Got a Boxster for Birthday! Oil Question

[Supra-p!g]

Just got a 98 Boxster for my Birthday. Now I have two Porsches! First question is: can I drive it for a few more days on the old oil until I get it changed this weekend. The car has 57K miles. Last owner changed oil 1.5K miles ago. So he drove the car very little over the last year since the last oil change, but it's been a year. It's fairly dry here in Colorado, and the car has always been garaged. Should I change immediately, or can drive it a few hundred miles until I get the oil changed this weekend? IMS failure a huge issue on these 98's? The oil looks clear and like new when I check on the dipstick.

 

The engine sounds excellent. I can hear the chain rattle momentarily when I start it cold. Also, plan to use Driven DT40 oil that I have an extra case of (bought it for my Cayenne, but have enough to do the Boxster) and it's 5W40.

 

Thanks! I'm really enjoying the car -- it's not a 420 HP MKIV that used to have, but it's almost as fun.

Mike

Edited April 6, 2017 by Supra-p!g
typo

[JFP in PA]

I would change the oil because of its age; used oil can break down over time from action of the contaminants on the additive package.  The DT40 is an excellent choice.

 

A 98 would have the dual row IMS, which is one of the strongest.  Dual rows do fail, but at a much lower rate than the later single row bearings.

[mikefocke]

But will it kill the engine to drive with the oil you have for a hundred miles or three days?  Probably not but, as JFP said, definitely change the oil, oil filter and crush ring as soon as you can.  And then look at new brake fluid.

 

But the net can only tell you "probably" because stuff happens.

[White987S]

If you want the full effect of the Driven 5W40, you need to do a flush (200-400 miles) with BR30 first. The Driven oil products fight many other oil companie's additive packages. The Driven products are not Porsche A40 approved (there are over 200 oils on the list), if that matters to you. If you elect not to do the flush, you will not see the true benefit of the Driven 5W40 for about 3 oil change cycles (due to the cross pollination). This could easily be 2-3 years for most owners. This flush process come directly from the oil's developers (L. Speed and J. Raby).

 

If it were my Birthday-Boxster (BIG congrats, BTW), I'd use Mobil 5W50, and call it a day. My Mobil 5W50 UOA's (Blackstone Used Oil Analysis) have always exceeded the Driven in my 987S and 991S.

[JFP in PA]

2 hours ago, White987S said:

IIf it were my Birthday-Boxster (BIG congrats, BTW), I'd use Mobil 5W50, and call it a day. My Mobil 5W50 UOA's (Blackstone Used Oil Analysis) have always exceeded the Driven in my 987S and 991S.

 

Exceeded the DT how?

 

We have converted over dozens of customers from other oils to the DT40 by a simple through drain and refill without any consequences, and with excellent UOA's as well.

[White987S]

16 minutes ago, JFP in PA said:

 

Exceeded the DT how?

Better (lower) wear metals. Alum, Iron, and Copper.

Better high shear, high temp, stability. Oil stays in grade longer, over the drain interval.

Better zinc levels.

Better phosphorus levels.

 

DT40 is a good product, slightly better than Mobil 0W40. My experience is that Mobil 5W50 is slightly better again than DT40, with the added advantage of; being A40 approved, has far less cross polination issues, and much easier to purchase (Napa Auto Parts).

[JFP in PA]

Interesting.  We have collected quite a few UOA's on the DT product, and they have consistently out performed similar mileage M1 5W-50 samples, and absolutely buried the M1 0W-40 product.

[Ddavidoff]

It would take less than 10 minutes to drop the oil and put new oil in....if nothing else do that and change the filter later.


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[Supra-p!g]

Got my oil changed. The oil filter had a layer of sludge on the bottom. Cleaned it out, but I think the prior owner had the car sit in his garage for most of every year, except for 1500 miles a year. The oil came out clean, and looked like new. Also had the car put on the computer and the cam positions read 0 and -1. Bob said that the engine seems very well taken care of. 57K miles, now has 58.5K after driving to work for 8 days, at 180 miles a day.

 

Also, apparently I have "auto start." I thought it was supposed to be like this -- I put the key in turn it and press the clutch -- the car cranks and starts by itself.

[White987S]

8 hours ago, Supra-p!g said:

Also, apparently I have "auto start." I thought it was supposed to be like this -- I put the key in turn it and press the clutch -- the car cranks and starts by itself.

Sounds like a prior owner bypassed the clutch microswitch.

[Supra-p!g]

You still have to press the clutch in to get it to start. The engine cranks and starts without having to hold the key to the left. I can just put the key in turn it to the left and let go. As soon as I press the clutch pedal the car cranks and starts on it's own -- no hands. 

 

I was wondering if the sludge could be in motor as well if I found it on the filter housing.

[JFP in PA]

The car should not start that way; either someone has altered it or the ignitions switch is bad.

 

If you have sludge in the filter housing, you have sludge in the engine.

[White987S]

7 hours ago, Supra-p!g said:

 

 

I was wondering if the sludge could be in motor as well if I found it on the filter housing.

I suggest you do another oil change in 1,000 miles, and send a sample off to Blackstone Labs for a baseline UOA. Then, rinse & repeat every 5,000 miles. Yearly at a minimum. Order your free sample kits today.