
276
Maintenance, Car Care
PaintfNever rub a dusty car with a dry cloth since
dust particles are abrasive and could dull and
damage the surface finish.
The paintwork of your car is exposed to all types
of mechanical and chemical conditions, particular-
ly climatic ones such as bright sunlight, rain, frost
and snow. Ultraviolet light, rapid changes in tem-
perature, rain, snow, industrial dust and chemical
deposits constantly attack the paint which is only
able to withstand such exposure in the long term
if it is given regular care and attention.
fDo not treat matt-painted components with
preservatives or polishes, otherwise the matt
effect will be lost.Preservation
The paint surface becomes dull over time due to
weathering. It is therefore necessary to preserve
the paint regularly.
This keeps the paint shiny and elastic. Dirt is pre-
vented from adhering to the paint surface and in-
dustrial dust is prevented from penetrating the
paint.
Provided it is washed and treated with preserva-
tive regularly, the brand new finish of your car will
be retained for years to come.
fSimply apply paint preservative after washing
the car and polish it smooth.
Polishing
fDo not resort to using Porsche polish until it
becomes evident that the normal preserva-
tives no longer produce the desired finish.Removing spots and stains
fRemove tar stains, grease, oil spots and dead
insects etc. as soon as possible with Insect Re-
mover. They can cause discoloration if allowed
to remain on the paintwork.
fWash the affected area immediately after treat-
ing it.
Minor paint damage
fHave minor paint damage, such as scratches,
scores or chips caused by flying stones, re-
paired immediately by your authorized
Porsche dealer before corrosion begins.
However, if there are already traces of corrosion,
they must first be removed carefully and thorough-
ly. Coat the area with a rust-proofing primer and
finish off with a top coat. The paint code and color
number are found on the vehicle’s paint data plate.
fPlease observe the chapter “DATA BANK” on
Page 364.

Maintenance, Car Care
277
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 vehicle 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.

282
Maintenance, Car Care
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 332.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.

286
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and max-
imum section width.
ExampleAll passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested un-
der controlled conditions on a specific govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well on
the government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the ac-
tual conditions of their use, however, and may de-
part significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.

Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
287
Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B,, and C and they represent the tire's abil-
ity to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled 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 un-
der 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.

290
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire traction
Warning!
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a
wedge of water may build up between the
tires and the road. This phenomenon is
known as “hydroplane“ and may cause par-
tial or complete loss of traction, vehicle con-
trol or stopping ability.
fReduce speed on wet surfaces to prevent this.Tire lifeTire life depends on various factors, i.e., road sur-
faces, traffic and weather conditions, driving hab-
its, type of tires and tire care.
fInspect your tires for wear and damage before
driving off. If you notice uneven or substantial
wear, wheels might need alignment or tires
should be balanced or replaced.
Tire wearThe original equipment tires on your Porsche have
built-in tire wear indicators. They are molded into
the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear as
approximately 1/2 in. (12 mm) bands when the
tire tread depth is down to 1/16 of an in (1.6 mm).
When the indicators appear in two or more adja-
cent grooves, it is time to replace the tires. We
recommend, however, that you do not let the tires
wear down to this extent.
Worn tires cannot grip the road surface properly
and are even less effective on wet roads.
In the United States, state laws may govern the
minimum tread depth permissible. Follow all such
laws.
Danger!
Driving on worn tires can result in loss of con-
trol of the vehicle and could cause serious
personal injuries or death.
fDo not drive with worn tires or tires showing
cuts or bruises as they may lead to sudden de-
flation and loss of control which could cause
severe personal injury.
fSpecialized high performance tires on high
performance sport utility vehicles exhibit more
wear than those on a family sedan, or even a
high performance sedan.
Therefore, it is important to check your tire
pressure and condition at least every two weeks.
fIf you notice that tires are wearing unevenly,
consult your Porsche dealer.
Uneven wear may not always be due to improper
wheel alignment. It can be the result of individual
driving habits such as cornering at high speeds. If
the tire pressure is not checked and adjusted reg-
ularly, abnormal tire wear can also occur.

292
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).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.
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.

Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
295
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.
Snow tires should have the same load capacity as
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.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death.
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure
increases increases risk of a tire failure and
resulting loss of control. Furthermore, low
tire pressure increases rate of wear of the
affected tires and cause damage.
Tires with badly worn treads and studs are
very dangerous and could cause accidents
resulting in serious personal injuries or
death.
fMake sure they are replaced immediately.
fDo not exceed the winter tire speed rating.
Snow tires do not have the same degree of trac-
tion on dry, wet or snowfree roads as normal tires.
Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly under these
conditions.
Winter tires do not fulfill their purpose if the tread
depth is less than 5/32 in. (4 mm).
Comply with all state and local laws govern-
ing snow tire and tread depth requirements.
Danger!
Risk of accident and serious personal injury
or death due to excessive speed.
fAlways check the maximum speed rating on
the tire sidewall on any tire on the vehicle.
fNever exceed the maximum speed rating of the tires.
Wheel change
fWhen wheels are removed, mark the direction
of rotation and position of each wheel.
Example: FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
fAlways fit the wheels in accordance with the
markings.