Please comment on this drain plug fuzz.

[Rick Lee]

Yesterday I knocked out a few more 993 DIY jobs - first oil change and tranny fluid too. What fun we had.

Anyway, please take a look at this photo and tell me what you think. Car has 32.8k miles on her and I have had a few tough shifts while getting used to my new toy. It shifts very nicely, makes no funny noises and tranny fluid did not look too old when it came out. But I don't trust anyone and although I have a receipt for the 30k mile serice done about 4k miles ago, I don't know if they really changed the tranny fluid. The engine oil sure looked horrible and the disgusting goooook that came out out of the clutch slave cyl. makes me doubt anyone did the work they charged the po for.

So am in for a tranny rebuild or what?

[VincentVega]

I wouldnt worry about it. Just from personal experience, dealers service schedules are not exactly comprehensive.

[Jeff 993TT]

It looks ok to me. I did my trans plug and had a similar "hairy" plug:

http://www.cuberootconsulting.com/albums/album41/trans_plug_2.jpg

[Rick Lee]

Another reason I don't think the tranny fluid had ever been changed was the condtion of the drain and fill plugs. They looked like they had never had anything inserted into them, like they still has that factory coating on them, absolutely no sign of previous work. So I'm thinking that extra fuzz may actually be from the break-in mileage. It further reinforces my belief that you just can't trust anyone to do the work they billed for.

[Jeff 993TT]

I change my tranny fluid once every 2 years or 10K miles. Even though the service manual states to do it every 30K miles. There are NO filters in the tranny and it's easy/cheap insurance.

[maxnine11]

Richard, your drain plug looks like any other with your mileage. I am looking at the factory manuals, maintenance section, and it calls does not call for the transmission fluid (manual trans.) to be changed until the 80,000 km service- 50,000 miles. so, the dealer probably never changed it. like you said,i can't imagine going that long when the oil is that cheap and the DIY is that easy. max

[jerrykrug]

Richard, How was the engine oil and tranny fluid to change? How long did it take? I am contimplating this on my 96 cab. Did you use a lift or 2 or 4 jackstands.

[john_colasante]

[Jeff 993TT]

Here's the info to change your trans fluid:

http://p-car.com/diy/transmissionfluid/

You will need 4 jack stands, or 4 wheel ramps. The car has to be level when you do it for the oil to drain out properly.

[Rick Lee]

Originally posted by jerrykrug
Richard, How was the engine oil and tranny fluid to change? How long did it take? I am contimplating this on my 96 cab. Did you use a lift or 2 or 4 jackstands.

Well, if you have a friend with a lift in his garage, it sure goes faster. Make sure you get some type of filter wrench for the oil change. If you use a lift, be sure to unscrew the rocker trim before raising, as the jack plate can cover up one of the screws you'll need to remove. You'll need to remove the passenger side heat ducting to access the small oil filter. It's not too bad. I'm a total klutz, I'm always wrong, break everything I touch and I'd say I did both jobs in under two hours total, albeit with a lift.

[Jeff 993TT]

Here's the link for the oil change: http://p-car.com/diy/changeoil/