214
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Example for determining the combined weight of occu-
pants and cargoVehicle Load CapacityfThe combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed the weight shown on the
tire plate in the vehicle.
Please observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSURE
PLATE” on Page 301.
fNever exceed the number of passengers
shown on the tire pressure plate in the vehicle.Determining the combined weight of
occupants and cargo:
fAdd the weight of all occupants and then add
the total luggage weight (figure).
Steps for determining correct load limit
1. Locate the statement "The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX
pounds" on your vehicle’s placard (depending
on the date of manufacture)
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your vehi-
cle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX
pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the "XXX" amount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five - 150 lb passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. [1400 -
750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.].
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available car-
go and luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from
your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo and luggage load ca-
pacity of your vehicle.
Controls, Safety, Instruments
215
Stowing load in the vehicle
Warning!
Danger of injury.
An unsecured or incorrectly positioned cargo
can slip out of place or endanger the vehicle
occupants during braking, direction changes
or in accidents.
Never transport objects which are not se-
cured.
fAlways transport cargo in the cargo area, nev-
er in the passenger compartment (e.g. on or in
front of the seats).
fSupport the cargo on the seat backrests when-
ever possible. Always lock the backrests into
place.
fPlace the cargo behind unoccupied seats
whenever possible.
fStow heavy objects as close to the front of the
cargo area as possible, with lightweight ob-
jects behind them.
fThe cargo must never project over the top
edge of the seat backrest.
fAlways protect the passenger compartment
with a luggage safety net and a luggage
compartment cover.
Do not drive with objects on top of the luggage
compartment cover.fIf the rear seats are not occupied, the back-
rests can be additionally secured with the safe-
ty belts. Simply cross the outer safety belts
and insert each into the opposite buckle.
fMake sure that the cargo cannot damage the
heating filaments of the rear window and the
TV antenna of the side window.
Luggage net
fLuggage must be stowed completely covered
by the luggage net.
The luggage net can prevent only lightweight
objects from slipping.
Tie-down belts
fDo not use elastic belts or straps to tie down
cargo.
fDo not place belts and straps over sharp edg-
es.
fObserve the directions for use and information
for the tie-down equipment.
fUse only belts with a tear strength of at least
1543 lbs. (700 kg) and a maximum width of
1in. (25mm).
fCross the belts over the load.Driving
fThe car's handling changes depending on the
vehicle loading. Adapt your driving style to the
changed driving behavior.
fDo not exceed the maximum gross weight and
the axle load.
fPlease observe the chapter “WEIGHTS” on
Page 387.
fNever drive with the rear window or rear lid
open.
Exhaust gases can enter the passenger
compartment.
fAdapt the tire pressure to the load.
fPlease observe the chapter “LOAD” on
Page 108.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSU-
RES, COLD” on Page 385.
216
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Towing a trailer
Warning!
Driving with a trailer
fAlways observe the permissible towing capac-
ity, vertical coupling load and rear-axle load.
Please observe the chapter “WEIGHTS” on
Page 387.
fWhen connected, the trailer must always be
horizontal behind the towing vehicle. If neces-
sary, use a trailer with an adjustable drawbar.
fWhen the vehicle is driven in the mountains, the
engine output decreases as altitude increases.
The maximum weights stated are the values at
sea level. The total permissable weight of the
car-trailer combination must therefore be re-
duced by 10% for each increment of 3,280 ft.
(1,000 meters) altitude. A fractional increment
counts as the full 3,280 ft. (1,000 meters).
Please take this into consideration when plan-
ning your route.Distributing the load
fDistribute the load in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as close to the axle as possible.
Always safeguard all objects against slipping
and tie them down securely.
fYou should make the best possible use of the
trailer coupling's rated vertical coupling load
when loading the trailer, but never exceed it.
Tire pressure
fSelect the vehicle tire pressure for full load
when towing a trailer.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSU-
RES, COLD” on Page 385.
fCheck the tire pressure of the trailer's wheels
according to the manufacturer's instructions.Door mirrors
fIf the width of the trailer obstructs your view of
the traffic behind the trailer, you must have ad-
ditional door mirrors fitted.
Headlights, lights
fAlways check the headlight adjustment before
driving with a trailer.
If necessary, correct with the headlight beam
adjustment function.
fCheck whether the plug of the trailer is
plugged into the towing vehicle and whether all
lights function.
