992 GT3 Oil Change

[Hawk]

Two questions regarding oil changes for the new 992 GT3.

The 992 GT3 holds 8.1L total capacity but only calls for 4.1 L for oil and filter change per Workshop Manual and confirmed with dealer. Also, now calls for Mobile 1 ESP X3 0W-40 (Porsche C40).

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Really don't understand only changing half the oil at a time. I understand concerns about environmental impacts but that has nothing to do with the care and feeding of this ICE engine. For example, if you are only changing half the oil, you are really only diluting the degraded/contaminated oil by 50% so the next service interval will start off with 50% contaminated/degraded oil at the start of it's service interval. The third service interval will start off with even a higher percentage of contamination etc and so on. Granted, its probably more important to replace the filter than all the oil but this still does not make any sense to me.

Feels like I should have the oil and filter changed more frequently than factory recommendation. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Would you not recommend mixing / changing to another oil brand (Liqui Moly 4110)?

[Tom]

Crazy. For those who speculate that it's an environmental thing, I'd argue that theory is undermined by the fact that Porsche doesn't recommend changing half the oil in all of it's other cars. I'd guess it's just some practical constraint imposed by the dry sump, coupled with Porsche's confidence in synthetic oil/filter and its ECU-based oil change intervals? Or less likely an oil priming challenge of some kind? Either way, it's bonkers to change half the oil -- at least in my shadetree mechanic, armchair quarterback, internet know-it-all opinion.

I wonder if it's just a matter of time before owners/indies figure out how to drain and replace the rest for a more conventional oil change.

In the meantime, I'd be inclined change it 2 or 3 times in short succession. Change it; drive it enough to blend it to 50/50; change it; drive it enough to blend it 75/25; then maybe one more time to get it to 87.5% new oil, which is about what you get with a typical oil change. Wasteful for sure, but leaving 4 quarts of dirty oil in there just feels wrong. Either that, or just change it more frequently than the manual/ECU says. Or just trust that Porsche knows what it's doing I suppose.

I watched when the dealer changed mine (Turbo S) and they drained over 7 quarts out of the 8.5 capacity. The biggest challenge for the home mechanic will be filling it to the right level without a dipstick or Porsche's dealer computers. The dash level gauge is delayed and slow and not really intended for that purpose. I had it changed after an initial break-in (about 1k miles) and the filter was full of metal flakes. Seeing that made me very happy I didn't wait until the first official oil change many thousands of miles later.

[Hawk]

Crazy. For those who speculate that it's an environmental thing, I'd argue that theory is undermined by the fact that Porsche doesn't recommend changing half the oil in all of it's other cars. I'd guess it's just some practical constraint imposed by the dry sump, coupled with Porsche's confidence in synthetic oil/filter and its ECU-based oil change intervals? Or less likely an oil priming challenge of some kind? Either way, it's bonkers to change half the oil -- at least in my shadetree mechanic, armchair quarterback, internet know-it-all opinion.

I wonder if it's just a matter of time before owners/indies figure out how to drain and replace the rest for a more conventional oil change.

In the meantime, I'd be inclined change it 2 or 3 times in short succession. Change it; drive it enough to blend it to 50/50; change it; drive it enough to blend it 75/25; then maybe one more time to get it to 87.5% new oil, which is about what you get with a typical oil change. Wasteful for sure, but leaving 4 quarts of dirty oil in there just feels wrong. Either that, or just change it more frequently than the manual/ECU says. Or just trust that Porsche knows what it's doing I suppose.

I watched when the dealer changed mine (Turbo S) and they drained over 7 quarts out of the 8.5 capacity. The biggest challenge for the home mechanic will be filling it to the right level without a dipstick or Porsche's dealer computers. The dash level gauge is delayed and slow and not really intended for that purpose. I had it changed after an initial break-in (about 1k miles) and the filter was full of metal flakes. Seeing that made me very happy I didn't wait until the first official oil change many thousands of miles later.

