You can increase the Lifespan of Your Porsche Boxster by following the steps below. These steps are directed to the new Boxster drivers asking what should they be doing for their Boxsters to increase the lifespan of their vehicle.
What you can do to Increase the Lifespan of your Porsche Boxster?
1.0 Change Your Porsche Boxster Oil Regularly
Make sure you use an oil that meets the ACEA A3 standard and is a Porsche A40 rated Engine Oil. Porsche uses and recommends Mobil 1 0W40. Mobil 1 is the initial oil used from the Porsche factory.
However, Porsche recommends many other brands of oil and releases an updated TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on approved Porsche engine oils each year.
1.1 How often should you change your Oil?
Changing your oil yearly or every 5K miles (whatever comes first) is a general consensus, which is 3 times as often as Porsche recommends.
1.2 What Brand of Oil Does Porsche Recommend?
2.0 Clean Your Radiators!
Cleaning your Boxster Radiators is the single most missed yearly maintenance on your Porsche Boxster. I first heard about this issue attending PCA Tech Tactics East in Easton, PA.
3.0 Water Pump
The Porsche Boxster water pump uses a plastic impeller blade and is known to be a high failure rate part as plastic ages and becomes brittle. The impeller itself does not fail, but the bearings of the water pump fail and cause a level of play in the water pump. This causes the water pump to wobble and allows the impeller to come in contact with the engine block.
It isn’t a bad idea for older Boxsters to just replace the water pump every 4-5 years.
Whatever you do, don’t replace a water pump with a metal impeller. If that rubs against the housing because the bearing fails, you have a multi-thousand dollar block replacement bill.
It is advised that you change the Thermostat when you change your water pump. This is Project 34 in the 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster (Motorbooks Workshop) .
4.0 Air Filters
Every 2 oil changes or once a year (whatever comes first) you need to inspect the engine air filter and replace it if dirty. Accessing the engine compartment is required learning.
Vacuum out and clean the entire adjacent area around the air filter, while the air filter is out.
Series | Model | Engine Air Filter |
---|---|---|
986 | ALL | Mann Filter C 2558/5 Air Filter |
987 | ALL | Mann Filter C 31 002 Air Filter |
- Optimum dirt separation efficiency
- Specially embossed paper for good pleat stability
- Filters harmful particles such as dust, pollen, sand, soot or even drops of water out of the intake air
- Reduces intake noise
- Balances the air flowing towards the air flow meter and seals off adjacent components
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
- Optimum dirt separation efficiency
- Specially embossed paper for good pleat stability
- Filters harmful particles such as dust, pollen, sand, soot or even drops of water out of the intake air
- Reduces intake noise
- Balances the air flowing towards the air flow meter and seals off adjacent components
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
It is not recommended to use a K&N filter or any other oiled-media filter.
4.1 Cabin Filters
When you change your engine air filter take the time to also change your cabin air filter. It is the easiest filter to replace in all the maintenance on your Porsche Boxster that you will ever see.
Do it yourself. We strongly recommend the upgrade to the charcoal-activated cabin air filter.
Series | Model | Mann Cabin Filter – Pollen Filter with Activated Carbon |
---|---|---|
986 | ALL | Mann-Filter CUK 3360 Cabin Filter With Activated Charcoal |
987 | ALL | Mann-Filter CUK 3360 Cabin Filter With Activated Charcoal |
718 | ALL | Mann-Filter CUK 25 006 Cabin Filter With Carbon Activated |
981 | ALL | Mann-Filter CUK 25 006 Cabin Filter With Carbon Activated |
982 | ALL | Mann-Filter CUK 25 006 Cabin Filter With Carbon Activated |
- Cabin air filters with activated carbon from MANN-FILTER keep nearly 100% of even the tiniest undesired particles from entering the vehicle through the ventilation system
- The premium activated carbon layer captures harmful gases and eliminates unpleasant odors
- Easy to install - so you're on your way to cleaner, fresher air inside
- Replace every 12 months for optimum performance - or more frequently in harsh or dusty environments
5.0 Windshield
Fix any crack or pit in your windshield immediately, do not give it any time to grow and spread.
6.0 Weatherstripping
It is strongly recommended that you treat all weather stripping on your Porsche Boxster every year. Make sure to use a conditioning compound on all exposed rubber and plastic items on the exterior of your Porsche.
This includes the weather stripping on your convertible top and clamshell.