246
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Driving systems for off-road drivingSpecially adapted driving programs or power-
transmission and running-gear control systems
are available for off-road driving:
– Off-road program Low Range
–Off-road PSM
–Off-road ABS
– Center differential lock
– Rear differential lock
fPlease observe the chapter “POWER-TRANS-
MISSION AND RUNNING-GEAR CONTROL SYS-
TEMS” on Page 235.
Before driving offTires
fCheck tread depth and tire pressure.
fCheck for damage and remove any foreign ob-
jects (e.g. stones) from the tread.
fReplace missing valve caps.
Rims
fReplace dented or damaged rims before
driving off road.
After driving off roadOff-road driving places a greater burden on the ve-
hicle than does normal driving on roads.
We recommend inspecting the vehicle after off-
road driving. Potential damage poses an accident
risk and impairs driving comfort. Damage on the
car is recognised in good time if the car is
checked.
Warning!
Car damage poses an accident risk for the
vehicle occupants and other road users.
fIn cases of doubt, have your vehicle checked
by your authorized Porsche dealer.
fExamine tires for signs of damage such as
cuts, tears, bulges or foreign objects stuck in
the tread. Replace a damaged tire if neces-
sary.
fHave any damage to your vehicle repaired by an authorized Porsche dealer without delay.
276
Maintenance, Car Care
Fuel EconomyFuel economy will vary depending on where,
when and how you drive, optional equipment
installed, and the general condition of your
car.
A car tuned to specifications and correctly
maintained, will help you to achieve optimal
fuel economy.
fHave your vehicle tuned to specifications. Air
cleaner should be dirt free to allow proper en-
gine “breathing“.
Battery should be fully charged.
Wheels should be properly aligned.
Tires should be inflated at correct pressure.
fAlways monitor your fuel consumption.
fDrive smoothly, avoid abrupt changes in speed
as much as possible.
fAvoid jack rabbit starts and sudden stops.
fDo not drive longer than necessary in the lower
gears. Shifting into a higher gear early without
lugging the engine will help save fuel.
fProlonged “warm up“ idling wastes gas. Start
the vehicle just before you are ready to drive.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.fSwitch off the engine if stationary for longer
periods.
fAny additional weight carried in the vehicle re-
duces fuel economy. Always keep cargo to a
minimum and remove all unnecessary items.
fOrganize your trips to take in several errands
in one trip.
fAll electrical accessories contribute to in-
creased fuel consumption.
fOnly switch on the air conditioning when neces-
sary.
fDo not drive with the Roof Transport System
mounted unless you need it.
The EPA estimated m.p.g. is to be used for
comparison purposes, actual mileage may
be different from the estimated m.p.g., de-
pending on your driving speed, weather con-
ditions and trip length. Your actual highway
mileage will probably be less than the esti-
mated m.p.g.
fPlease observe all local and national speed lim-
its.
Operating Your Porsche in other
CountriesGovernment regulations in the United States and
Canada require that automobiles meet specific
emission regulations and safety standards. There-
fore, cars built for the U.S. and Canada differ from
vehicles sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your Porsche outside the conti-
nental limits of the United States or Canada, there
is the possibility that
– unleaded fuel may not be available;
– unleaded fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Excessive engine knock and se-
rious damage to both engine and catalytic con-
verters could result;
– se rvice ma y be inade qua te due to lack of prop-
er service facilities, tools or diagnostic equip-
ment;
– replacement parts may not be available or very
difficult to get.
Porsche cannot be responsible for the me-
chanical damage that could result because
of inadequate fuel, service or parts availabil-
ity.
If you purchased your Porsche abroad and want to
bring it back home, be sure to find out about ship-
ping and forwarding requirements, as well as cur-
rent import and customs regulations.
Maintenance, Car Care
285
High-pressure cleaning units
Warning!
High-pressure cleaning units can damage
the following components:
–Tires
– Logos, emblems
– Painted surfaces
– Widened fenders
– Lock and latch of the removable towing attach-
ment
– Seals of the electrically retractable ball hitch
– Alternator, valve covers
– ParkAssist sensors
fPlease observe the operating instructions from
the unit manufacturer.
fAlways cover the lid over the brake fluid reser-
voir prior to cleaning. Never point the cleaning
jet directly at the lid.
fWhen cleaning with a flat-jet nozzle or the like,
maintain a minimum distance of 21 in.
(50 cm).fNever use high-pressure cleaning units with a
round-jet nozzle.
