First Oil Change -- Complete Success

[Jgordon]

I did my first oil change over the weekend. 10.5 Qts. of Kendall 20W 50, a new Mahle filter, and two copper crush washers. One 16 Quart drain pan, with another 8 quart for overflow.

Total oil spilled -- ~10 drops. Total job -- much, much easier than I would have thought. The only problem was getting the engine case plug up to torque, I ended up just using the wrench from the toolkit and putting it on tight. I couldn't fit the torque wrench under the car.

Pretty good feeling to actually work on the car myself, not to mention the money saved. I know it's not an engine rebuild, but I feel damn proud of myself.

Anyway, I wanted to thank all you guys for the advice and warnings. I'm going to start tackling the rest of the car next weekend.

Jared

[bob tilton]

you should be very proud of yourself. a great step towards building confidence on becoming a DIYer.
bob
68L

[pbs911]

I think everyone should have to change their oil before reading posts on the subject. Spilling 9qts. of oil on the garage floor and using a 5lb. bag of kitty litter to clean it up is sort of a hazing ritual that goes with Porsche ownership. LOL

Seriously, by a little fridge for the garage and pipe in the tunes. You have begun a long process of your garage being your favorite room in the house.

[wckrause]

Only spilled 10 drops!!!!!

You must have done something wrong.

[PDACPA]

Jgordon - I did the same but spilt a few quarts on the garage floor as the oil drain plug fell directly in the hole of the 15qt catch container. The dealer sold me an aluminum crush washer and a copper looking one. Earlier post told me which when where which I left on the post it note in Wayne's book!

However, both of mine came out with aluminum type.


I got a torque wrench at Discount Auto but the damn instructions are almost useless. Even the example doesnt make sense. I think I torqued it at a close to the right number and both felt tight and no oil leak.

Brake bleed with new pad's, stainless lines, and if I can find a deal on new rotors are next on my list.

Tranny fluid next and then the muffler!

[Jgordon]

PDA, I think we're on the verge of a new era on pelican. Gone will be the "? for J.W." or "Roland, please help!" posts. In their place will be "PDA, please advise" and "JGordon, question on 3.2" posts.

Or not. But it could happen.

[PDACPA]

Sounds good to me! I am addicted to these posts! Of course they mean my list keeps growing with "ToDo's!"

Its just another aspect to love these cars about!

I gave my neighbor some Porsche rag's (he leased a '99 996 Cab) and he was like oh I am leasing I dont want to do much.

Argh thats no fun

[Doug E]

Congrats. An oil change was my first DIY project as well.

Start your "todo" list and start saving money ...

[Jgordon]

Yeah, no $hit on the saving money part. I went to my mechanic for the first (and last) oil change, and it was something like ~$100 over cost of materials. I can understand that the guy has to make a living, but jeez. Once I had my act together, it took me about 30 mins, give or take. plus, it's fun as all hell.

I'm trying to figure out other stuff to do on my own. Anyone have a good "next job" after the oil change?

Jared

[AirCooledExcellence]

Wayne, time to plug that book again!!

[PDACPA]

JGordon - Get Wayne's book if you do not have it! (Your welcome Wayne haha)

You will have a ton of pages with stickies for new projects!


Brake pads, rotors, lines are mine.



Tranny fluid change.

Then Exhaust.



AC but not sure how much of this I can do.

[Jgordon]

Already have the book, bought it without any knowledge of the connection between the Author and the website. I think that says more about me than about Wayne's marketing though. As much as I enjoy Wayne's Danielle Steel-esque renditions of working on the Pcar, I wasn't sure what the standard "next step" was. I don't think the car really needs any work (I know that at the moment, it doesn't) but I'm looking for things to do, for fun and prevention of future issues. Thanks to PDA, I have a couple of ideas.

[PDACPA]

Mine does not need anything other than new brake pads and fluid and probably a tranny fluid change. Basically maintenance.

But I want more power and enhancements and I have been slowing updating the interior with some aluminum highlights, new 930 wheel, new blaupunkt stereo.

[PDACPA]

911 sat all week in the garage and when I backed her out, there was a small bit of oil directly under where the nut on the bottom of the engine is to drain the oil.

I had cleaned it and used a new crush washer. Is it possible I did not torque it enough? My torque wrench has terrible instructions so I am not sure the setting was accurate.

[Jgordon]

I'd say it's possible. It's supposed to be torqued to 52 lb/ft, which is pretty tight. the lug nits are only 94 lb/ft by comparison. I couldn't even fit my torque wrench under the car, so I did it by hand. I drove 100 miles back after the weekend, and it's been sitting since then. It's something I'll be on the lookout for as well.

Alternatively, if it's only a very little bit of oil, here's a scenario: When I was emptying the oil out of the engine case, some oil dripped (ran) along the bottom ridge of the oil drain thing, to the side of which the plug actually screws. I wiped this off, but if you didn't, it might have dripped off that and onto the floor. I'd just wipe the whole area clean and check it in a couple of days. If there's oil, rethink it, if not, you're good to go.

[PDACPA]

I think my torque wrench was not set right! The conversion chart is almost useless with it and I did not feel it was tight enough. I am going to tighten it when I get home. I am fairly certain it was no drips as I was cleaning all over in there after the oil was out and I was in there.