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.
Instead of paying over $300 for a SIMPLE oil change at a Porsche dealership, use our detailed DIY guide to learn how to change your own oil for less than $100. Before getting started, take a look at video from the YouTube channel, Auto Amateur, to get an overview. Detailed step-by-step instructions along with tools, parts, and exact specifications can be found below.
Tools Required:
- Mechanic’s Tool Set
- Foxwell NT530 OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner (for Porsche) (optional tool to reset service indicator)
- 36MM Oil Filter Cap Socket
- 3/8 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-80 ft.-lb.)
- Metric Hex Bit Socket Set, 3mm to 10mm
- Oil Drain Pan, 16 Quarts Capacity
- Long Neck Fluid Funnel
- Low Profile Vehicle Ramps, 2.2 Ton Capacity, Pair
- Disposable Gloves
- Safety Glasses
Parts Required:
Torque Specs & Fluid Capacities:
Oil filter cap: 19 ft-lbs
Oil drain plug: 37 ft-lbs
Oil capacity: 7.9 quarts (for all non-turbo and non-GT3 models)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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.
Step 2: Raise the rear of the vehicle if extra ground clearance is needed
- TIP: Some people can perform the oil change without raising the vehicle if they use a low profile drain pan.
- However, if extra clearance is needed, raise the vehicle using either vehicle ramps or jack stands.
- Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels to prevent the car from rolling.
- To lift your vehicle on jack stands, check out this helpful video from the YouTube channel CarFanatic:
Step 3: Gain access to the engine oil filter.
- Open engine decklid and remove the plastic frame that sits at the top of flexible air intake tubing, as shown in in the video.
- Next, remove the plastic engine cover that covers the two fans by carefully pulling up on each side; you will need to push the flexible air intake tube through the hole in the cover.
- Remove the passenger side fan by pulling it up and unclipping the wiring connector.
- Remove the air intake tubing by pulling up on it; be careful not to damage any surrounding wiring.
Step 4: Drain the engine oil.
- Unscrew the oil fill cap, which will help the engine oil drain more easily.
- Slide underneath the car from the rear side and locate the oil drain plug.
- Using an 8mm hex socket and ratchet, loosen the drain plug. However, don’t remove the drain plug all the way.
- Position an oil drain pan underneath the oil drain plug.
- 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 5: Replace the engine oil filter.
- Place paper towels or rags around the oil filter housing and air intake in the engine bay.
- Remove the oil filter housing using a 36mm socket.
- Remove the oil filter cap gasket with a small flat head screwdriver; be careful not to scratch the cap.
- Slide the new gasket onto the housing and smear a small amount of oil over it to lubricate the seal.
- Remove the old oil filter and replace it with a new one; be sure the new oil filter sits correctly.
- Reinstall the oil filter cap and tighten it to 19 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.
Step 6: Re-install the oil drain plug.
- After allowing the oil to drain, re-install the oil drain plug along with a brand new crush washer; if you do not use a new crush washer, the engine oil will likely leak.
- Tighten the oil drain plug with new crush washer to 37 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.
- Note: While Porsche recommends using a new oil drain plug, you can re-use your old one as long as it is in good condition and you use a new crush washer.
Step 7: Add new engine oil.
- Using a funnel, add only 7.5 quarts of new oil to prevent overfilling.
- Ensure there are no engine oil leaks.
Step 8: Re-install everything.
- Refit the intake tubing, fan and engine compartment 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 9: Ensure the engine oil has been filled to the correct level.
- Start engine and allow it to warm up.
- When the car is sufficiently warm, you can have your onboard computer measure the oil level by selecting “Oil” on your gauge cluster.
- The upper line of the digital oil level reading is the max. while the lower line is the minimum.
- The difference between the min and max lines is ~1.8 quarts.
- Based on the reading, turn off your engine and add more oil as needed.
Step 10: Reset the vehicle's service indicator.
- To reset your service indicator, you will need a tool like the Foxwell NT530.
- Connect the diagnostic tool to the OBDII port and turn the ignition to the “ON” position.
- Go through the menus on the diagnostic tool.
- You should be able to select your vehicle and find an “oil lamp reset” functionality.
- To get a general sense of how such diagnostic tools work, check out the following video. While the iCarSoft POR II featured would work, we recommend the Foxwell because it has additional features like the ability to register a new battery to your vehicle.
Step 11: 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.
