Oil Change for the Porsche GT3

The other day, I received a question from a reader on the blog.

I switched from a 718 Cayman to a 718 Spyder. In your article One-Year Inspection at the Porsche 911 GT3 Dealer: Costs and PCCB Wear?, it seemed like the one-year inspection details didn’t include it, but did you have the transmission oil changed during the initial inspection? If possible, I’d love to hear your thoughts on oil-related maintenance as a reference.

I haven’t seen a 718 Spyder around town yet, but deliveries have already started… amazing, I really want to see one!

So, I asked my husband about this oil change question, and decided to turn it into an article.

To get straight to the point, my husband did not have the transmission oil changed during the GT3’s one-year inspection. When I asked why, he explained:

For all Porsche models, not just the GT3, I try to follow the owner’s manual and dealer instructions as closely as possible. According to the maintenance regulations, transmission oil changes are recommended every 180,000 km or every 12 years, so I haven’t changed it.

Indeed, whether it’s caring for the Boxster’s soft top or the break-in period for the Panamera, my husband always checks the owner’s manual carefully. He often says:

Especially with a sports car maker like Porsche, engineers and staff have thought things through, tested extensively, and improved the cars to be sold in the best possible condition.
Given that, when the owner’s manual recommends a certain way, the best thing for drivers is to follow that guidance for driving and maintenance.

Break-in Period and Engine Oil

Since I understood the transmission oil change situation, I asked about engine oil changes.

I follow the owner’s manual for the break-in period, and for the GT3, I changed the oil and filter once after completing the 1,500 km break-in. After that, I changed it again at the one-year inspection. Basically, I aim to change the oil around every 7,000 km, shortening the interval if I do a lot of circuit driving or get stuck in traffic, and extending it a bit if I drive long distances.
According to the maintenance regulations, the GT3’s interval is 10,000 km (15,000 km for regular models), and 5,000 km if used on circuits. But since Japanese roads are hot and humid with shorter distances, I tend to shorten the interval a bit.

GT3 Owner’s Manual | Maintenance Regulations for Circuit Driving

Maintenance Regulations for the 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS, and Cayman GT4

Regarding engine oil changes, since our Porsches tend to be driven quite a bit, we change the oil after the break-in period. But for families mainly using their Porsche for daily driving, following the owner’s manual instructions is probably just fine.

My husband continued:

Looking at the 2019 GT3 owner’s manual, the break-in instructions say both the GT3 and GT3 RS should be driven 1,500 km without exceeding 7,000 rpm, and the dealer also instructed this at delivery.
However, the 2018 English version of the GT3 manual says “3,000 km, 4,000 rpm,” so either the engine specs changed starting with my 2019 GT3, or the break-in method policy was revised.
Because of these kinds of subtle changes, I try to read the owner’s manual carefully and follow it as much as possible.

Makes sense.

GT3 Owner’s Manual | About the Break-in Period

There are many opinions out there, but when in doubt, it’s probably best to start by reading the owner’s manual.

I’ll do my best to buy my own Porsche soon so I can start thinking about maintenance and all the details myself!