30,000 mile spark plug change & second mortgage
06-20-2020, 02:20 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
30,000 mile spark plug change & second mortgage
"Spark plugs experience wear and tear over time and, as essential components of your vehicle, need to be replaced every so often. So, how long do spark plugs last? When asked about how often to replace spark plugs, most experts agree this should be done every 30,000 miles." From Porsche.
Other than the obvious (money making scheme) why does Porsche require spark plug change at 30,000 miles (non turbo) Cayenne, ? Modern spark plugs last 100k miles, most cars, normal driving (exceptions being racing. Turbo etc.)
Would I have to get a second mortgage if done at Porsche?
Other than the obvious (money making scheme) why does Porsche require spark plug change at 30,000 miles (non turbo) Cayenne, ? Modern spark plugs last 100k miles, most cars, normal driving (exceptions being racing. Turbo etc.)
Would I have to get a second mortgage if done at Porsche?
06-20-2020, 03:12 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
for my 2011 S, the 2010 version of Porsche Maintenance Checklist says 40k miles or 4 yrs. Not sure but it sounds like you have a Turbo with a 30k miles or 4 years.
FYSA: https://www.porsche.com/china/en/acc...plans-cayenne/
To your question. Plugs are a wear item, and so are the coil packs as many of us have concluded on this forum. Turbos are harder on plugs as the plug needs a higher voltage to fire in the high compressed air fuel environment.
As to time, 3 or 4 years. Porsche and most manufacturers are trying to reduce the likelihood of dissimilar metal corrosion, leading to difficult to remove plugs. Modern plugs spec'd by the OEMs want the plugs to have a coating of material bonded on the threads to help slow/reduce that corrosion. I have not seen a spark plug manufacturer that I use recommend any additional coatings in a long time. I concur with that and I do not apply anything, but I do follow the recommended the mileagte/time recommendation and included coil packs in my last spark plug change.
Yes, the dealer is very pricey. On the service side they are not bound to the price you might find on their online parts pricing. I have had dealers' service departments significantly mark up the part prices AND watch out for their labor charges $/hr and time. They do not always use the "standard hours". For the intermediate and majors, my dealer would have a flat dollar labor figure in mind plus all of the parts. It was never inexpensive. But I am back to doing almost all of my own work. Many folks form a relationship with a nearby reliable independent Porsche repair shop and go from there, or dive into self maintenance learning.
FYSA: https://www.porsche.com/china/en/acc...plans-cayenne/
To your question. Plugs are a wear item, and so are the coil packs as many of us have concluded on this forum. Turbos are harder on plugs as the plug needs a higher voltage to fire in the high compressed air fuel environment.
As to time, 3 or 4 years. Porsche and most manufacturers are trying to reduce the likelihood of dissimilar metal corrosion, leading to difficult to remove plugs. Modern plugs spec'd by the OEMs want the plugs to have a coating of material bonded on the threads to help slow/reduce that corrosion. I have not seen a spark plug manufacturer that I use recommend any additional coatings in a long time. I concur with that and I do not apply anything, but I do follow the recommended the mileagte/time recommendation and included coil packs in my last spark plug change.
Yes, the dealer is very pricey. On the service side they are not bound to the price you might find on their online parts pricing. I have had dealers' service departments significantly mark up the part prices AND watch out for their labor charges $/hr and time. They do not always use the "standard hours". For the intermediate and majors, my dealer would have a flat dollar labor figure in mind plus all of the parts. It was never inexpensive. But I am back to doing almost all of my own work. Many folks form a relationship with a nearby reliable independent Porsche repair shop and go from there, or dive into self maintenance learning.
The following users liked this post:
Dr. G7 (06-20-2020)
06-20-2020, 04:18 PM
#3
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
for my 2011 S, the 2010 version of Porsche Maintenance Checklist says 40k miles or 4 yrs. Not sure but it sounds like you have a Turbo with a 30k miles or 4 years.
FYSA: https://www.porsche.com/china/en/acc...plans-cayenne/
To your question. Plugs are a wear item, and so are the coil packs as many of us have concluded on this forum. Turbos are harder on plugs as the plug needs a higher voltage to fire in the high compressed air fuel environment.
As to time, 3 or 4 years. Porsche and most manufacturers are trying to reduce the likelihood of dissimilar metal corrosion, leading to difficult to remove plugs. Modern plugs spec'd by the OEMs want the plugs to have a coating of material bonded on the threads to help slow/reduce that corrosion. I have not seen a spark plug manufacturer that I use recommend any additional coatings in a long time. I concur with that and I do not apply anything, but I do follow the recommended the mileagte/time recommendation and included coil packs in my last spark plug change.
Yes, the dealer is very pricey. On the service side they are not bound to the price you might find on their online parts pricing. I have had dealers' service departments significantly mark up the part prices AND watch out for their labor charges $/hr and time. They do not always use the "standard hours". For the intermediate and majors, my dealer would have a flat dollar labor figure in mind plus all of the parts. It was never inexpensive. But I am back to doing almost all of my own work. Many folks form a relationship with a nearby reliable independent Porsche repair shop and go from there, or dive into self maintenance learning.
FYSA: https://www.porsche.com/china/en/acc...plans-cayenne/
To your question. Plugs are a wear item, and so are the coil packs as many of us have concluded on this forum. Turbos are harder on plugs as the plug needs a higher voltage to fire in the high compressed air fuel environment.
