2005 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA Owners Manual

Maintenance, Car Care
177 Maintenance, Car Care
Exercise Extreme Caution
when Working on your Vehicle .................... 178
Coolant Level ............................................ 179
Engine Oil ................................................. 181
Engine Oil Level ........................................ 181
Engine Oil Recommendation ....................... 183
Brake Fluid Level ....................................... 185
Fuel Economy ........................................... 187
Operating Your Porsche in other Countries .. 187
Fuel Recommendations.............................. 189
Portable Fuel Containers ............................ 190
Emission Control System ........................... 191
How Emission Control Works ..................... 192
Fuel Evaporation Control ............................ 193
Washer Fluid ............................................. 193
Power Steering ......................................... 194
Air Filter ................................................... 195
Combination Filter ..................................... 195
Manual Transmission Oil ............................ 195
Automatic Transmission Fluid ..................... 195
Wiper Blades ............................................ 196
Car Care Instructions................................. 198

178
Maintenance, Car Care
Exercise Extreme Caution when
Working on your Vehicle
Danger!
Ignoring the following instructions may
cause serious personal injury or death.
fThe engine compartment of any motor vehicle
is a potentially hazardous area. If you are not
fully familiar with proper repair procedures, do
not attempt the adjustments described on the
following pages.
This caution also applies to the entire vehicle.
fO n l y w o r k o n y o u r v e h i c l e o u t d o o r s o r i n a w e l l
ventilated area.
fEnsure that there are no open flames in the
area of your vehicle at any time when fuel
fumes might be present. Be especially cau-
tious of such devices such as hot water heat-
ers which ignite a flame intermittently.
fBefore working on any part in the engine com-
partment, turn the engine off and let it cool
down sufficiently. Hot engine compartment
components can burn skin on contact.
fBe alert and cautious around engine at all
times while the engine is running.
If work has to be performed with the engine
running, always set the parking brake, and
make sure the shift lever is in neutral position
or the selector lever in position P.fIn particular, be very careful to ensure that
items of clothing (ties, shirt, sleeves etc.),
jewelry, long hair, hand or fingers cannot get
caught in the engine-compartment blower, fan,
belts or other moving parts.
The radiator and radiator fans are in the front
of the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted
on the engine-compartment lid.
The engine-compartment blower can start or
continue running as a function of temperature,
even with the engine switched off.
Carry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine off, the ignition switched off, and exercise
extreme caution.
fYour Porsche is equipped with an electronic ig-
nition system. When the ignition is on, high
voltage is present in all wires connected with
the ignition system; therefore, exercise ex-
treme caution when working on any part of the
engine while the ignition is on or the engine is
running.
fAlways support your car with safety stands if it
is necessary to work under the car.
fWhen working under the car without safety
stands but with the wheels on the ground,
make sure the car is on level ground, the
wheels are blocked, and that the engine
cannot be started.
Remove the ignition key. fDo not smoke or allow an open flame around
the battery or fuel.
Keep a fire extinguisher in close reach.
fIncomplete or improper servicing may cause
problems in the operation of the car. If in doubt
about any servicing, have it done by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Improper maintenance during the warranty
period may affect your Porsche warranty cov-
erage.
fSupplies of fluids, e.g. engine oil, brake fluid or
coolant, are hazardous to your health.
Keep these fluids out of children’s reach and
dispose of them in accordance with the appro-
priate regulations.
fSome countries require additional tools and
special spare parts to be carried.
Please make enquiries before driving abroad.
Power measurements Power measurements on dynamometers are not
approved by Porsche.

Maintenance, Car Care
179
Coolant LevelfPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 178.
The cooling system is filled at the factory with a
permanent coolant.
It provides year-round protection from corrosion
and freezing down to –31°F/–35°C
.
fOnly use antifreeze authorized by Porsche.
Checking coolant level The expansion tank with its filler orifice is in the en-
gine compartment.
fCheck the coolant level regularly through the
transparent expansion tank.
When the engine is cold and the car is level the
fluid level must lie between the “MIN” and “MAX”
markings. Topping off coolant
Warning!
Danger of serious personal injury from scald-
ing. Coolant is hazardous to your health, and
may be fatal if swallowed.
fDo not open the cap of the expansion tank
while the engine is hot.
fAllow the engine to cool down before opening
the cap and protect your hands, arms and face
from any possible escape of hot coolant.
fKeep coolant out of children’s reach.
fAlso, keep coolant away from your pets.
They can be attracted to it should there be a
spill, or to used coolant left in an open contain-er. Coolant can be deadly to pets if consumed.1. Switch engine off and let it cool.
Please observe the chapter “COOLING SYS-
TEM” on Page 84.
2. Cover the expansion tank cap with a thick rag.
Open cap slowly and carefully and allow over-
pressure to escape.
Then unscrew cap completely.
3. Only add a mixture of antifreeze and water in
equal parts, and do not exceed the “MAX”
mark.
Antifreeze in coolant:
50% gives protection down to –31°F/–35°C
60% gives protection down to –58°F/–50°C
4. Screw cap firmly on.
If in an emergency pure water has been added, the
mix ratio must be corrected at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Marked loss of coolant indicates leakage in the
cooling system.
The cause should immediately be remedied at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
f f f

