74mm, 74.4mm, 76mm, 14 flats, 15 flats... (rant warning)

[j_beede]

As the owner of a MY05 997 C2 I am already dealing with the IMSB "mystery" until the clutch gets done. Too bad since J. Raby recently mentioned the "magic wand" which should have been part of my PPI. Apparently this is a gadget that can identify which IMSB is installed in M96/M97 without dropping the transmission. Now they tell me.

 

I had intended to change my oil filter yesterday... no luck as I spent my garage time looking for an oil filter wrench for my stock plastic canister. It seems that either people are using the wrong wrench (with mixed results) or P has done it again by using a variety of canisters on 997.1. Hence the title to this topic. I thought paying $36(!) for the cartridge at the P dealer was bad enough without paying $$$ for the billet unobtanium filter wrench that they offered--especially since many 997 owners claim to be using wrenches that they paid $3-5 for at Pep Boys or Kragen or WalMart. 

 

I am not near to any of those outlets so would like to order from Amazon. If only I knew to order 74mm, 74.4mm, 76mm, 14 flats, or 15 flats... I suppose I could buy all six combinations and hope that one fits. That would cost less than half the cost of the 996.xxx.yyy.xxx wrench plus round trip to the dealer.

 

I know about the LN spin-on adapter and will do that at the next oil service.

[jl-c]

I bought one of these from e-bay at £5.47 ($8.61 in US dollars)   :-       LASER TOOLS 3117 OIL FILTER WRENCH CUP TYPE 76MM X 14FLUTES

and it does the job nicely.

[hem997]

I have the official Porsche filter wrench purchased 25 years ago for use on a 944. Also fits 997.1. It 's a Mann LS 7 with 14 flutes but the exact diameter is difficult to measure since the flutes are recessed in the cylinder. These wrenches are available on the web for much less if you shop around. Interesting about the "magic wand." Could you please provide more info on jake Raby's "magic wand" for determinining the size/type of IMSB or provide a reference. Thanks.

[RFM]

76/14 is the one that you will need.

[j_beede]

76mm with 14 flats is easy to get locally. I will give it a try.

[j_beede]

75mm 14 flats (Pennzoil brand) worked okay. It is probably a bit too big as it sticks on the canister after applying torque. For $6 I have no complaints. 

Edited July 7, 2015 by j_beede

[j_beede]

MY05 C2 6-speed.

 

The 75mm, 14 flat filter wrench from O'Reilly (Pennzoil brand) worked but is really a bit too large. The wrench "stuck" on the canister after torquing and had to be coaxed off. No harm done.

 

You would expect an oil and filter change to be fairly uneventful. I had a couple issues come up:

 

1) Large aluminum drain plug and aluminum oil pan may not be the ideal combination. The drain plug broke free and spun out--finger tight--until about halfway out. Then it got snug again. A bad thread or two in oil pan. The new replacement drain plug threaded in by hand about halfway, then got snug, then spun in nicely for the last 2-3 turns. I was temped to chase the oil pan threads with a tap or steel bolt but left it "as is" for now as it torqued securely. Chasing the threads will surely leave tiny flecks of aluminum in the pan. Dropping the pan just to chase the threads seems like overkill as the bottom of my pan and garage floor are clean, dry, and oil free. I suspect the tiny bright specs in the filter were from the poor fitment of the drain plug. 

 

2) I started the oil refill with 7 quarts. The dash gauge reported low level--flashing low. Good. Added 1/2 quart and see one bar on the gauge. I slowly added oil until the gauge was at the upper arrow. Good. Took a drive to warm the engine and parked it. This morning with a cold engine I am above the upper arrow, all segments lit. 

[jl-c]

Welcome to the world of rubbish oil level measuring! Try not to get paranoid over it, trust me it is easy to do! I fill to one segment below full when cold, then when hot it reads full. Works for me, other may disagree. Remember it only reads the last couple of litres anyway, 400 cc's per division if I recall and at 410cc's it will illuminate the next segment so make your own mind up.

[j_beede]

jl-c,

That might have worked based on what I observed. I suppose I will be pulling the filter canister off to drain off about 550cc. Once I am calibrated I will know what to do next time.Using your method have you seen the level drop back down to one bar below the upper arrow when cold? 

...j

[jl-c]

yes it does.

[j_beede]

This morning the level was right at the upper arrow, cold engine. Good.