Tech Tips: Doing an Oil Change on a Porsche 997.1

Okay, if you own a Porsche, odds are you can afford the several hundred dollar oil change at your dealership or from a local mechanic. But maybe, just maybe, you got your Porsche by knowing when and where you can save money… and doing an oil change yourself is a perfect way to save a couple of hundred Deutsche Marks. (Yes, I know the Germans use the Euro now.)

Full disclosure, before working for the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, I had never worked on cars at all. I put gas in my cars. And I washed them. I changed a dead battery… once. But, two years in, my hands are dirty, as everyone’s should be! That said, I’m obviously not an expert mechanic so before you go and mess up your car, be sure to read the disclaimer at the end of this article. You, and only you, are responsible for yourself and your vehicle! Now, back to the DIY…

With the self-confidence that I’ve built up over the last couple of years, and a little help from the internet, I decided to do an oil change on my grandfather’s 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera. The 2008 911 is designated as the 997 by Porsche. In fact, it was the last year of the first generation 997s (model years 2005-2008) so owners often refer to it as a 997.1. I hear oil changes for the second gen 997s (model years 2009-2012) are even easier because the oil filter is located in the engine compartment, rather than underneath the car.

You really don’t need much to change the oil on a 997.1. The car has to be level so some people will jack it up and put it on stands. My beer belly is getting bigger, but it’s not so big that I couldn’t lay on the ground to fit under the car without lifting it at all. That may sound like bragging. It’s not. It really just means I need to drink more beer. Anyway, here’s what you’ll need:

Just about everything you need for an oil change on a Porsche 997.

• Disposable Latex or Nitrile Gloves
• 8mm Hex Driver Socket
• Socket Wrench
• 76mm, 14 flute Oil Filter Cap or a Strap Wrench (see my note later in the article)
• Needle-nose pliers or flat head screw driver
• Funnel
• Oil Drain Pan
• Oil Recycle Jug
• 9 qt. Oil (I used Porsche recommended Mobil 1 0W-40)
• New Oil Filter, which will come with a new O-ring to seal the filter

Let’s get started.

1. You’re going to want to run the engine for a bit to get the existing oil nice and hot – about 200°F. This will help it flow when you take out the drain plug. It should also help remove more impurities from your engine.

2. Now, with the engine off, it’s time to get under your car. Position your drain pan so it will catch the oil when you unscrew the drain plug and filter housing. I also used some old towels to protect the garage floor.

NOTE: Some advice about drain pans… I actually used two 5 qt. pans because that’s what I already had in my garage. Of course, this means I had to pull one full pan out and quickly slide the second pan under the flowing oil, which got a little messy. I’ll definitely buy a 10 qt. drain pan for the next oil change!

Using two 5 qt. drain pans was not my best idea.

3. Use your socket wrench and 8mm hex bit to unscrew the drain plug. This is where the gloves come in… I don’t mind getting dirty, but the gloves will help protect your hands from the hot oil. 

WARNING: The oil will be hot! Be careful not to burn yourself!

4. Once the oil has stopped flowing, which may take 10-15 minutes, you can reinstall the drain plug and washer. You want the plug good and tight, but do not over-tighten the plug!

IMPORTANT: Don’t forget the drain plug washer! Trust me on this… you will be VERY annoyed with yourself if you forget the washer on your work bench.

Arrow 1 shows the location of your drain plug. Arrow 2 shows the old filter, after the housing has been removed.

5. It’s time to use the 76 mm filter cap to remove the oil filter housing. Keep in mind, there will be more oil in the housing, and it could still be hot. You’ll want to position yourself and the drain pan so that it’s easy to pour the oil from the housing into the pan.

NOTE: My oil filter cap got stuck to the filter housing, and it was NOT fun getting it back off. I had to use a large flat head screwdriver to carefully pry the cap from the filter. For future oil changes, I plan to purchase a strap wrench, which will prevent the headache of a stuck filter cap.  

6. Now gently pull down on the old filter to remove it.

7. Find the notch on the filter housing and carefully use your needle-nose pliers or a flat head screw driver to pull up the old O-ring so that you can grab it with your fingers to remove it. You can now use your fingers to apply a little bit of oil from the filter housing to the new O-ring that came with your new filter. The oil will help you slide/roll down the new O-ring into place on the housing. Make sure the O-ring is seated properly!

Find the notch in the filter housing to easily remove the old O-ring.

8. Install the new filter by pressing it into place. You should be able to hear it click into place if it’s installed properly.

Old vs. New!

9. Pour some fresh oil into the filter housing (until it’s about half full) and then carefully reinstall the housing. The fresh oil will prime your engine when you start it once the oil change is complete. Again, you want the filter housing on tight, but don’t over-tighten it.

IMPORTANT: You must add fresh oil to the filter housing before installing it!

If it’s good enough for Porsche, it’s good enough for me…

10. Pour the proper amount of fresh oil into your car using the filler pipe in your engine compartment. Your 997.1 should take about 9 quarts of oil, but keep in mind you already added some in the filter housing, and some of the old oil may not have drained entirely. As such, I only added about 8 quarts, maybe just over that, through the filler pipe.

The 997 doesn’t have a dipstick to check the oil level so you’ll want to use the digital information center on your dashboard to confirm that your oil level is acceptable. Once you have, start up the car and check for leaks. 

Hey dipstick! Don’t forget to check your oil level!

11. Use your funnel to transfer the old oil from your drain pan to your recycle jug. Take the old oil to a recycling center, and that’s it!

You’re done. Go enjoy your life… you own a Porsche!

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Proper service and repair procedures are vital to the safe, reliable operation of all motor vehicles, as well as the personal safety of those performing repairs or maintenance procedures. Safety procedures and precautions (including the use of safety goggles, proper tools, jacks and equipment, and proper exhausting and ventilation) should be followed at all times to avoid personal injury, illness, death or property damage, and to avoid compromising the safety of the vehicle or third parties. The information on this website is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of a qualified automobile mechanic who has personally inspected the vehicle for purposes of diagnosis or repair. You should always seek the advice of the automobile manufacturer, the dealer where the automobile may have been purchased, a qualified mechanic or other qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding automobile safety, maintenance, or repair. You should not delay, avoid or disregard the advice of the manufacturer, dealer or qualified auto mechanic because of anything you may have read, seen or heard on this site.

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