Oil Change on a 997

[MartinJF]

Just a quick note for 997 drivers. I have a 08 997S cab. everything is the same except that the bottom of the engine has a skid plate covering it. Porsche thoughtfully made a hole in it to allow drain plug removal BUT if you drain the oil without taking the skid plate off you end up with oil on the topside of the skid plate (ask how I know!) the oil drains fine to start with but near the end it tends to swirl to one side of the drain plug and end up on the top side (under the engine) of the skid plate.

You can poke a rag in to clean it (I did - until I got the tools to remove the skid plate) but that is not how I like to work.

The fix is simple the skid plate is held on by three External Torox bolts, they are located at the rear of the skid plate (2 off) and one in the front center. You need an E10 9 star socket to remove them, the space is small so a socket with a 1/4 inch drive would be great but I could only find one with a 3/8 drive. At first I could not get the socket in place, so one more trip to the parts store and I bought the thinnest (lowest profile) 3/8 driver I could find. After that it was simple to remove the plate (note how it fits before taking off) clean it and put it back. I do not know the torque settings but they were not that tight so I just snugged them up when I finished.

[nhannguyen]

Just a quick note for 997 drivers. I have a 08 997S cab. everything is the same except that the bottom of the engine has a skid plate covering it. Porsche thoughtfully made a hole in it to allow drain plug removal BUT if you drain the oil without taking the skid plate off you end up with oil on the topside of the skid plate (ask how I know!) the oil drains fine to start with but near the end it tends to swirl to one side of the drain plug and end up on the top side (under the engine) of the skid plate.

You can poke a rag in to clean it (I did - until I got the tools to remove the skid plate) but that is not how I like to work.

The fix is simple the skid plate is held on by three External Torox bolts, they are located at the rear of the skid plate (2 off) and one in the front center. You need an E10 9 star socket to remove them, the space is small so a socket with a 1/4 inch drive would be great but I could only find one with a 3/8 drive. At first I could not get the socket in place, so one more trip to the parts store and I bought the thinnest (lowest profile) 3/8 driver I could find. After that it was simple to remove the plate (note how it fits before taking off) clean it and put it back. I do not know the torque settings but they were not that tight so I just snugged them up when I finished.

I got the 08 997, the car does not has skid plate.

[dsumners]

I do not think this plate is standard on S's.

There is not one present on my '08 S nor was there one on the '07 I had...

FWIW, SunCoast sells the plate for about $99 that will fit 996 and 997, but not Turbo, GT2 or GT3...

[SKYKING]

I do not think this plate is standard on S's.

There is not one present on my '08 S nor was there one on the '07 I had...

FWIW, SunCoast sells the plate for about $99 that will fit 996 and 997, but not Turbo, GT2 or GT3...

Just picked up a new 08 C4S Cab. No Plate.

Car is stored on a lift.

Love to look at the engine.

[summoboy]

I do not think this plate is standard on S's.

There is not one present on my '08 S nor was there one on the '07 I had...

FWIW, SunCoast sells the plate for about $99 that will fit 996 and 997, but not Turbo, GT2 or GT3...

Just picked up a new 08 C4S Cab. No Plate.

Car is stored on a lift.

Love to look at the engine.

Skid plates are usually and aftermarket addition.

[cibergypsy]

I do not think this plate is standard on S's.

There is not one present on my '08 S nor was there one on the '07 I had...

FWIW, SunCoast sells the plate for about $99 that will fit 996 and 997, but not Turbo, GT2 or GT3...

Just picked up a new 08 C4S Cab. No Plate.

Car is stored on a lift.

Love to look at the engine.

Mine is a 2006 Carrera S that I ordered from the dealer and it came with no plate. I had the plate installed afterwards and it is NOT an aftermarket part but a Porsche part sourced from my local dealer and carries a 996.xxx.xxx.xx number, so it is a 996 part but, of course, perfectly compatible with the 997s. I bought it as insurance but don't know if I really needed it. I guess it could help if you go over debris on the highway and that's why I bought it. There is no detrimental effect on the warranty and it is a genuine Porsche part. Cheap insurance, I guess.

[Loren]

The plate is intended to protect the engine if you (somehow) end up off the road - and/or to keep you from doing damage by backing into a curb etc.