Thanks Tom. Exactly what I was thinking. No real idea why Porsche has engineered this. I have heard that the remaining 4 L are retained in the oil cooling system. This is pure speculation. Even the shop foreman at my dealership does not know the definitive reason. I'm also thinking that I should continue to use Porsche's recommended Mobil 1 rather than mix brands.

[Larry C]

Hawk,
Very interesting oil change recommendation by the manufacturer. I have a 718 GTS. I’ll check my owner’s manual regarding the oil change recommendation. I’m new to Porsche an am still early in the learning phase. Thanks for all your informative posts!

[Hawk]

Hawk,
Very interesting oil change recommendation by the manufacturer. I have a 718 GTS. I’ll check my owner’s manual regarding the oil change recommendation. I’m new to Porsche an am still early in the learning phase. Thanks for all your informative posts!

I've discussed with my Service Manager and he is just as baffled as I am. He has not performed an oil and filter change on a 992 GT3 yet. When they do, they are going to let it drain for a long time and measure how much oil is actually drained out. He will then let me know and I will certainly post his findings. He did suggest, however, that I should consider an oil and filter change at 500 miles and then again at 1,000 miles.

Let us know what Porsche recommends for your 718 GTS. Will be interesting to compare.

[Tom]

Hawk,
Very interesting oil change recommendation by the manufacturer. I have a 718 GTS. I’ll check my owner’s manual regarding the oil change recommendation. I’m new to Porsche an am still early in the learning phase. Thanks for all your informative posts!

I've discussed with my Service Manager and he is just as baffled as I am. He has not performed an oil and filter change on a 992 GT3 yet. When they do, they are going to let it drain for a long time and measure how much oil is actually drained out. He will then let me know and I will certainly post his findings. He did suggest, however, that I should consider an oil and filter change at 500 miles and then again at 1,000 miles.

Let us know what Porsche recommends for your 718 GTS. Will be interesting to compare.

I like your Service Manager's advice about the early oil changes. The other car to watch closely is the GT4RS. It has the GT3 motor, but in an entirely different chassis, so it might be interesting to see if that car still only gets 4 quarts per oil 'change." It 'seems' like Porsche could have (or would have) put another drain port somewhere if it's just a matter of easily getting all the old oil out...?

[Hawk]

Hawk,
Very interesting oil change recommendation by the manufacturer. I have a 718 GTS. I’ll check my owner’s manual regarding the oil change recommendation. I’m new to Porsche an am still early in the learning phase. Thanks for all your informative posts!

I've discussed with my Service Manager and he is just as baffled as I am. He has not performed an oil and filter change on a 992 GT3 yet. When they do, they are going to let it drain for a long time and measure how much oil is actually drained out. He will then let me know and I will certainly post his findings. He did suggest, however, that I should consider an oil and filter change at 500 miles and then again at 1,000 miles.

Let us know what Porsche recommends for your 718 GTS. Will be interesting to compare.

I like your Service Manager's advice about the early oil changes. The other car to watch closely is the GT4RS. It has the GT3 motor, but in an entirely different chassis, so it might be interesting to see if that car still only gets 4 quarts per oil 'change." It 'seems' like Porsche could have (or would have) put another drain port somewhere if it's just a matter of easily getting all the old oil out...?

Yep. Absolutely watching what they recommend for the GT4RS.

[HugoGT3]

Anyone have any updates on this crazy half-oil change procedure? Bringing my 23 GT3 in for it's third half-oil change. Has anyone had the entire 8 liters changed at the dealer? This half capacity oil change makes even less sense since Porsche revised the oil spec to Mobile 1 C40 GT 0W-40. Wouldn't you think they would require a complete drain and fill to the new spec oil? Otherwise the new spec oil is just contaminated with dirty, diluted old spec oil. What am I missing here?

[marin]

I've changed my own on the GT4RS. Only half comes out (4L). There's no easy way to drain it all.

[Tom]

Would you be able to get at it with an extractor pump like this cheapy from HF?

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