Tiptronic oil change guru required !

[PAT4]

Hi all

Just asked my mechanic to change the Tiptronic fluid on my 2000 3.4 996 (MY2000). I did not speak about the oil but when I read the invoice, I noticed he put DEXRON III ATF fluid.

I read many things about ATF fluids in our 996 but never heard about DEXRON III in these Tiptros. I checked approved ATF fluids by Porsche, there are many but not DEXRON.

I asked the mechanic and he said "I always put DEXRON III, no problem".

I tried to look more and it appears that Dexron II was approved for Tiptros in 993 series. But not for 996 series.

Do you think it could be a problem?
Do you think I should be drained again to put an explicitly approved oil?

many thanks

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by PAT4

Hi all

Just asked my mechanic to change the Tiptronic fluid on my 2000 3.4 996 (MY2000). I did not speak about the oil but when I read the invoice, I noticed he put DEXRON III ATF fluid.

I read many things about ATF fluids in our 996 but never heard about DEXRON III in these Tiptros. I checked approved ATF fluids by Porsche, there are many but not DEXRON.

I asked the mechanic and he said "I always put DEXRON III, no problem".

I tried to look more and it appears that Dexron II was approved for Tiptros in 993 series. But not for 996 series.

Do you think it could be a problem?
Do you think I should be drained again to put an explicitly approved oil?

many thanks

I am not aware of any approvals for Dextron in these transmissions.

[PAT4]

A topic speaking of Dexron as the original spec. for 993, by example

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-964-993-technical-forum/604596-993-tiptronic-filter-gasket-atf-change-pictures.html

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by PAT4

A topic speaking of Dexron as the original spec. for 993, by example

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-964-993-technical-forum/604596-993-tiptronic-filter-gasket-atf-change-pictures.html

Again, I have never seen any documentation by Porsche approving any type of Dextron for these cars.................... A lot of people claim a lot of different fluids are usable, none of them have ever been substantiated.

[PAT4]

It's worrying ...
Do you think it could be a real problem?
Do you think I should be drained again to put an explicitly approved oil?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by PAT4

It's worrying ...
Do you think it could be a real problem?
Do you think I should be drained again to put an explicitly approved oil?

You will be the first one to discover how it plays out if you do not change it out. The correct fluid is cheap, replacing the Tip is not.

If you ran the car, your problem is larger than that; draining the Tip only removes about 1/3 of the fluid in the system, the rest cannot be gravity drained because of where it is in the system. So you would be in the market to drain, refill, run, drain again, refill, run, drain again and so on until you flushed out all of the Dextron.

It pays to pay attention to what fluids are supposed to be in the cars.

[PAT4]

Thanks for all JFP

Where can I find a documentation by Porsche detailling the approuved ATF products for 996's tiptros, to show the %#@&£§ mechanic who put the Motul Dexron III in my gearbox ?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by PAT4

Thanks for all JFP

Where can I find a documentation by Porsche detailling the approuved ATF products for 996's tiptros, to show the %#@&£§ mechanic who put the Motul Dexron III in my gearbox ?

Porsche's actual fluid is an Esso ATF LT 71141, but what you need is the factory TSB listing the approved fluids (which are not that numerous). I would suggest asking a dealer for a copy of the technical service bulletin as Porsche gets very upset with anyone posting it online.