Engine oil is vital to your car’s engine. It’s primary function is to protect internal moving parts by providing lubrication to reduce friction and metal on metal contact. Over time the oil loses its critical properties, so regular replacement of the oil and filter are essential to maintaining your vehicle’s engine.
Porsche recommends replacing your engine oil and filter every 10,000 miles or once a year, whatever comes first. However, we recommend a 5,000 miles or once per year interval to help extend the life of your vehicle’s engine. Replacing the engine oil is a simple job that doesn’t require many tools, making it suitable even for novice do-it-yourselfers. Before getting started, take a look at video from the YouTube channel, D Wray’s Garage, to get an overview. Detailed step-by-step instructions along with tools, parts, and exact specifications can be found below.
- Mechanic’s Tool Set
- Foxwell NT530 OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner (for Porsche) (optional tool to reset oil lamp)
- 36MM Oil Filter Cap Socket
- 3/8 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-80 ft.-lb.)
- Metric Hex Bit Socket Set, 3mm to 10mm
- Torx Bit Socket Set, T10-T60
- Oil Drain Pan, 16 Quarts Capacity
- Oil Drain Pan, 6 Quarts Capacity
- Long Neck Fluid Funnel
- RhinoGear Vehicle Ramp – Set of 2 (12,000lb. GVW Capacity)
- Disposable Gloves
- Safety Glasses
Oil drain plug: 22 ft-lbs
Oil filter cap: 18 ft-lbs
Engine oil capacity: 8.5 quarts
Step 1: Prepare your vehicle and work area
- Warm up the engine by driving your car around for 5 minutes. This will help the oil flow more easily.
- Gather required tools and parts and put on gloves and eye protection.
- Position vehicle on a flat surface.
- Open the engine cover.
- Remove the oil filler cap, which will help the oil drain faster.
Step 2: Raise your vehicle
- If extra clearance is needed, raise the vehicle using either vehicle ramps or jack stands.
- Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels to prevent the car from rolling.
- Note: If your Macan has air suspension, deactivate it first by holding down the level selection button for 10 seconds until you see the confirmation appear in the gauge cluster.
Step 3: Drain the engine oil
- Gain access to the oil pan by removing the plastic underbody panel which is held on by 16 T25 Torx screws.
- Slide underneath the car from the front side and locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan.
- Using an 8mm hex socket and ratchet, loosen the drain plug, but don’t remove it completely
- Position the large oil catch pan underneath the oil drain plug.
- With rubber gloves on, unscrew the drain plug and remove it quickly so it doesn’t fall into the oil catch pan.
- Let the oil drain for at least 15 minutes.
Step 4: Replace the engine oil filter
- While the oil is draining, on the underside of the vehicle, locate the oil filter housing located on the right side of the vehicle just in front of the oil pan.
- Place a small oil catch pan under the oil filter housing and remove the oil filter cap using a 36mm oil filter socket.
- Use a small flat head screwdriver to carefully remove the old rubber gasket on the oil filter cap; be careful not to scratch the oil filter cap in the process.
- Slide the new gasket onto oil filter cap and smear a small amount of oil over the seal to lubricate it.
- Install the new filter element into the oil filter housing and make sure the filter is seated properly.
- Reinstall the oil filter cap and torque it to 18 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.
Step 5: Re-install the oil drain plug
- Reinstall the oil drain plug along with a new crush washer.
- Torque the oil drain plug to 22 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.
Step 6: Add new engine oil
- From within the engine, use a funnel to add 8 quarts of new oil to your engine; you will top off the engine oil in the next step.
- Double check under the car that there are no oil leaks.
- Reinstall the underbody panel and plastic engine cover.
- Lower your car back down; if you’re using vehicle ramps, you can just put your car in neutral and let it roll back down.
Step 7: Ensure the engine oil has been filled to the correct level
- With the vehicle on a flat surface and level, start the engine and let it run for several minutes to get the oil up to the right temperature for measuring the oil level.
- On the digital gauge cluster, go to the vehicle settings and select “Oil measurement”.
- Turn off the engine; depending on the oil level readings, add 0.125 quarts of oil at a time and re-measure the oil level.
- Repeat as many times as necessary until the oil level is between the maximum and minimum levels.
Step 8: Reset the vehicle's service indicator
- To reset your service indicator, you will need a Foxwell NT530 or similar tool.
- Connect the diagnostic tool to the OBDII port and turn the ignition to the “ON” position.
- As shown in this video, go through the menus on the diagnostic tool.
- You should be able to select your vehicle and find an “oil lamp reset” functionality.
- While the iCarSoft POR II featured in the video works, we recommend the Foxwell because it has additional features like the ability to register a new battery to your vehicle.
Step 9: Collect all of your tools and clean up
Note: Engine oil is damaging to the environment. Take your oil engine oil to any local auto parts store to recycle it.
Rick Donovan says:
This is the best step by step instructions on an oil change I have found. One important step that should be added though is to turn the air suspension off as many of these cars have the air suspension. Other than that, perfect guide..
ecarguidesllc says:
Thanks for the feedback Rick! I’ve added that step to the article per your suggestion 😀
Sundar kumar says:
sorry, where is the level selection button, to turn the air suspension off?
B. ERENOGLU says:
You will need to drive about 10 miles to see the oil measurement since you opened the hood, as far as I know just warming up the engine is not sufficient.