
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. 

Maintenance, Car Care
293
Storing your PorscheIf you intend to store your Porsche for a prolonged 
period, please consult your authorized Porsche 
dealer. The staff will be glad to advise you on the 
most suitable and necessary methods.
fClean your vehicle thoroughly inside and out-
side. Clean the engine compartment. The un-
der carriage and chassis components should 
be free of dirt and salt deposits.
fFill up the fuel tank.
fChange the oil and oil filter, and run the engine 
for several minutes.
fIncrease the tire pressure to 58 psi (4 bar).It is 
not recommended to lift the vehicle, due to the 
possibility of corrosion on shock absorber pis-
ton shafts.The vehicle should be moved slight-
ly, approximately every four weeks, to prevent 
flat spot on the tires.Climate control
The air conditioning system should be in good 
working condition and fully charged.
Windshield/Headlight washer
fCheck and correct antifreeze/cleaning solution 
level as necessary.
Electrical system
fRemove the battery from the vehicle and store 
it in a cool dry place, not on a cement floor. 
When the battery is disconnected, the alarm 
system is deactivated.
fRecharge the battery every 3 months. If the 
battery remains in the vehicle with the cables 
connected, it is necessary to check, remove 
and recharge the battery every 2-3 weeks. 
Do not fast charge the battery.
fPlease observe the chapter “CHARGE STATE” 
on Page 344.Vehicle interior
The interior must be dry, especially in the area of 
the floor carpets. The use of drying agents (Silica-
Gel) is recommended in vehicles with leather inte-
rior and in areas with high humidity. The recom-
mended amount is 3 fabric bags of 1.1 lbs. 
(500 grams) each placed on the floor carpets.
Windows, doors, lids and roof must be closed. 
The air vents should be opened. 

296
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
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 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 you have to work on the engine while it is run-
ning, always put the handbrake on and put the 
gearshift lever in neutral or the selector lever 
in position P.fIn particular, be very careful to ensure that 
items of clothing (ties, shirt, sleeves etc.), jew-
elry, 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 fans 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 
engine off and exercise extreme caution.
fYour Porsche is equipped with an electronic 
ignition system. When the ignition is on, high 
voltage is present in all wires connected with 
the ignition system; therefore, exercise 
extreme 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. The jack 
supplied with the car is not adequate for this 
purpose.
For vehicles with air suspension with level con-
trol and height adjustment:
Please observe the chapter “AIR SUSPENSION 
WITH LEVEL CONTROL AND HEIGHT ADJUST-
MENT” on Page 254.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 can-
not 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 appropriate 
regulations.
fSome countries require additional tools and 
special spare parts to be carried. 
Please make enquiries before driving abroad.
Notes on Minor RepairsTool kitThe tool kit is accommodated in the spare-wheel 
well under the cover of the loadspace floor. 

Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
299
Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are 
AA, A, B, and C and they represent the tire's ability 
to stop on wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test 
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction performance.
 Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this is based 
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests 
and does not include cornering (turned) trac-
tion, acceleration, hydroplaning or peak 
traction characteristics.Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and 
C, representing the tire's resistance to the gener-
ation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when 
tested under controlled conditions on a specified 
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperatures can cause the mate-
rial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, 
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden 
tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perform-
ance which all passenger car tires must meet 
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel than the 
minimum required by law.
 Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and 
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either separately 
or in combination, can cause heat buildup 
and possible tire failure. 

300
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire pressures
 Danger!
Risk of accident.
Risk of serious personal injury or death. 
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure 
increases risk of a tire failure and resulting 
loss of control. Furthermore, low tire pres-
sure increases rate of wear of the affected 
tires and cause damage. Always use an 
accurate tire pressure gauge when checking 
inflation pressures.
fDo not exceed the maximum tire pressure 
listed on the tire sidewall. (Also refer to “Tech-
nical data“).
fCold tire inflation pressure means: all tires 
must be cold, ambient temperature maximum 
68°F (20°C), when adjusting the inflation pres-
sure. Avoid sunlight striking the tires before 
measuring cold pressures, since the pressures 
would rise from temperature influence.
fValve caps protect the valve from dust and dirt, 
and thus from leakage. Always screw caps 
tightly down. Replace missing caps immedi-
ately.
fFor safety reasons, don't use tire inflating bot-tles.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRES-
SURES, COLD” on Page 385.Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should 
be checked every 2 weeks when cold (68°F/20°C) 
and inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended in this Owner's Manual or on the tire-pres-
sure plate. 
If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the 
size indicated in this Owner's Manual or on the tire-
pressure plate, you should determine the proper 
tire inflation pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been 
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring that illu-
minates a low tire pressure message when one or 
more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. 
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure message 
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires 
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the 
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can 
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces 
fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect 
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the tire pressure monitoring is not 
a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is 
the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire 
pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached 
the level to trigger illumination of the tire pressure 
monitoring low tire pressure message.
For further information on the tire pressure moni-
toring:
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSURE 
MENU” on Page 104.When tires are warm, the tire pressure is 
increased.
fNever let air out of hot tires. This could cause 
the tire pressure to fall below the prescribed 
value.
Insufficient tire pressure can cause tires to over-
heat and thus be damaged – even invisibly. Hidden 
tire damage is not eliminated by subsequently cor-
recting the tire pressure.
Overloading
 Danger!
Risk of personal injury, loss of control and 
damage to vehicle parts.
fDo not overload your vehicle. Be careful about 
the roof load. 
fIf loading the vehicle also correct the tire pres-
sure. Tire pressure for loaded vehicle can be 
found on the tire pressure plate and in the 
chapter technical data.
fNever exceed the specified axle load.
Overloading can shorten the service life of the 
tires and car, as well as lead to dangerous vehi-
cle reactions and long braking distances.
Damage due to overloading is not covered by the vehicle warranty.
fPlease observe the chapter “LOADING INFOR-
MATION” on Page 213. 

