2009 PORSCHE BOXSTER check oil

3
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of
damage.
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compo-
nents such as spoilers or underside panels
affect the driving behavior and therefore
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components
described in this manual.
Should you have difficulty understanding any of
the explanations of features or equipment installed
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche
dealer. He/She will be glad to assist you. Also
check with your dealer on other available options
or equipment.
Throughout this booklet, left is designated as the
driver’s side of the vehicle, and right as the pas-
senger’s side of the vehicle.
Text, illustrations and specifications in this manual
are based on the informatio n available at the time
of printing.
It has always been Porsche’s policy to continuous-
ly improve its products. Porsche, therefore, re-
serves the right to make changes in design and
specification, and to make additions or improve-
ments in its product without incurring any obliga-
tion to install them on products previously manu-
factured.
We wish you many miles of safe and pleasurable
driving in your Porsche.
Warning!
For your own protection and longer service life of
your car, please follow all operating instructions
and special warnings. These special warnings use
the safety alert symbol, followed by the words
Danger, Warning and Caution . These special
warnings contain important messages regarding
your safety and/or the potential for damage to
your Porsche. Ignoring them could result in seri-
ous mechanical failure, serious personal injury or
death.
f Do not alter your Porsche. Any alteration could
create dangerous conditions or defeat safety
engineering features built into your car.
f Do not misuse your Porsche. Use it safely, and
consistently with the law, according to the driv-
ing conditions, and the instructions in this man-
ual.
Alteration or misuse of your Porsche could
cause accidents and serious personal injury
or death.
Note to owners In Canada, this manual is also available in French.
To obtain a copy contact your dealer or write to: Note aux proprietaires Au Canada on peut se procurer un exemplaire de
ce Manuel en français auprès du concessionaire
ou du:
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
Automobiles Porsche Canada, LTEE
5925 Airport Road
Suite 420
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4V 1W1
Telephone number for customer assistance:
1-800-PORSCHE / Option 3

Table of Contents
7
Trip Odometer ........................................... 121
Speedometer ................ ............................ 122
Changing over between Miles / Kilometers .. 122
Tachometer ............... ................................ 123
Turn Signal Indicator Light .......................... 123
High Beam Indicator Li ght ........................... 123
Gear Shift Indicator
(in vehicles with manual transmission) .......... 123
Cooling System ......... ................................ 124
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 125
Fuel .......................... ................................ 126
Clock ............................ ............................ 127
Outside Temperature ................................. 127
Check Engine (Emission Control) ................. 129
On-Board Computer (B C) ............................ 130
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-
board computer ............. ............................ 162Shifting Gears.................................. 171Manual Transmission, Cl utch ....................... 172
Drive-Off Assistant ..... ................................ 173
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 174Mobile Roofs ................................... 181Convertible Top ......... ................................ 182
Windstop ................... ................................ 189
Hardtop ........................ ............................ 190Maintenance, Car Care .................... 195Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle .......................................... 196
Coolant Level ............ ................................ 197
Engine Oil ................. ................................ 199 Engine Oil Level ..
......................................199
Engine Oil Recommendat ion ........................200
Brake Fluid Level ...... ..................................202
Fuel Economy .......... ..................................204
Operating your Porsche in other Countries ...204
Fuel Recommendation s ..............................206
Portable Fuel Containers ............................207
Fuel Evaporation Control ............................207
Emission Control Syst em ............................208
How Emission Control Works ......................209
Washer Fluid ............ ..................................210
Power Steering ........ ..................................211
Air Filter .................. ..................................211
Combination Filter .... ..................................211
Fluids/Oils for Manual Transmission
and Porsche Doppelkuppl ung (PDK) .............211
Wiper Blades .......... ..................................212
Car Care Instructions ................................213
Practical Tips, Emergency Service .... 221Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ............................ .............222
Tires/Wheels ............... ............................. 223
Loading Information ...................... .............234
Wheel Bolts ................................. .............236
Changing a wheel .......................... .............237
Flat Tire........................ ............................. 239
Lifting the Vehicle with a Lifting Platform
or Garage Lift ...... ......................................242
Spacers ...................... ..............................243
Electrical System ......................................245
Battery ................... ..................................249
Replacing the remote-control battery ..........254
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables ......255 Bulb chart ..............
................................... 257
Lights, Replacing Bulb s ............................. 257
Headlights ............. ................................... 258
Number Plate Light . ................................... 266
Changing Light-Emitting Diodes and Long-Life
Bulbs ......................... .............................. 266
Adjusting Headlights .................................. 267
Towing ....................... .............................. 269
Vehicle Identification,
Technical Data ......... ....................... 273Vehicle Identification .................................. 274
Technical Data ....... ................................... 276
Tire Pressure for Cold Tires ....................... 277
Tires, Rims, Tracks .................................. 278
Driving Performance* ................. .............. 280
Capacities ............. ................................... 281
Weights ..................... .............................. 282
Dimensions ........... ................................... 282
Diagrams ................... .............................. 283