Porsche enthusiasts swear by the German made Gummi Pflege Stift !
- Conditions all weather seals around doors, hood and trunk
- Temperature resistant for long-lasting protection
- Prevents rubber from drying and cracking
- With built-in foam applicator for easy application
- Made in Germany
7.0 Tires
Setting and maintaining tire air pressure is vital to the lifespan of your tires. Maintain the air pressure to the correct limit of your tires and inspect your tires monthly for any uneven wear.
At the first sign of uneven wear, get the Boxsters wheels aligned by someone who really knows Porsches and how best to align them.
A good wheel alignment is different from one that just brings the numbers into spec.
Drive only on tires appropriate for the temperature of the road you’ll be traveling. Do not use summer tires in the winter as they lose an amazing amount of their traction when the road surface is below 40°F or5°C.
All-season tires are OK for lower temperatures if you can only have one set of tires but snow/ice tires are really what you want if you will encounter those elements frequently.
It is strongly recommended that you never drive when the roads have been salted.
7.1 Recommended Ultra Performance Summer Tires
- Ultra high performance premium tires
- High speed tire for car enthusiast
- A street tire suitable for some track usage
- OE high performance sports cars and exotic cars
- 119th in wet lap time. 1st in wet braking
- Fit Type: Vehicle Specific
- Load Capacity: 1521
987.2 18 inch Front Tire
- Ultra high performance premium tires
- High speed tire for car enthusiast
- A street tire suitable for some track usage
- OE high performance sports cars and exotic cars
- 170th in wet lap time. 1st in wet braking
987.2 18 inch Rear Tire
7.2 Recommended Performance All Season Tires
- Performance made to last.
- Elevate your potential in all seasons.
- The first all season tire chosen by Chevrolet for the Corvette.
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
987.2 18 inch Front Tire
- performance made to last.
- elevate your potential in all seasons.
- the first all season tire chosen by chevrolet for the corvette.
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
987.2 18 inch Rear Tire
8.0 Rear Plastic Windows in 1997 to 2002 Boxsters
If you have a rear plastic window on your Porsche Boxster you need to take extra special care of it. You need to clean and polish it yearly to prevent oxidation (or yellowing and pitting.)
A single most important tip to prolong the life of your rear plastic window is to make sure that you always use the “Boxster Chop” and not use your convertible top below 40°F of 5°C.
9.0 All Hinges and Latches
Lube the door, hood, and clam-shell hinges with a high-quality white lithium grease once a year.
Spray the door locks and hood locks with silicone lubricant spray. Spray in the inner area of the lock, in which the catch bar engages. Lock-Ease Graphite-Based Lock Lubricant, Prevents Lock Freezing, Reduces Friction, Protects Against Rust, No Sticky Residue or Buildup, Reduce Lock Wear & Tear - 3oz Aerosol Spray is also highly recommended.
10.0 Check Engine Light (CEL)
If you ever encounter a “Blinking” Check Engine Light STOP the CAR ASAP (safely) and have your Porsche Boxster flatbed (or rollback) towed to a Porsche engine expert.
If you encounter a “Solid” Check Engine Light you can continue driving, however you do risk further damage to your engine. It is important that you have access to an OBD II Scanner tool that is made specific for Porsche. This tool will allow you to read the CEL error code and clear it.
In most cases, once you read the CEL error code you may be in a position to fix the error yourself. Otherwise, you know what is wrong and can communicate the issue to your mechanic to have your Boxster repaired.
It is important to know that the OBD II scan tool will need the additional Porsche support to clear specific codes such as your Oil change indicator, Air Bag, etc.
11.0 Maintenance Schedule
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule and do not ignore warning lights or symptoms. Make sure you have an excellent relationship with a good mechanic. Also know that you can make use of other resources, such as online Porsche forums, FB groups, and especially PCA members for advice and recommendation on the care of your Boxster.
12.0 Maintaining your Porsche Boxster Convertible Top
It is critical to know that your Boxster canvas convertible top is not “waterproof”, it is only ware resistant. If you do not regularly treat your Haartz German Sonnenland A5 canvas top it will encounter premature wear and aging. By correctly maintaining your Boxster convertible top, it will an excellent lifespan.
The primary enemy of your convertible top is the collection of dust, dirt and various debris. It is important to thoroughly clean your Boxster convertible top correctly, do a full water resistant treatment and to cover your top when in storage.
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Last update on 2024-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API