Manual Transmission Oil Change Instructions

[Loren]

View this tutorial

Manual Transmission Oil Change Instructions

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Note: Part numbers sometimes change without notice. Always double check with your supplier that you have the latest part numbers. Parts you will need: 3-4 liters 999 917 546 00 (Shell) Shell Transaxle (75W-90) or Mobil Mobilube PTX (75W-90) Approved Manual Transmission Oils 000 043 204 20 Mobil (Mobilube PTX) - 20 liter container 000 043 204 19 Shell (Transaxle) - 20 liter container 999 917 546 00 Shell (Transaxle) - 1 liter container Note: All are synthetic GL4 and GL5 rated (

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• Author
  Loren
• Category
  Carrera (996) - Maintenance
• Submitted
  11/15/2005 02:04 PM
• Updated
  03/22/2017 05:41 AM

 

[MarkT.Bevans]

Would Swepco 201 be OK for a 996 manual transmission??

Note: Part numbers sometimes change without notice. Always double check with your supplier that you have the latest part numbers.

Parts you will need:

3-4 liters 999 917 546 00 (Shell) Shell Transaxle (75W-90) or Mobil Mobilube PTX (75W-90)

Approved Manual Transmission Oils

000 043 204 20 Mobil (Mobilube PTX) - 20 liter container

000 043 204 19 Shell (Transaxle) - 20 liter container

999 917 546 00 Shell (Transaxle) - 1 liter container

Note: All are synthetic GL4 and GL5 rated (or "non-conventional processing") oils. GL oils have good light running properties because of their light low-temperature viscosity as well as a high level of temperature stability.

Tools you will need:

Tire ramps or jack

17 mm allen for the fill plug image

16 mm triple square with a hole in the middle for the drain plug image

(some cars have an allen type drain plug)

3 quart oil catch pan

Torque wrench (optional)

Drain Transmission Oil

Transmission oil should be changed when the engine/transmission has reached normal operating temperature. CAUTION - oil will be hot, take adequate precautions to avoid being burned.

1. Use ramps or jack up the vehicle at the points provided.
   
2. Remove underside panels to access the transmission. (Boxster owners you need to loosen the diagonal braces and then remove the transverse strut member. A little more work on a Boxster. When you put them back they need to have the bolts torqued to 48 ft lbs. (65 nm). See images Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 ) (images courtesy of scherb)
   
3. Place oil collection pan under the transmission (at least 9 quarts). Always dispose of the waste oil in accordance with local legal requirements.
   
4. Unscrew oil filler screw (1).
   
5. Unscrew oil drain screw (2) and drain transmission oil.
   
6. Wait about 20 minutes for all the old oil to drain.
   
   

Fill Transmission Oil

1. Clean oil drain and oil filler screw.
   
2. Screw in oil drain screw. Tightening torque: 22 ft-lb.
   
3. Fill with gear oil up to the bottom edge of the oil filler opening.
   
4. Screw in oil filler screw. Tightening torque: 22 ft-lb.
   
5. Install underside panels.
   

Model/Capacity (approx.)

Manual Transmission

911 Carrera (G96/00) - 2.7 liters

911 Carrera 4 (G96/30) - 2.7 liters

GT3 - 3.3 liters

Boxster (G86/00) - 2.25 liters

Turbo - 3.0 liters

Front-axle Final Drive

911 Carrera 4 (Z96/00) - 1.5 liters

Turbo - 1.2 liters

[AndrewWK]

Would Swepco 201 be OK for a 996 manual transmission??

I've been using Swepco 201 in my LSD equipped car for the last 2 yrs or so. I've been very happy with it.

Andrew

[mxdave74]

This seems a bit of a dumb question, but... Anyone know if Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lubricant LS 75W-90 is approved? I don't see any other 75W-90 on the Mobil website and its data sheet mentions a GI-5 rating, though I'm wondering if this is a typo. My gut says the Mobile 1 75W-90 is Porsche approved, but looking for more comfort than gut feeling. Oh, and the car, in my case is an 04 GT3... no idea what differences are between my LSD and other models is.

Dave

Note: Part numbers sometimes change without notice. Always double check with your supplier that you have the latest part numbers.

Parts you will need:

3-4 liters 999 917 546 00 (Shell) Shell Transaxle (75W-90) or Mobil Mobilube PTX (75W-90)

Approved Manual Transmission Oils

000 043 204 20 Mobil (Mobilube PTX) - 20 liter container

000 043 204 19 Shell (Transaxle) - 20 liter container

999 917 546 00 Shell (Transaxle) - 1 liter container

Note: All are synthetic GL4 and GL5 rated (or "non-conventional processing") oils. GL oils have good light running properties because of their light low-temperature viscosity as well as a high level of temperature stability.

Edited February 26, 2007 by mxdave74

[996C4SC]

Does the car need to be jack up on 4 wheel and level to do the oil change? Thanks in advance.

[swahealy2]

I want to thank the mkembers who cntributed to this article on transmission gear oil change. I bought a boxter recently and am changing the gear oil and this article has been very helpful.

Regards,

Chris :D

[CMiYC]

How often or when should the oil be changed on a manual transmission?

Thanks!

[Kelseydog]

BacK when I had a 350Z, it was very clear that one should only use GL4, not GL5. I haven't looked at the manual yet but wondered if this was true for Porsche?

