DIY tune up

[PetrolAppraiser]

Hello everyone,

 

 I purchased my first 911 approximately 3 weeks ago. I've been a Porsche fan for 11 years, and it's everything I thought and hoped it would be. It's a 2007 base Carrera with 53,600 miles (now 54,000), 6 speed with Bose sound and Midnight blue as the only options. I had a PPI done prior to purchase and it came back with a relatively clean bill of health - no over rev's, AOS looks like a newer unit according to tech from visual inspection, there was a little bit of dried residue around the water pump are but no indication of recent weeping (tech suspected it was replaced previously)*. The throttle body/intake plenum had/has a coat of oil, tech suspected it was prior to the aos being changed and the shop didn't bother to clean. Otherwise the clutch and gearbox feel great once warm, brake pads had been replaced and rotors likely surfaced as there is a noticeable lip towards the outer edge. Pedal is firm. It was a single-previous owner car with a great interior and good exterior, front bumper was re-sprayed at some point but otherwise solid all around, given age and price.

 

My TPMS sensors went out within a few hundred miles, have a knock-off set from Amazon on my watchlist but haven't decided if I want to deal with them anymore or have it de-coded all together. If I do purchase a new set, any suggestions on how/where to get them installed?

 

Anyways, I've got a free weekend coming up and wanted to set a baseline as I don't know previously ownership history in detail. So far I've got:

 

Pelican Parts Maintenance Kit (spark plugs, air/cabin/oil filters, oil drain plug gasket)

blackstone oil analysis kit ordered

cool-trak coolant strips

magnetic drain plug (LN Engineering)

throttle body seal

Optibelt

3 liters of Fuchs manual transmission fluid 75W-90**

9 quarts of Mobil 1 0W-40***

 

 

Tools I know I'll need:

16mm triple-square tool

10mm hex socket

8mm torx 

Engine oil filter wrench (Hazet)

Spark plug wrench

 

I'm thinking buying a torx/hex bit set would be a wise investment, are there any other must have tools for the aforementioned jobs? I've got a partial "basic set" in the garage.

 

 

My plan is to replace the oil, filters, belt, plugs and transmission fluid. Then clean the plenum/tb, reinstall and observe for any new spray. Any recommendations on cleaner/solvent products to use or will carb cleaner do the trick? Same goes for cleaning up some of the little residue found near the water pump. Finally I'll check the coolant pH level. ***In the 400 miles the overflow tank has not gone down however I smell a hint of coolant after a drive. Being that this is my first 911, I'm unsure what to expect as normal smells or not normal, I suspect the tiny residue is the tell-tale sign of the water pump on its way out - then again I'm worried it may be the AOS due to the fine coating of oil in the plenum/tb. Or it could be a leak somewhere completely different. It isn't a strong sweet smell - more a hint of coolant, tough to describe.

 

Nonetheless I'll be doing a new water pump, thermostat and coolant flush closer to summer time, thinking the third radiator addition may be a good warm weather addition. I'll be at the Festival of Speed in Fontana in April, maybe some attending members could checking out the car and ease/affirm my fears on the likely leak.

 

Final questions for you gurus - are there any other critical components I should be addressing during this tune-up? Tires are in good shape, windshield wipers could use replacing and the paint could use a major correction - lots of fine swirl makes. I've got some compound, wax and elbow grease in the garage - just waiting for the time.

 

** Regarding the Fuchs brand over Porsche brand - is it reasonable to cut costs here assuming I'm anal enough to do the fluid every 15,000 miles regardless of brand?

*** I hate to be THAT guy and ask but, Mobil 1 0W-40 full synthetic - can it be the generic type from any box store or does it have to be the European car specific blend? I'm located in Southern California, no snow where I'm at and the car is driven typically on warm/hot days - should I be considering a different spec oil? Changes come every 5,000 miles. My temp readings are typically between 220-225 degrees if I'm enjoying the car. Too high? Water temp stays pegged at 175 once warm.

 

I hate to ask questions that have been answered so many times in prolific history of the forum, looking for verification on assumptions and due diligence between clicking 'purchase' on the shopping carts. Thanks.

 

[JFP in PA]

Welcome to RennTech :welcome:

 

You have many questions, but let's start with the majors:

 

• If the car is running 220-225F, it is overheating; it should run that hot, even when being beaten.  You need to find out why this is happening as heat equals death to the M96/97 engine.  I would start by pulling the front fascia and cleaning out around the radiators (they are a collector for everything from leaves to dead birds).  I would also seriously consider switching the car to a 160F thermostat, and check under the water pump looking for crusted coolant, a sign the pump is on the way out and it needs to be proactively replaced.
• Send the Fuchs gear oil back and get the factory lube.  Porsche uses a unique fluid that is made to their specs, it is fully synthetic and keeps the gearbox happy, particularly when cold.
• Never skimp on the oil used in these engines. For your location, I would use either Joe Gibbs DT40 (5W-40) or Castrol Edge with Syntec technology in a 10W-40 weight.  Both offer higher film strength, and the Gibbs product has the highest ZDDP level you can find in an oil.
• Replace the serpentine belt and check all of the pulleys, idlers and the water pump for play or noise.

[kbrandsma]

If you have swirls on the paint.  You can remove them with the Zaino Brothers System.  I've used them for 10 years or so!

 

More information can be found at their website here:

https://www.zainostore.com/

 

 

YouTube Here:

 

Edited March 6, 2016 by kbrandsma

[Rikky]

I would check the coils for cracks and replace them all together with the fresh sparkplugs. They are cheap.

[dphatch]

I would check the coils for cracks and replace them all together with the fresh sparkplugs. They are cheap.

 

+1 to  this one. 

 

As for tools, best bet would be to  read a few of the DIY's on plug/coil pack replacement as they offer helpful hints and tips and often reference tools required. The more you work on these cars the more tools you will need as  basic tools won't get you to many of the places Porsche put stuff in the engine bay of a 997. 

[kbrandsma]

I'm of the opinion to not replace a coil pack until they fail. When they fail they will throw a code telling you which one to replace.