8
Before driving off...
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections.
These engineering and safety features will be
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his/her car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first f Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
f Be sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
f See that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
f Check engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every fuel filling.
f Check all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
f Be sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
f Check all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
f Check, and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
f See that all windows are clear and unob-
structed.
f Check air intake slots and area between lug-
gage compartment lid and windshield. Ensure
that these areas are free of snow and ice, so
the heater and the windshield wipers work
properly. f
If a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
f Child restraint systems will not fit into the
Sports bucket seat.
Do not install a child restraint system in the
Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped
with the LATCH system and thus the airbag
system cannot be manually deactivated.
f Check all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
f Check the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
f Check under the vehicle for leaks.
f Be sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.

Before driving off...
9
In the driver’s seat... fCheck operation of the horn.
f Position seat for easy reach of foot pedals and
controls.
To reduce the possibility of injury from the
airbag deployment, you should always sit back
as far from the steering wheel as is practical,
while still maintaining full vehicle control.
f Adjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors.
f Buckle your safety belts.
f Check operation of the foot and parking brake.
f Check all warning and indicator lights with
ignition on and engine not running.
f Start engine and check all warning displays for
warning symbols.
f Never leave an idling car unattended.
f Lock doors from inside, especially with chil-
dren in the car to prevent inadvertent opening
of doors from inside or outside.
Drive with doors locked.
On the road... fNever drive after you have consumed alcohol
or drugs.
f Always have your safety belt fastened.
f Always drive defensively.
Expect the unexpected.
f Use signals to indicate turns and lane changes.
f Turn on headlights at dusk or when the driving
conditions warrant it.
f Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, depending on traffic, road and
weather conditions.
f Reduce speed at night and during inclement
weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and re-
duced speeds, particularly on roads with
standing water, as the handling characteristics
of the vehicle may be impaired due to hydro-
planing of the tires.
f Always observe speed limits and obey road
signs and traffic laws.
f When tired, get well off the road, stop and take
a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the ve-
hicle with engine idling.
Please see the chapter “ENGINE EXHAUST” on
Page 5. f
When parked, always set the parking brake.
Move the PDK selector le ver to ”P“ or the gear-
shift lever to reverse or first gear.
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
f When emergency repairs become necessary,
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on the
emergency flasher and use other warning de-
vices to alert other motorists. Do not park or
operate the vehicle in areas where the hot ex-
haust system may come in contact with dry
grass, brush, fuel spill or other flammable ma-
terial.
f Make it a habit to have the engine oil checked
with every refueling.

