Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi all,

I am planning a wee service this weekend and have a couple questions:

1. What grade oil is best to use?

2. I was going to order some spark plugs from eurocarparts.com but saw they were about a tenner each but in ebay about £2 each. Does it matter which ones i get?

3. I was thinking about changing the fuel filter, is this easy enough to do?

Thanks for your help!!

James.

I changed the oil over the weekend and used 10w-40 semi-synthetic. I'm planning to do oil changes every couple of thousand of miles so opted for a mid-range oil and went for Carlube Triple - seems to meet all the necessary specs and a lot cheaper than some of the more premium brands.

By the way, I'm a DIYer myself and found the oil filter a touch tricky to remove as it's surrounded by other components - I couldn't get any purchase with the draper chain wrench I'd just bought and ended up borrowing a more slender wraparound wrench off my Dad and that just about worked. You can get these oil filter tools that grip from the top either as a cup or a series of prongs - the job would have been easier with that kind of arrangement.

As another DIY'er and an avid fan of doing it as cheaply as possible here's my thoughts...

Agreed with semi-synth 10-40, also I'd go and ask at your local factors you should only pay around £10-12 for the correct NDK or Bosch plugs, 4 prong super duper copper this that and the other ones will make hardly any difference for the money they cost.

Fuel filter can be a pain due its location and rusty parts, its not a difficult job just be gentle or you could enpty your tank and need to replace more than you pargined for

Oil depends on age of the car, mileage and wear I suppose but once it is warm most oils are the same thickness so really only when cold that it counts, I use 10w40 semi synth in my S2 now but always used 0w40 and will be going back to it next oil change, I would rather have the oil up top quickly than try to hold it up there when the engine is off.

Oil filter I get from Promax for around £8 inc P&P, agree about the fuel filter real pain if not been changed recently as the fittings will be rusty, remember to hold both the nut and the union when splitting the joint and clamp the fuel lines or drain the tank first.

Spark plugs I use NGK Iridium from eBay about £10 for four last time I got some (3 months ago), I have tried various types from NGK to Bosch standard, iridium and the four pointed thingys and can't say I noticed any difference in how the car ran.

Handy tip if you haven't got an oil filter removing tool is to put up the lights and remove the distributor cap to get better access and wear a pair or latex or rubber (Marigold) gloves you can get a better grip, also have lots of rags around the filter and on the floor as it is always messy and the oil ends up in the undertray they drips out if you don't clean it out. Also make sure you have a tray low enough to fit under the car sump plug unless you have a ramp or pit and get a sump plug gasket ready for the change they have a tendancy to leak if re-used.

Oil either 10/40 mineral or semi synth or if it uses a bit 15/50 Mineral.

Plugs, cheapest is Aceparts & use NGK, Alan of Ace is on ebay or E Bay 350367984808

When changing the fuel filter do not drive up one side of the pavement and lay directly face under the filter while undoing it, petrol is not a good thing to have in your mouth

Once you changed the filter once its easy after that, don't forget distributor cap and rotor arm, even if you can't replace them try to get off any build up on the contacts also make sure there are no air leaks in any of the rubber piping around the air intake, its very sensitive to air leaks