McCulla

I just changed the oil in my 05 for the 3rd time, easiest car on the planet (at least of the cars I've owned..); I've had 911SC, 964 C2, 993 C4S, 944S2, now the 997, along with assorted others. I only included this list of Porsches because if you've ever changed the oil in an air cooled 911 yourself, ESPECIALLY the 993 variant, you know how easy this one is! Anyhow, the purpose of this post is to air a hint that many of you probably already use, but I haven't seen it in my searches when I was looking up the oil change procedure after I bought this car.

Someone posted that their car showed an "alarm" type display on restarting after the oil change that indicated that the oil level was dangerously low, for a few seconds, while it discovered that it had new fill. With a cannister filter like these cars (and others) have, I put the filter element into the cannister and fill it with oil BEFORE I screw the cannister/housing back onto the engine. That way there is another source, from another direction when you restart. Of course it will only work on a car like ours where the filter housing attaches from the bottom! (I don't know where I learned this, but I did not come up with it myself.) I never get any oil light/alert/alarm upon restarting and never hear even the slightest tick from the valve train on the start up just after adding the new oil.

As my title says, I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but it gave me something to do while I let the car cool so I could check level and top it off.

randysmithla

I'm changing my oil on my 07 S. Counter clockwise to take off and clockwise for reinstall?

Thanks..

R

Alfaguy2

I read about that alarm too and like you filled the canister with oil hence no problems.

How many miles do you do before doing another change?

McCulla

Randysmithla, I think your "S" engine is different than mine (??), someone else better advise you...but I haven't encountered counterclockwise tightening since 60's vintage Chrysler products. Anybody that can help him?

Alfaguy, I'm changing about every 3000 miles. Probably way-overkill, but I'm a creature of habit and still following the pattern I've had since mineral based oils. I've actually increased from 2K to 3K; sad I know. Keeping Mobil's cash flow going.

sbpsu354

Just changed the oil on my 997.1, and did the same thing. I have a book on the 996 I owned previously that provided me with the suggestion to fill the canister with oil prior to installing. No alarm message on start up. I'll probably change every 5k miles or less.

gota911

Randy said "counter clockwise to take off" (remove) not to tighten.

docfink

Thanks for the tip. I haven't yet changed mine. Do you have a lift? I'm concerned how I'd elevate the car and don't know if I could squeeze under it comfortably to do the job.

Bijan

A pair of low wide ramps helps with access to sump

PHDX2

There's just enough room to change the oil and oil filter on a 997.1 with the car on the ground. No need for ramps or a lift, but the space is very tight.

McCulla

gota911, I read the "counterclockwise to loosen" part correctly, I responded like I did because it sounded like he was uncertain about the direction..

Docfink, regarding the question about having a lift, no I don't have one. I followed the recommendation of a post a while back to back out of my garage stall just to where my driveway begins to slope downward from the flat garage floor. That gives me plenty of clearance, even to get a fairly tall drain pan underneath. It seems (like one of the posters here says) that it can be done on a flat surface, but it might take a shallow drain pan. No lift necessary.

Alfaguy2

Does anyone know the exact quantity of oil including filter that goes into a 997.1

I put 8.75 litres into mine. I am not sure what that is in US quarts but it would be great to know the exact amount so as to avoid the endless careful topping up needed to get the fill just right.

Bijan

Approx oil capacities with filter:
997.1 has 8.5 liters or US 8.9 quarts
(997.2 has 7.5 liters or US 7.9 quarts)

sbpsu354

I'm still looking for a better oil catch pan. I used the one recommended by Tim (gota911) and it does work very well with the larger opening. The large opening is wide enough to handle the high flow of hot oil out of the motor, so less hits the garage floor, but I filled the thing to the top. The small cap on the side of the container doesn't make a strong seal, so I had to use 2 and transferred the used oil back to the empty bottles quickly. It's the best one I've seen out there, but bigger would be cool.

randysmithla

Changed my oil/filter today....took maybe 15/20 minutes. Next time will put a large plastic trash bad with newspapers to keep oil/mess to minimum...
This is so easy than expected....kids watched and said it looked like the 'Alien' movie when the oil drained.

Thanks for the string on this effort

R

atr911

Remember, 19 ft.lbs on the filter and 37 ft.lbs on the drain plug and always use a new gasket on both!