10
Before driving off...
Break in hints for the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers The following tips will be helpful in obtaining opti-
mum performance from your new Porsche.
Despite the most modern, high-precision manufac-
turing methods, the moving parts must still wear
in with each other. This we aring-in occurs mainly in
the first 2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.Therefore: f Preferably take longer trips.
f Avoid frequent cold starts with short-distance
driving whenever possible.
f Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
f Do not exceed maximum engine speed of
4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
f Do not run a cold engine at high rpm either in
Neutral or in gear.
f Do not let the engine labor, especially when
driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
f Never lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just
during the break-in period. f
Do not participate in motor racing events,
sports driving schools, etc. during the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering,
gear-shifting or other controls during the break-in
period which will gradually disappear.
Break in brake pads and brake discsNew brake pads and discs ha ve to be “broken in”,
and therefore only attain optimal friction when the
car has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated for by pressing the brake pedal harder.
This also applies whenev er the brake pads and
brake discs are replaced. New tires New tires do not have maximum traction. They
tend to be slippery.
f Break in new tires by driving at moderate
speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles/100 to
200 km. Longer braking distances must be an-
ticipated.
Engine oil and fuel consumption During the break-in peri od oil and fuel consump-
tion may be higher than normal.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which
the engine is operated, the climate and road con-
ditions, as well as the amount of dilution and oxi-
dation of the lubricant.
f Make a habit of checking engine oil with every
refueling, add if necessary.

94
Operation, Safety
Luggage Compartment Access covers A and B
Caution!
Risk of injury or damage.
f Do not store any objects behind the access covers A and B.
Tool boxOpening
f Unlock turn-locks C.
E- Adapter for security wheel bolts
F - Tire filling compressor
G -Towing hook
H -Tool kit
I - Lever for convertible top emergency operation
(under the tool kit)
J -Tire sealantf Open tool box and place it on the floor of the
luggage compartment.
Closing
f Insert tool box into the guide pegs in the lugga-
ge compartment floor.
f Close tool box and lock the turn-locks C.
A-To p p i n g u p e n g i n e o i l
B -Check coolant level, top up if necessaryRear luggage compartmentThe refilling points for engine oil and coolant are
located behind the service flap in the rear luggage
compartment.Opening the service flapf Open the flap by pulling the handhold.
f Please see the chapter “ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 199.
f Please see the chapter “COOLANT LEVEL” on
Page 197.

Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
157
OIL
Display and measurement of the engine
oil level
Caution!
Risk of engine damage.
f Regularly check the oil level each time before
refueling.
f Do not allow the oil level to fall below the minimum mark.
Conditions for measuring the oil level
1. Vehicle stationary.
2. It is important to ensure that the vehicle is horizontal for correct oil level measurement
to occur.
3. Engine must be at operating temperature (at least 140 °F/60 °C).
4. Engine must be idling. Initiating oil level measurement
1. Push operating lever forward in order to switch
on the selection field.
2. Select “OIL” with the operating lever.
3. Push operating lever forward. Measurement is started. 4. Allow waiting time to elapse.
5. Once the measurement has been completed,
you can read off the engine oil level on the
segment display.

158
Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
6. If the segments are fille
d in up to the top line,
the oil level has reached the maximum mark.
Under no circumstances add engine oil. 7. If the bottom segment is filled in, the oil level
has reached the minimum mark.
Add engine oil immediately.
8. If the bottom segment fl ashes, the oil level has
dropped to below the minimum mark.
Add engine oil immediately.
The difference between the minimum and
maximum marks on the segment display is
approx. 1.3 quarts (1.25 litres).
One segment of the display corresponds to a
top-up quantity of approx. 0.42 quarts (0.4 litre).
f Add engine oil if necessary.
Switch off ignition before adding engine oil. f
Please see the chapter “ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 199.
f Never add more engine oil than required
to reach the maximum mark.
Failure
A failure of the oil level display is indicated by a
warning message on the on-board computer.
“Check engine oil level” display
The on-board computer display “Check engine oil
level” is an additional measurement that takes
place in the background while driving.
The display depends on the distance travelled.
This display appears if th e oil level has reached the
minimum mark or if the o il level is well above the
maximum mark.
This message must be acknowledged by measu-
ring the engine oil leve l manually using the on-
board computer.
f Please see the chapter “INITIATING OIL LEVEL
MEASUREMENT” on Page 157.
If an oil level measurement was initiated manually
on the on-board computer and no oil was topped
up, the message “Check engine oil level” is
displayed again when the vehicle is driven.