2016, 10:26 PM
#69
Leander,
That was great reading and funny - we've all been there!
If I recall correctly I think I've been just leaving the hot air diverter (the vacuum cleaner R thingy) in place and only removing the longer orange elbow. It saves from having to fight with that little section of orange rubber hose and clamps.
Also, when you were checking your oil level initially, were you checking the dipstick with the engine oil hot enough? I start with 8.5 to 9 quarts and then go for a drive getting the engine warm. Then check the oil level as you normally would, warm (or hot), running and at idle. I have found 9.5 quarts puts me right in the middle of the dipstick. This matches what my owner's manual states for an oil change - 9.5 quarts.
I've never removed that small oil line. I just remove the small filter with it in place. A little of the old oil may be still in there but there's over two quarts of old oil also left in the cooler and lines.
That was great reading and funny - we've all been there!
If I recall correctly I think I've been just leaving the hot air diverter (the vacuum cleaner R thingy) in place and only removing the longer orange elbow. It saves from having to fight with that little section of orange rubber hose and clamps.
Also, when you were checking your oil level initially, were you checking the dipstick with the engine oil hot enough? I start with 8.5 to 9 quarts and then go for a drive getting the engine warm. Then check the oil level as you normally would, warm (or hot), running and at idle. I have found 9.5 quarts puts me right in the middle of the dipstick. This matches what my owner's manual states for an oil change - 9.5 quarts.
I've never removed that small oil line. I just remove the small filter with it in place. A little of the old oil may be still in there but there's over two quarts of old oil also left in the cooler and lines.
12-31-2016, 11:22 AM
#70
useful lessons here:
1. Never change your own 993 oil unless you are a poor, heavily in debt bloke.......or masochist.
2. Understand your 993 buddies who say it's easy, you should do it yourself, only want you to share their pain and have a laugh at your expense.
3. Realize Porsche clearly pre-planned this so there would be one benefit to the 996
1. Never change your own 993 oil unless you are a poor, heavily in debt bloke.......or masochist.
2. Understand your 993 buddies who say it's easy, you should do it yourself, only want you to share their pain and have a laugh at your expense.
3. Realize Porsche clearly pre-planned this so there would be one benefit to the 996
12-31-2016, 11:57 AM
#71
Rennlist Member
12-31-2016, 12:59 PM
#72
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
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Lifetime Rennlist
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I always smile when I read these threads, usually because of the huge variability of mechanical skills on this forum, and the observations from oil-change newbies. Doing an oil change on these cars is not hard in the scale of what work you can do on these cars, but it is longer than most cars, and can be messy, but it's not difficult. I applaud the people who at least try to do the change though!
A few comments:
- I have never changed the O rings on the hard oil line, and after oh over 100 oil changes easily I have never had a leak there
- You can easily reuse the crush washers - again I have done it both ways, replace or not replace, and no leaks
- I always remove that hard line below the smaller filter for two reasons - you drain a significant amount of oil from the line, and it makes getting the small filter off easier - when you remove the hard line reach up and wiggle the line as you use the tab to pry it out - you should never need enough pressure to actually bend the tab. It should take hand pressure and some wiggling to get it back on.
- I never use "channel locks" on the filters, the remove is always with a filter removal tool that squeezes the filter when loosening, the installation is by hand than 1/2 turn with the proper filter socket, all using a 3/8 drive ratchet.
- Don't forget to drain the engine block as well
- I usually put in 7 litres, crank the engine over for about 30 seconds WITHOUT THE DME RELAY INSTALLED, put in two more, install the relay, then start the car and take it for a drive to fully warm it up. Idling is not sufficient unless you want to wait forever
- I then check the level with the stick (not the gauge on the dash) and top up so the oil level is 1/3 up the marked section on the stick. No more than that. Usually takes 10 litres.
Cheers,
Mike
A few comments:
- I have never changed the O rings on the hard oil line, and after oh over 100 oil changes easily I have never had a leak there
- You can easily reuse the crush washers - again I have done it both ways, replace or not replace, and no leaks
- I always remove that hard line below the smaller filter for two reasons - you drain a significant amount of oil from the line, and it makes getting the small filter off easier - when you remove the hard line reach up and wiggle the line as you use the tab to pry it out - you should never need enough pressure to actually bend the tab. It should take hand pressure and some wiggling to get it back on.
- I never use "channel locks" on the filters, the remove is always with a filter removal tool that squeezes the filter when loosening, the installation is by hand than 1/2 turn with the proper filter socket, all using a 3/8 drive ratchet.
- Don't forget to drain the engine block as well
- I usually put in 7 litres, crank the engine over for about 30 seconds WITHOUT THE DME RELAY INSTALLED, put in two more, install the relay, then start the car and take it for a drive to fully warm it up. Idling is not sufficient unless you want to wait forever
- I then check the level with the stick (not the gauge on the dash) and top up so the oil level is 1/3 up the marked section on the stick. No more than that. Usually takes 10 litres.
Cheers,
Mike