304
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire replacementsfUse only tire makes and types tested by 
Porsche.
Only tires with the same manufacturer and 
with the same specification code (e.g. “N0“, 
“N1“...) should be mounted on the vehicle.
Tires should be replaced no less than on one axle 
at the time. Only tires of the same make and type 
must be used. Mixed tires are not permissible and 
will affect vehicle performance, safety, and can 
affect vehicle warranty.
Porsche dealers can recommend the most current 
replacement tire options for your vehicle.
Initially, new tires do not have their full traction. 
You should therefore drive at moderate speeds 
during the first 60 - 120 miles (100 - 200 km).If new tires are installed only on one axle, a notice-
able change in handling occurs due to the different 
tread depth of the other tires. This happens espe-
cially if only rear tires are replaced. However, this 
condition disappears as the new tires are broken 
in.
fPlease adjust your driving style accordingly.
Installation of new tires should only be done by a 
qualified tire technician.
Valves
fUse only plastic valve caps.
fThe rubber valves must be replaced whenever 
the tires are changed.
fThe fitting and replacement specifications 
must be observed for metal valves.
fOnly use Original Porsche metal valves.
fProtect the valve inserts against soiling with 
valve caps.
Soiled valve inserts can cause a gradual loss 
of air.
Parking at the curb
 Danger!
Hard impacts against curbs (or traffic 
islands) are dangerous and may cause hid-
den tire damage which is not noticeable until 
later. Such damage can result in accidents at 
high speeds causing severe personal injury.
Depending on the force of impact, the edge 
of the rim can also be damaged.
fIf you are in doubt, have the wheel checked by 
an expert, particularly if you suspect damage 
on the inside.
fIf you must drive over a curb or other obstacle, 
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle. Exercise care when parking along curbs.
Maintenance note
Tire repairs are not permissible under any circum-
stances. 

306
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Removing and storing tiresfAfter changing, adjust tire pressure and torque 
wheel bolts diagonally. 
Please observe the chapter “CHANGING 
WHEELS” on Page 315.
Tires must always remain on the same side of 
the vehicle.
When wheels are removed, the direction of rota-
tion and position of each wheel should be marked.
Example
FR (front right), FL, RR and RL. 
Wheels must always be fitted in accordance with 
their marking.
The perception that tire durability and perform-
ance are not affected by storage and age is 
unfounded. 
Chemical additives, which make the rubber elas-
tic, lose their effectiveness over the course of 
time and the rubber becomes brittle and cracks.
Therefore, the tires, especially the spare tire, 
should be inspected from time to time.Note
Under no circumstances should tires older than 
6 years be used on your Porsche. 
The age of the tire can be obtained from the “DOT“ 
code number. If, for example, the last three num-
bers read 1204, then the tire was produced in the 
12th week of 2004.
fStore tires in a cool and dry place.
fRotate periodically to avoid flat spots.
Snow tiresThe installation of Porsche approved winter tires is 
recommended.
Use Porsche approved winter tires for grip on 
snow and ice. For optimum performance, stud-
ding can be considered.
Check with your local Motor Vehicle Bureau for 
possible restrictions.
 Danger!
Risk of loss of control and damage to the 
vehicle as well as serious personal injury or 
death.
The standard tires profile and rubber mixture 
are optimized for wet and dry driving condi-
tions, and may not prove favorable for snow 
conditions.
fInstall winter tires before driving in such condi-tions.
Before mounting winter tires, consult with your 
Porsche dealer. He has the technical information 
necessary to advise you on wheel and tire compat-
ibility.
S n o w  t i re s  s h o u l d  h a v e  t h e  s a m e  l o a d  c a p a c i t y  a s  
original equipment tires and should be mounted on 
all four wheels. 
Winter tires with studs should be run at moderate 
speeds when new in order to give the studs time 
to settle. 

Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
317
A- Filler bottle
B- Filler hoseTire sealantThe tire sealant can be used to seal small cuts, 
especially in the tire tread.
Sealing the tire with the tire sealant is only an 
emergency repair, so you can drive to the next 
workshop. Even with the tire air-tight, it may be 
used only for short journeys in an emergency.On vehicles without level control, the tire sealant 
and a compressor with pressure tester can be 
found under the cargo floor in the luggage com-
partment.
The tire sealant comprises: 
– A filler bottle
– A filler hose
– A valve turner and
– A spare valve insert.
 Danger!
Risk of accident.
fUse the tire sealant only in the case of cuts or 
punctures no larger than 0.15 in. (4 mm).
fNever use the tire sealant if the rim is dam-aged.
 Warning!
The sealant is highly flammable and harmful 
to health.
fFire, naked flame and smoking are prohibited 
when handling tire sealant.
fAvoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
fKeep tire sealant away from children.
fDo not inhale vapours.
In case of contact with the sealant:
fIf sealant gets on the skin or in the eyes, 
thoroughly rinse the affected part of the body 
off without delay.
fChange soiled clothing immediately.
fVisit a doctor immediately in the event of an 
allergic reaction.
fIf sealant was swallowed, thoroughly rinse out 
the mouth without delay and drink plenty of 
water.
Do not induce vomiting.
See a doctor immediately.