As to time, 3 or 4 years. Porsche and most manufacturers are trying to reduce the likelihood of dissimilar metal corrosion, leading to difficult to remove plugs. Modern plugs spec'd by the OEMs want the plugs to have a coating of material bonded on the threads to help slow/reduce that corrosion. I have not seen a spark plug manufacturer that I use recommend any additional coatings in a long time. I concur with that and I do not apply anything, but I do follow the recommended the mileagte/time recommendation and included coil packs in my last spark plug change.
Yes, the dealer is very pricey. On the service side they are not bound to the price you might find on their online parts pricing. I have had dealers' service departments significantly mark up the part prices AND watch out for their labor charges $/hr and time. They do not always use the "standard hours". For the intermediate and majors, my dealer would have a flat dollar labor figure in mind plus all of the parts. It was never inexpensive. But I am back to doing almost all of my own work. Many folks form a relationship with a nearby reliable independent Porsche repair shop and go from there, or dive into self maintenance learning.
06-20-2020, 11:57 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
My GTS needs plugs every 40k miles and my indy charges me $400 to do it. So unless you live in a cardboard box, you will not need a 2nd mortgage. There is zero reason to pay the dealer their inflated prices for this service.
The following users liked this post:
Dr. G7 (06-21-2020)
06-21-2020, 01:30 AM
#5
Plugs for the cayenne are really cheap... i think $4 a piece from FCP... With a lifetime warranty. So for $40 you can do it yourself...or $50 total if you need to buy the tools to do it 
The following 2 users liked this post by DemonBG:
Dr. G7 (06-21-2020),
jaystonewee (06-15-2022)
06-21-2020, 10:04 AM
#6
I wanted a local Porsche dealer to change the plugs since a decent indy shop is very limited in my area.
The dealership quoted $550ish for plug job. I asked for the price break down and noticed $250 for plugs and $300 for labor. At the time, I could get the plugs for my turbo from Suncoast at $126. I kindly asked my SA to match the price and they did.. Always do some research and seek numerous options
The dealership quoted $550ish for plug job. I asked for the price break down and noticed $250 for plugs and $300 for labor. At the time, I could get the plugs for my turbo from Suncoast at $126. I kindly asked my SA to match the price and they did.. Always do some research and seek numerous options
The following users liked this post:
TXCOMT (06-16-2022)
06-21-2020, 05:10 PM
#7
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I wanted a local Porsche dealer to change the plugs since a decent indy shop is very limited in my area.
The dealership quoted $550ish for plug job. I asked for the price break down and noticed $250 for plugs and $300 for labor. At the time, I could get the plugs for my turbo from Suncoast at $126. I kindly asked my SA to match the price and they did.. Always do some research and seek numerous options
The dealership quoted $550ish for plug job. I asked for the price break down and noticed $250 for plugs and $300 for labor. At the time, I could get the plugs for my turbo from Suncoast at $126. I kindly asked my SA to match the price and they did.. Always do some research and seek numerous options
The following users liked this post:
TXCOMT (06-16-2022)
Trending Topics
06-21-2020, 05:12 PM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
06-21-2020, 06:10 PM
#9
Like pretty much any service item, spark plugs wear and can fail, especially in high performance applications. I’ve seen electrodes fracture, fall out of the porcelain and cause all kinds of damage in race engines. Boosted engines are especially hard on plugs and have a tendency to burn open the gap after a while causing misfires.
The following users liked this post:
Dr. G7 (06-22-2020)
06-22-2020, 12:07 AM
#10
FCP has a lifetime warranty which even covers wear and tear... use them for 40K miles and then send them back for a new set. Its part of their warranty program.
...They even do it for oil filters.. oil... air filters... brake pads... if you can be bothered returning the old ones.
...They even do it for oil filters.. oil... air filters... brake pads... if you can be bothered returning the old ones.
The following 3 users liked this post by DemonBG:
06-22-2020, 09:05 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
Not sure if it has been said already but both the V8 turbo and V6 turbo engines need spark plugs every 30k miles, the N/A V8 and VR6 are every 40k miles. When we had our base VR6 cayenne, the dealer wanted $1800 for an oil change and spark plugs. Easily, the highest markup I've ever seen for those services. I took it to a local indy shop and I think paid around $3-400 for the plugs, and $130 for oil.
The following users liked this post:
Dr. G7 (06-22-2020)
06-22-2020, 01:33 PM
#12
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Like pretty much any service item, spark plugs wear and can fail, especially in high performance applications. I’ve seen electrodes fracture, fall out of the porcelain and cause all kinds of damage in race engines. Boosted engines are especially hard on plugs and have a tendency to burn open the gap after a while causing misfires.
06-22-2020, 01:46 PM
#13
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
FCP has a lifetime warranty which even covers wear and tear... use them for 40K miles and then send them back for a new set. Its part of their warranty program.
...They even do it for oil filters.. oil... air filters... brake pads... if you can be bothered returning the old ones.
...They even do it for oil filters.. oil... air filters... brake pads... if you can be bothered returning the old ones.
06-22-2020, 01:57 PM
#14
Three Wheelin'
I've already decided that I will be using a top notch independent mechanic for my services on my new 992... I was quoted $495 for oil change from the stealership, the independent did my break-in change and a 5K change for $195 each.. I was quoted $1200 for the 20k at the stealership, and the independent wants $650.
Warranty work, that's a different story.
Warranty work, that's a different story.
06-22-2020, 02:09 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Not sure if it has been said already but both the V8 turbo and V6 turbo engines need spark plugs every 30k miles, the N/A V8 and VR6 are every 40k miles. When we had our base VR6 cayenne, the dealer wanted $1800 for an oil change and spark plugs. Easily, the highest markup I've ever seen for those services. I took it to a local indy shop and I think paid around $3-400 for the plugs, and $130 for oil.
https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...l#post16720013