Early Model Porsche Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule for Pre-2001 Model Year Porsches

Early model Porsches require slightly different care than those made during or after 2001. For your early model Porsche, you'll approach service needs a bit more quickly. We've included the service intervals below to serve as a guide for you and your certified Porsche technician:

Early Model Porsche Maintenance: Every 7,500 Miles

Every 7,500 miles, change your engine oil and oil filter (Turbo Engines Only - 15000 mile intervals for normally aspirated cars).

Early Model Porsche Maintenance: Every 15,000 Miles

Every 15,000 miles you'll need to perform the following as part of your Porsche maintenance plan:

  • Change the engine oil and filter (see above for additional notes),
  • Visually inspect the engine for leaks,
  • Check the cooling and heating system for leaks,
  • Check the condition of your coolant hoses and tighten connections,
  • Visually inspect the radiator external fouling,
  • Check coolant level and antifreeze content,
  • Check tightness of hose connections in crankcase ventilation,
  • Check hoses, lines, and connections for tightness for intake air,
  • Check play of brake pedal and adjust if necessary,
  • Visually inspect brake hoses and lines for leaks, damage, and corrosion,
  • Check brake fluid level and top off if necessary,
  • Visually inspect brake pads and discs to check for wear,
  • Check play of clutch and adjust if necessary,
  • Check clutch plate for wear,
  • Visually inspect Hydraulic Clutch Actuator for leaks,
  • Check screw connections in steering gear for tightness and visually inspect the bellows for damage,
  • Check play of tie rod links while checking for tightness and dust caps,
  • Visually inspect power assisted steering for leaks, check fluid level, and top off if necessary,
  • Visually inspect ball joint dust caps for damage,
  • Check screw connections of wishbone for tightness,
  • Check play of front wheel bearings and adjust if necessary,
  • Check play of rear wheel bearings and adjust if necessary,
  • Lubricate clutch release lever and secondary spring,
  • Transmissions: If manual, visually Inspect for leaks, check oil level, and top off if necessary; for automatic, check fluid level and top off if necessary,
  • Visually inspect drive shaft sleeves for leaks and damage,
  • Visually inspect exhaust system for leaks and damage while checking screw connections for tightness and attachment,
  • Check condition and correct tire pressure,
  • Check operation of the door arrester (latch mechanism) and lubricate,
  • Lubricate door hinges,
  • Check door, engine hood locks, and safety hooks on front hood for tightness and function,
  • Remove abraded rubber and apply suitable agent to seals for doors, hood, and roof,
  • Check operation of vehicle lighting,
  • Check headlight setting and adjust if necessary,
  • Check horn for functionality,
  • Lubricate rods for retractable headlights,
  • Check throttle actuator for smooth running,
  • Check function, fluid level, and nozzle setting for windshield washer and wiper system and adjust if necessary,
  • Check operation, fluid level, and nozzle setting of headlight washer and adjust if necessary,
  • Check battery fluid level and top off if necessary,
  • Check operation of all electrical control equipment and optional extras, and
  • Check operation of heater, ventilation, and air conditioner blower.

Early Model Porsche Maintenance: Every 30,000 Miles

  • Change engine oil and filter,
  • Check tension and condition of timing (and balance shaft) drive belts,
  • Check tension and condition of V-Belt (Power Steering) and Poly-Rib Belt (AC / Alternator),
  • Replace spark plugs (At least every two years, regardless of mileage),
  • Replace air filter, and
  • If driving an automatic transmission, change ATF and clean ATF strainer.

Early Model Porsche Maintenance: Every 60,000 Miles

Every 60,000 miles, your Porsche transmission will need care. In a manual transmission, change the oil. In an automatic transmission, change the oil in the differential.

Additional Maintenance for Early Model Porsches

In addition to your regularly scheduled Porsche maintenance, there are a few other service tasks you'll want to schedule over the lifetime of your Porsche, such as the following:

  • Your brake fluid and engine coolant must be replaced every 2 years regardless of mileage.
  • If your car is tracked, brake fluid should be changed annually.
  • Your timing belt and balance shaft belt should be changed at 40,000 miles for 944s and at 60,000 miles for 968s. For both the 944 and 968, check belt tension and condition every 15,000 miles.
  • Check your timing belt condition and inspection every year after 15,000 miles.
  • Water pumps in 944s do not usually last past 100,000 miles. It is recommended that you replace yours every 90,000 miles.
  • When examining the timing belt and balance belt, replace rollers if noisy. All rollers should be replaced at every other belt change unless it's an individual roller that was replaced during the previous belt change. For pre-1987 model 944s, the timing belt tension roller stud should be replaced at every other belt change.

Maintenance for other Porsche Model Years

For other information on Porsche maintenance, service, and repair, or for the service schedule for later model years, please see our other Porsche articles.