How Often Should I Get My Porsche Serviced?

How often should I get my Porsche serviced? This is a little like asking how long is a piece of string? Porsche makes many different types of vehicles which have varied use patterns. Anything from SUV to street terror, from diesel to electric and in between has come out of the German marque’s stable.

So, in a nutshell, it depends very much on what you drive, how you drive it, and how much you drive it. However, there are some basic ground rules that apply to every Porsche except the Taycan; we’ll jump into those now.

Oil Service

Any seasoned mechanic will tell you that your car needs an oil service once a year or every 7,500 miles. At Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, we’d like to add that when it comes to Porsches, our Florida climate is a little warmer than over in Germany, so if you have a turbo model, stick with a maximum of 5,000-mile intervals whether it’s gas or diesel.

Why change oil often? Oil is not like it once was 70 years ago. Today’s motors have extremely close tolerances and require oil with many additives to prevent premature wear. Oil has come a long way since first being used as a lubricant and it can now withstand greater temperature extremes. Those additives do a great job of protecting your engine during start-up when there is always less than adequate oil pressure. In protecting your engine, they eventually get used up and also degrade by changing their chemical makeup over time. That is why it is very important to regularly change your oil. At Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, we recommend Mobil 1 oils.

Oil services are relatively inexpensive, since they require little labor and the only associated costs are those of the new oil, filter, and any sealing rings. These differ from model to model, so why not pop in for a free quote on how much an oil service for your Porsche costs?

Major and Minor Repairs 

Time is money and the more labor involved in a repair the higher the cost of it. Minor repairs often start with a check engine light, are quick to diagnose, and should leave you smiling all the way to the bank. Major repairs often aren’t as simple. They fall into two categories:

Scheduled Major Servicing

This is usually timing belts and coolant system related. Coolant usually needs to be changed once every two years, but again this can vary depending on model. We advise that you change the water pump at the same time as the timing belt or according to the service schedule. Services of these types can often take as long an entire day and can be much more expensive than an oil service.

Unscheduled Repairs

These range from oil leaks to complete engine rebuilds. Don’t stress, engines and transmissions rarely blow up without giving some prior warning. However, with every brand there are some lemons, so if you’re thinking of buying used – make sure you do your research. HVAC systems also fall into this category since when they fail, it is usually costly. Unscheduled repairs can be more subtle in their symptoms, such as an oil spot on the garage floor or a strange noise from under the hood.

What About An Extended Warranty?

Getting a good extended warranty is either a blessing or a curse. We advise that you read the small print carefully and remember that older or high mileage vehicles will often not be covered. Bear in mind that the odds are always stacked in favor of the insurance company, but if you have bought secondhand or need peace of mind, they can be an excellent solution. Another important check is to see which shops will be honored by the warranty and try to pick one that authorizes many as opposed to a select few, since you never know where you may break down.

Hopefully by now you are beginning to realize just how tricky the answer to the initial question is. When to service your Porsche is actually more about yourself then your car, and at Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, our ASE Certified team are there for you. Cars may be our passion, but client satisfaction is king. Call us today at (954) 746-0488.