A high-pressure cleaning unit with round nozzle
will damage your vehicle. The tires are particu-
larly susceptible to damage.
fDo not point the cleaning jet directly at any of
the aforementioned components.
WashingThe best protection for the car from the damaging
effects of the environment is frequent washing and
preservation. The underside of the car should also
be thoroughly washed for cinders, salt or sanding
at winter‘s end.
The longer salt, road dust, industrial dust, insect
remains, bird excrement, and tree exudations (res-
in, pollen), etc. are allowed to remain on the body-
work, the more serious is their harmful effect.
New cars should be washed carefully with plenty
of clear water to protect the new paint work.
Dark paint finishes show up the smallest of sur-
face damage (e.g. scratches) more readily than
lighter colors.
Dark colors are also more susceptible to scratch-
ing because of the composition of their pigments
and require particularly careful paint care.fDo not wash your car in bright sunlight or while
the bodywork is still hot.
fWhen washing by hand, use abundant water, a
soft sponge or wash brush and Porsche car
shampoo.
fBegin by spraying the body thoroughly with wa-
ter to rinse away loose dirt.
fAfter washing, rinse the car with plenty of wa-
ter and then dry with a chamois leather.
Do not use the same chamois leather for dry-
ing as you use for cleaning the windshield and
windows.
Warning!
Moisture which gets on the brakes during a
car wash can reduce braking efficiency or
make the brake pull unevenly which could in-
crease the danger of an accident, causing
serious personal injuries or death.
fAlways apply the brakes a few times after
washing the car to test braking efficiency and
dry the brake discs.
When doing this, take care not to hamper other
road users behind you (traffic conditions per-mitting).
286
Maintenance, Car Care Automatic car washes
Optional add-on parts or parts which project be-
yond the contours of the vehicle may be damaged
by design features (e.g. brushes) of automatic car
washes.
The following parts are particularly
susceptible to damage:
– Windscreen wipers and rear wiper (always
switch them off – position 0 – to prevent them
wiping unintentionally in intermittent or sensor
operation).
– Door mirrors (always fold in).
– Roof Transport System (always remove com-
pletely).
–Spoiler.
– Wheels (the wider the rim and the lower the tire
height, the greater the risk of damage).
fPlease consult the operator before using
automatic car washes.
fWash and dry by hand all points not reached by
a car wash, such as door and lid seams or
door sills.
Note
Automatic car washes spray water at odd angles
and high pressures, which are not seen in normal
driving. Therefore, water can sometimes find its
way into the passengers compartment during or
shortly after the car wash.
Door lockfTo prevent the door lock from freezing during
the cold season, cover the lock barrel with a
suitable adhesive tape during washing.
fShould the locks freeze, use an ordinary de-ic-
er.
In many cases, a well warmed key can help.
Never use excessive force.
288
Maintenance, Car Care
Cleaning the engine compartment
Caution!
Risk of damage, e.g. to the alternator, paint-
ed surfaces, and the valve covers.
fNever use high-pressure cleaning units with a
round-jet nozzle.
fAlways maintain a minimum distance of 21 in.
(50 cm).
fAlways cover the lid over the brake fluid reser-
voir prior to cleaning with a high-pressure
cleaner. Never point the cleaning jet directly at
the lid.
fDo not point the cleaning jet directly at any of the aforementioned components.
Note on operation
If the car is driven off-road frequently and after
driving on salted or gritted roads:
fClean the engine compartment regularly.
WindowsThe road dust which settles on the windshield and
windows contains particles of tire rubber and oil
residue. The interior trim and upholstery release
particles, particularly in strong sunlight, which col-
lect on the insides of the windows. These deposits
are augmented by impurities in the air which en-
ters the car through the fresh air vents.
fClean all windows regularly, inside and outside,
with Porsche window cleaner.
fMake sure not to damage the TV antenna in the
side window when cleaning.
fIf you use a chamois leather for the windows,
do not use it for paintwork as it will otherwise
pick up a certain amount of preservative or
polish and could smear the windows and thus
impair vision.
fRemove dead insects with insect remover.
Wiper bladesWiper blades that are in perfect condition are vital
for a clear view.
fReplace the wiper blades twice per year (be-
fore and after the cold season) or whenever
wiper performance deteriorates.
fPeriodically clean wiper blades with Porsche
window cleaner, especially after the vehicle
has been washed in a car wash.
If they are very dirty (e.g. with insect remains),
they can be cleaned with a sponge or cloth.