Oil Change and Valve Adjustments

[Hugh R]

I've only got 15k on the engine since I bought the car. I've changed the oil every 5k and adjusted the valves once about 10k ago. I don't have a maintenence schedule for the car, but oil every 5k and valve adjust every 15k is what I'm gathering from the Board. I don't track the car. Any contrary views? What about the trannie oil? How often do you change it. Distributor felt once a year seem right to me. Spark plugs, rotor and cap?

[Por_sha911]

There are a lot of differing opinions on "how often..." Keep in mind that street versus track makes a difference. For street driving, my garage queen gets:
Oil: 5K
Valve adjust, plugs, cap, rotor: 10-12K
Trans: 2 yrs
Brakes: 2yrs

[flynnstudio]

I'm a 6K per annum driver in mine and I am just about the same as Joe on all counts...

[billwagnon]

I do about 5k a year. Oil change once a year. While I'm in there, I do the valves. Because it's fun!

[Jubbie]

I would think that cap and rotor are probably good for more than 10-12K.

[smstcoach]

You are doing it all wrong...track the car!

[B D]

For me tranny fluid every 2 years or 25K. Lube the dist shaft according to Warren every oil change. Remove the dist every 3-5 years and inspect and possibly get rebuilt, Warren's suggestion again. Valves on the early cars every 10K; later cars about every 15K.

An italian tune-up at least once a week.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by B D

An italian tune-up at least once a week.

Ok, you've piqued my interest. What's an Italian tune-up?

[Porsche virgin]

I think that an "Italian tune-up" is when you drive the car at high rpm to keep carbon deposits from building up.

"But officer, I was just keeping the valves on my car clean!"

[Hugh R]

Adjust rear view mirror,
Check for cops front, rear and side-to-side,
Take it to redline in as many gears as possible,
Repeat as necessary.

[randywebb]

search up the long term maintenance thread

[Barrpete]

For what it's worth the owners manual that came with my 86 carrera 3.2 indicates a 15K maintenance interval for virtually everything: oil & filter, valves, check trans fluid level, check adj of clutch, brakes, wheel bearings & everything else or at least annually, and every 60K for plugs,check belts, change transmission fluid, change O2 sensor or every other year - under "normal" driving.

Not sure exactly what "normal driving" is but there is also a disclaimer of "If you use your car under severe driving conditions, it may be necessary to change engine oil more frequently than prescribed in the maintenance schedule."

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Ok, you've piqued my interest. What's an Italian tune-up?

You bang it against the rev limitter a few times.

[porschenut]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Ok, you've piqued my interest. What's an Italian tune-up?

You're the first person that I've seen spell "piqued" correctly. I'm not used to seeing correct spelling on this board. Very refreshing.

[Decolliber]

Is it necessary to replace the distributor felt cap? Never heard that one before. Its not even listed as a part. I thought you just put a few drops of oil on it.

[porschenut]

For the 3.2 Carrera, transmission fluid, fuel filter and O2 sensor every 60,000 miles per the Warranty and Maintenance booklet. Spark plugs every 2 years or 30k miles, air filter and belt check every 30k miles, and everything else every 15k miles.

Track use, frequent short trips and dusty conditions will shorten the maintenance intervals.

[Hugh R]

Thanks all

I don't have an owner's service manual and was curious.

[FrayAdjacent911]

I'm gonna have to get that 101 projects book, aren't I? I have no idea how to do a valve adjust. And I bet my car needs it. hehehe