180
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine-compartment blower,
radiator fan The radiator and radiator fans are in the front of
the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted on
the engine compartment lid.
Warning!
Risk of injury.
After the engine is switched off, the engine-
compartment temperature is monitored for
approx. 30 minutes.
During this period, and depending on tem-
perature, the engine-compartment blower
may continue to run or start to run.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine off, the ignition off, and exercise extreme
caution.
Risk of injury. The radiator fans in the front
end of the car may be operating or
unexpectedly start operating when the
engine is switched on.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-gine switched off.

Maintenance, Car Care
181
Engine Oil Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the
lubricant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil
level at all, even after 600 miles (1,000 km) or
more. This is because the oil is gradually becom-
ing diluted with fuel or moisture, making it appear
that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are
dusty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil
change intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed,
climatic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as
driving conditions will determine the rate of oil
consumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to
lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked
regularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level
checked at every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occuring when lit, if en-
gine rpm is above idle speed.
Engine Oil Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 178.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 101.
The difference between the minimum and maxi-
mum marks on the segment display is approx.
1.2 liters.
Each segment of the display corresponds to ap-
prox. 0.4 liter.
f f f

182
Maintenance, Car Care
Topping off engine oil
Warning!
Risk of burning from hot parts in engine com-
partment. Risk of injury by rotating parts.
The engine compartment blower on the en-
gine compartment lid can start up even with
engine off.
fExercise extrem caution when working in the
engine compartment.
fTop off engine oil only with the engine off.
Engine oil is hazardous to your health and
may be fatal if swallowed.
fKeep engine oil out of children’s reach.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals.
fAlways protect your skin by washing thorough-ly with soap and water. 1. The on-board computer indicates how much oil
must be added.
2. Pull oil filler tube upwards out of its holder. 3. Unscrew cap of the oil filler opening.
4. Add at most 0,5 quarts (0,5 liter) of engine oil
at a time.
5. Measure oil level again with the on-board
computer.
6. Add more engine oil if necessary.
Never add more engine oil than required
to reach the max. mark.
7. Carefully close cap of the oil filler opening.
8. Push oil filler tube into its holder until it snaps
into place.

Maintenance, Car Care
183
Engine Oil RecommendationRecommended oil viscosity ranges dependent on ambient temperatures
fUse only engine oils approved by Porsche.
If in doubt ask your authorized Porsche dealer for Porsche tested and approved all-season oils. Ambient temperature
seasonalSAE Viscosity Range
engine oils
generally above –13°F/–25°C SAE 0W-40, 5W-40, 5W-50
approved by Porsche
generally below –13°F/–25°C SAE 0W-40 approved by Porsche

184
Maintenance, Car Care
Oil change The engine oil has to be changed at the intervals
listed in your Maintenance Schedule.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 268.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed at your Porsche dealer, who has the re-
quired oils and the necessary filling equipment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the engine have your
dealer check it out immediately.
All current engine oils are compatible with each
other, i. e. when making an oil change it is not nec-
essary to flush the engine if you wish to use a dif-
ferent brand or grade of oil.
Since, however, each brand of oil has a special
composition, you should, if possible, use the
same oil brand if it becomes necessary to top up
between oil changes.
Porsche engines have long intervals between oil
changes. You can make best use of these long oil
change intervals by using multigrade oils since
these are largely independent of seasonal fluctua-
tions in temperature. If your vehicle is used frequently in stop-and-go
traffic in cold weather, the engine will not always
be properly warmed up.
Condensation from products of combustion may
accumulate in the oil. In this case, it is advisable
to change the oil more frequently so that your en-
gine once again has 100% efficient engine oil.
Engine oil performance class Engine oil is not only a lubricant, but also serves
to keep the engine clean, to neutralize the dirt
which penetrates into the engine through combus-
tion and to protect the engine against corrosion.
To perform these functions, the oil is provided with
additives which have been specially developed for
these functions.
The efficiency of an oil is expressed, for example,
by the API, ILSAC or ACEA classifications.
Viscosity Like all liquids, engine oil is viscous when cold,
and thin-bodied when warm. The viscosity of an oil
is expressed by its SAE class. For cold viscosity
(measured at temperatures below 32°
F/0°
C) the
SAE class is given as a number and the letter “W”
(as in winter), for hot viscosity (measured at
212°
F/100°
C) the SAE class is given only as a
number.
The viscosity of an oil is, therefore, always the
same if it has the same number of an SAE class.
Oils with two viscosities are called multigrade oils;
oils with only one viscosity are termed single-
grade oils.
Single-grade oils can not be used in your engine.
The viscosity of the engine oil for your Porsche
has to be chosen according to the ambient tem-
perature given in the engine oil recommendation
table.