[ds968]

First and foremost DO NOT TRY this with your car , and certainly a precious 968 ... but as an update to the “ experiment “  I’m conducting with my now 200,000 miles +  , 2003 MBZ C-240 to see just how much neglect it can tolerate before it gives up , here’s the latest :  I have not changed the oil for the last 100,000 miles ( and it’s conventional oil, not even synthetic ) .   The engine purrs like a kitten, and has full power on demand, not a single problem with it .  I also have not changed any other fluids in the same last 100, 000 miles ( no coolant / antifreeze , no brake fluid, no power steering fluid, certainly no transmission fluid for the entire 200 K miles, etc. ).   Not a problem either .    So I’m starting to suspect the “ suggested “ changing fluids intervals is mostly a myth ;  yes it does not hurt, but it seems to me it makes no difference either .   I will continue to change the ( synthetic ) oil in my 968 and my Maserati probably every 15,000 - 20,000 miles , just because it can’t hurt , but not touching any of the other fluids.  As for the MBZ, I’m waiting to see how long it’s going to take until it croaks .   Btw, it also has all the original belts and hoses which are now pushing 18 years old and 200 K miles of wear .  No signs of cracking .   

 

 

 

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[dlearl476]

In order to balance the universe I have to admit that I just succumbed to the hype and ordered 10L of the Porsche Classic 10W-50 oil for transaxle water coolers.

I got that lonesome feeling when I realized the factory spec was 20W-50 and Ive been running Motul 15W-40 8100 X-cesss for a while.

The good news? I negotiated my local dealer down to $55/5L, which is roughly the same price as the Motul.

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[Waylander]

Its just waiting for the worst possible moment for revenge

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[ds968]

Its just waiting for the worst possible moment for revenge

Very possible .. or, it’s trying to compete with that Volvo which passed 1 million miles ( though I think that owner might have changed the oil once in a while   ) 

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[Roboman]

DS that's real outside of the box, and I suspect slightly mischievous, thinking. .... great stuff! A good scientist also puts themselves to the test, and if I understand correctly from previous posts you are likewise treating yourself with the same sort of neglect.....



More seriously though, it would be nice to know what data supports the change intervals of fluids, belts, etc. What is the change of viscosity index with time/temperature and when does it fail to protect? What is the mean time between failure of belts? And what about the idler bearing etc, mine always look in great condition, but I religiously change them with everything else. The "fear factor" of being the cause of the demise of one's 968 .......

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[ds968]

Well, I have had the timing belt break on the 968,  so it’s not as my neglect of “prescribed replacement intervals” for this or that hasn’t been entirely without consequences.   And that was a biggie !   I must have cut in front of a gypsy caravan and got cursed because that happened four days before I was scheduled to have the belt replaced.     You’d think I learned my lesson after that but nooo !   :glare: 


 

 


 

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[Roboman]

Dan I removed some of my previous post, i decided it was in poor taste.

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[ds968]

I didn’t think it was in poor taste in the least bit ..actually it brought  on a smile, accompanied by  a “yup, that’s just waiting to happen to me “ acknowledgment.  But then again I have very thick skin, and I don’t take much of anything thrown at me too seriously,  particularly when it’s meant somewhat in jest ( even if there is plenty of truth behind it ) so almost nothing offends me .. well, the sole exception is when it comes to my family.. that’s where I draw the line .   Otherwise, no worries at all ..

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[Roboman]

Thanks, I figured as such, however others may not have felt the same so best left unsaid.



Have a great Sunday

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[Rap]

You still have a family after you treat your car that way?

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[ds968]

Well, since the car runs perfectly, they have no idea of my experiment ..  (  tapping fingers and inserting evil laugh here for effect.. ) 

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[94SilverCab]

Well, I have had the timing belt break on the 968,  so it’s not as my neglect of “prescribed replacement intervals” for this or that hasn’t been entirely without consequences.   And that was a biggie !   I must have cut in front of a gypsy caravan and got cursed because that happened four days before I was scheduled to have the belt replaced.     You’d think I learned my lesson after that but nooo !   :glare:

 

 

 

If I recall that was on the way home from a 968 Gathering, during which, you were castigated repeatedly for your careless maintenance.

 

Of course, no one said "I told you so..."

 



 

Jay

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[ds968]

The belt had only 45 K miles on it, way short of the Porsche prescribed 60 K miles replacement interval.    Had absolutely nothing to do with  " careless maintenance ".     At that time , IIRC, there was no mention ( on this, or the other forums ) suggesting shorter replacement intervals because of known premature failures..      Not to mention that it was a Conti belt...( only found that out after pulling it out of there, all mangled and shredded )  .. and we all know how those are..            

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[J.Elenbaas]

What was the age of the belt?????

5 years or 48 K miles is the interval.

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[ds968]

What was the age of the belt?????

5 years or 48 K miles is the interval.

 

 

I don't recall the age it was.. But at that time the car was a daily driver, and I typically logged around 10 -12 K miles a year, so maybe approx. 4 years old, .  Porsche manual does not even reference an age, only the mileage... it indicates 48 K ?!  I could have sworn the manual is @60 K.., no ?   And assuming they utilize a 12 K  mi. threshold associated with annual mileage in some of their other schedules which indicate   " at X miles or Y years "  , the " expectation " was 5 years.           

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[Waylander]

Don’t think the Mercedes Karma will be as expensive as the Porsche Karma  

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[dlearl476]

 

 

I don't recall the age it was.. But at that time the car was a daily driver, and I typically logged around 10 -12 K miles a year, so maybe approx. 4 years old, .  Porsche manual does not even reference an age, only the mileage... it indicates 48 K ?!  I could have sworn the manual is @60 K.., no ?   And assuming they utilize a 12 K  mi. threshold associated with annual mileage in some of their other schedules which indicate   " at X miles or Y years "  , the " expectation " was 5 years.           

My (92) manual says 60K, no mileage, but when I posted that in a similar thread on RL, someone corrected me with a couple of more recent TSBs from Porsche.

The latest recommendation was an inspection/adjustment at 24K, replacement at 48K. I cant remember if there was a time factor.

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[ds968]

Don’t think the Mercedes Karma will be as expensive as the Porsche Karma  

 

Right you are, and those cars are a dime a dozen, I can buy one with just about half the mileage and in excellent condition inside and out for about $ 1,500 ..so I can afford to take risks with it.   Also I don’t drive it like a maniac as I do the 968..it’s just for local errands , hardly sees > 35 mph speeds ..

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[94SilverCab]

Mine broke in 2002, with 56K on the clock...I was going to replace at 60K. You're not the only one to be victimized by the belt failure

 

Jay

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[MCL968]

 

 

I don't recall the age it was.. But at that time the car was a daily driver, and I typically logged around 10 -12 K miles a year, so maybe approx. 4 years old, .  Porsche manual does not even reference an age, only the mileage... it indicates 48 K ?!  I could have sworn the manual is @60 K.., no ?   And assuming they utilize a 12 K  mi. threshold associated with annual mileage in some of their other schedules which indicate   " at X miles or Y years "  , the " expectation " was 5 years.           

I looked at a red Cab at a dealership in California years ago. I asked about the timing belt, and the salesman told me that it was fine, the car only had 45k on it, and the belt is good to 60k. I tried to explain that he was wrong, but he was a bombastic ass who already knew everything there was to know about every car ever built.

 

Next time I saw the car they were trying to sell it with a shot head because the belt failed while it was being driven by a prospective buyer. Too bad too, it was a very nice car. Guards Red 6 speed with tan interior. Nice shape, with the obvious exception of the valves.

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