Warning!!

Do not use GL5 transmission fluid. It will damage the synchros in the Nissan transmission. You need GL4 fluid. Most fluid you buy at autoparts stores is GL5.

[Loren]

How often or when should the oil be changed on a manual transmission?

Thanks!

:welcome:

That would depend on the model and year of your car.

Have you looked at the Maintenance Schedules here?

[gpcarrera]

Anyone use Red Line MT 90 manual transmission fluid in their 996?

Thanks,

Greg

[chipmunk]

:renntech:

Thanks for the DIY and helpful posts from everyone! I bought an '02 C2 996 Targa in March now with 41K miles and will change the manual tranny oil (Redline 75W-90) this weekend. Does anyone know if the drain plug and fill plug seals need to be replaced?

Alvin

[Loren]

:renntech:

Thanks for the DIY and helpful posts from everyone! I bought an '02 C2 996 Targa in March now with 41K miles and will change the manual tranny oil (Redline 75W-90) this weekend. Does anyone know if the drain plug and fill plug seals need to be replaced?

Alvin

Only if they are damaged on removal - make sure you use the right tools.

[flyingpenguin]

Due to increased gear clatter after upgrading to a lightweight flywheel I am now running the Redline Shockproof gear oil. It's not cheap but the results are amazing.

Initially I filled up (about 3qt.) with the super lightweight shockproof, but still had some clatter going on below 3000 rpms under high load (accelarating). I changed out one qt. of the superlightweight with the heavy shockproof and all clatter is gone now.

See http://www.redlineoil.com/products_gearlub...ubCategoryID=16

I guess in hindsight, using the lightweight instead of a combination of superleightweight + some heavy grade would have been the right way to go from the start.

Even if you are not experiencing gear clatter, I guess any car that sees severe duty use (ie. track time) would benefit from this product.

I am curious as to other people's experience with this product. Loren?

Joost

[flyingpenguin]

Loren,

I read somewhere else that the transmission should be filled upto 11 mm below the bottom of the filler plug.

I guess my question is, what negative effect can be expected from overfilling the transmission?

Joost

[Loren]

Loren,

I read somewhere else that the transmission should be filled upto 11 mm below the bottom of the filler plug.

I guess my question is, what negative effect can be expected from overfilling the transmission?

Joost

If the car is sitting level when you fill it - then it can not be over filled because it will run out the fill hole.

[flyingpenguin]

Assuming it was not sitting completely level, ie. front higher then rear and about half a quart extra had been added, given the internals of the tranny, would you expect any negative effects?

Joost

[Loren]

Assuming it was not sitting completely level, ie. front higher then rear and about half a quart extra had been added, given the internals of the tranny, would you expect any negative effects?

Joost

I would jack it up remove the plug - lower the jack so the car is level and let any excess drain out.

Then raise it up and put the plug back in.

[silver_6r]

Assuming it was not sitting completely level, ie. front higher then rear and about half a quart extra had been added, given the internals of the tranny, would you expect any negative effects?

Joost

I would jack it up remove the plug - lower the jack so the car is level and let any excess drain out.

Then raise it up and put the plug back in.

so would using one quart of heavy shock proof and two of super light weight be the right way to go?

i have a '99 996 with lightweight flywheel and a B&M... loud gears.... and very notchy.... the important thing here is that 1-->2 is a little harder to get in than the rest... no grinding, no popping out... just harder to get into... so i want to put in different oil to aleviat the situation

i do autoX and some track days... i DONT grind gears.. and i am very carefull when shifting...

also, what fluid do you recommmend for the clutch system

thanks,

Rod

[Porsche_911]

How many gallon or quarts do I need to buy? Thank you!

[flyingpenguin]

Rod,

As I mentioned above, I guess the mid-grade shockproof would have been the right way to go, although I have to say that after a good 4 months and 4-5K miles with this stuff in the tranny, the 2/3 superlight + 1/3 heavy shockproof is working fine.

If you read the following though, they say it is intended for non-synchro mesh gear boxes, where this product could be slippery, whatever that means.

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_gearlub...mp;categoryID=6

I guess more user reports are needed to come to a final conclusion.

Sofar I am sticking with it.

BTW: Your clutch hydraulics are connected to your brake fluid system. There is a bleed nipple on the clutch slave cylinder that you should bleed together with your brakes. The Motive power bleeder is indispendable for this job.

Joost

[Porsche_911]

Hi,

I jacked my 2000 Porsche C4 all 4 sides up findng out that neither a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm wouldnt fit my drain and fill plug. Both of the plugs are bigger than a 10mm allen wrench but smaller than a 12mm wrench. This required tools in this thread mentioned a 17mm and 10mm allen wrench but none of them fits. Please help!

Edited November 2, 2008 by Porsche_911

[Porsche_911]

Am I doing something wrong here. Any help will be appreciated.

[Loren]

Are you sure it is not a triple square?

[Porsche_911]

Are you sure it is not a triple square?

Hmm. Let me double check. I will update this posting tomorrow.

[Porsche_911]

Are you sure it is not a triple square?

Hmm. Let me double check. I will update this posting tomorrow.

It's not a triple square as well. Is it the same wrench for Euro or ROW version 911? Any other suggestions will be appreciated.