psychobenzrunner

Ciaka, Just to help you and to clarify, i spoke with 2 Porsche Genius's last week, the Gen 1 CTTS Service Due Indicator is time and mileage based, either 1 year from reset or 20K miles, which ever comes first. The Gen 2 CTT has an oil quality sensor, and is also mileage based at 10K miles, to raise the Service Due Indicator in the center display. hope this helps. The dealer would never tell me this, i have the blessed privilege of communicating with these 2 Porsche Gods who left the dealer environment and have about 40 years of Porsche Experience between them. And they are genuine and sincere, no attitude. Clarksongli, Based on my experience with 6 Turbochargers in the house and 1600+ HP in the garage shared between 3 Porsche's, my oil observations hold tons of value for me, as i monitor consumption as well as performance, i have to, its what keeps me sane. Bearing damage is not a concern, not with Castrol, 30 years and still running strong. I just had the oil changed on the Gen 1 CTTS at 12,750 miles, because i had a 2500 mile road trip scheduled and did not want to exceed 15K miles on the oil. in the same note, i was starting to feel a decrease in performance, about 10% drop in launch torque. So i had it changed, still using the Castrol Synthetic 5W40 and drove the next day to Florida for a 2500 mile road trip. Sweet run, i miss the triple digit speed limits in Europe. Feeling the difference in power after an oil change is real, i think you should run this concept by Loren, let him tell you what his thoughts are. when i feel an increase in power and acceleration after a fresh oil change, its real. Even my wife will tell you, she drives the Gen1 CTTS daily, when she says it runs better and harder after fresh oil, i believe her, i also experience it. These Porsche's don't lie. Your oil usage of 1 qt every 5K miles, that was my oil consumption on both of the AMG's, and the cars told me to Add a Quart. i look inside the oil fill caps on these Porsche engines, all is see is clean metal and a golden color from the oil. I am noticing the need to clean the fuel injectors more often with Lucas to optimize performance, possibly due to HC buildup from the Turbo's and the oil vapor. As far as oil consumption is concerned, i use a qt of oil every 500 to 600 miles in the Gen 2 CTT, my daily driver, gets about 24K miles per year on the road. my motor oil is being replenished weekly with a fresh qt of oil, which equates to about 10% based on a 10 quart refill after i change it, possibly contributing to the extended oil change intervals. Drive the Porsche's like they are stolen everyday, and i have about 42K miles on the front pads and rotors on the Gen2 and still going. I'm not sure if the 50W oil will make a difference, the outside temp would need to be 90F avg for me to run that. i know 5W50 is 1 of the 3 options that Porsche offers, 5W40 is good for me for now, 0W is too thin, especially cold start low oil pressure. Mercedes changed their oil specs from Mobil 1 0W40 to 5W40 in July 2006 due to this low oil pressure engine noise that i had experienced first hand in an E500 wagon and the 2 AMG motors. Its nice to learn as we go, and to have many Enthusiasts like all of the good people who spend time at RennTech.org, talking and learning about their machines to get the most out of them, and taking the time to share their ideas and findings. I am always happy to share my experiences and knowledge with all who are interested for the good of all Porsche's. Everyone have a great labor day weekend. Run hard. Thanks for being there. Mike.

Ciaka, Thank you for the link to the oil article. i have not used AMSOIL yet either, based on my consumption, i will talk to the Indies about it and see what they recommend. As far as oil change frequency or Service Due indicator to prompt you to change the oil, It depends who is driving the vehicle over time, the Gen 2 CTT i drive tells me almost at exactly 10,100 Miles "Service Due in 1900", its predictable with me and my driving style. My wife in her Gen 1 CTTS currently has a little over 12K miles since her vehicle's last oil change, and no Service Due indicator is yet available. She is not as Boost-Addicted like i am, so her vehicle does not use oil like i do. i think as i mentioned back in April, i use the push-button resettable trip odometer in the dash of both CTT's as my oil usage gauge. When i add a quart of oil based on the dipstick reading (usually at the letter N of the word MIN), i reset the trip odometer and thats my mileage gauge for when to pull the dipstick for a quick oil check (usually between 600 - 900 miles depending on the vehicle and the driver); we engineers are crazy, more like OCD, but for $10-15K for a new engine after failure, i will keep my OCD intact, as it works to my Porsche's advantage. I also track all maintenance on a spreadsheet, marking oil changes, all oil additions (and a side calculation for each oil addition and mileage between oil add's), and even dealer visits. yes its OCD, but these are Porsche's, its all good. My experience, i can run the castrol to and above 10K miles with no holdback, i could not do that with the Mobil 1 0W40, yes really. i've been using Castrol products for 30 years now, never an issue. One time, i did take the 08 CTT to 12,800 miles between oil changes, and i noticed a slight drop in performance, i was also at the "Service Due in 200 miles", so the oil was pretty well spent. I was told by a Porsche-Certified Technician at the dealer that the oil level sensor has a heating element in it, it heats up the element, which in turn heats the oil on the face of the element, and based on the response cool-down time at the element face, the oil quality is electronically evaluated, hence giving me typically about 10K miles on normal use of oil life, and then about 2000 Miles to get it changed, as the Service Due counter starts at 2000 miles and works down to zero; basically old oil loses its ability to not only lubricate but to provide cooling capabilities. I like this technology, there is no guesswork, its all smart technology. And i can feel the difference when the oil needs to be changed, its not a monster like it usually is, its holding back, i guess the computers are reducing the full performance parameters to avoid mechanical damage. The Germans know what they are doing most of the time. I still monitor daily the cold-start, and normal temp operation of the vehicle, to see if any patterns develop that need to be addressed, just being an engineer. I did install Agency Power Diverter Valves in both CTT's, (2 for each vehicle) the Gen 1 gives me better boost, (actually pegs the boost gauge above 0.8 bar), and it flies. definitely worth the upgrade, running stock air filters (i change them every 30K miles myself), CANNOT use a K&N type Oiled cotton fiber filter on Twin Turbo engines, as the oil will get lifted off the filter and will cause the MAF sensor to fail, too much $$$ for new ones. (blogs told me this and it makes sense). RFM, 5W30 is not listed on Porsche's approved oil list, not for the CTT's or a 911 Turbo, only 0W40, 5W40, or 5W50, all listed in the Owners Manual for each vehicle. Keep running those Porsche's hard every day, they like it. Have a great weekend everyone. Mike.

Hello Everyone. Ciaka, as far as tires are concerned, i run Michelin Latitude HP All Season 27545 19's on the 08 CTT (so quiet from start to finish) and drive them until they are almost bald, and i just put a set of General GMAX AS03's 27545 20's on the 06 CTTS. What a sweet tire General makes, i ran the General Altimax HP's on my 05 E500 Wagon in 2006, quiet and great in the rain. As long as Conti doesn't start playing with the rubber blends that General has trademarked we can rely on the quality, Conti's are good for one thing, a swing. Since you stayed with the Mobil 1 0W40, be cautious about the higher mileage between oil changes, as i had mentioned earlier in previous posts, i only run Castrol Syntec (now called Edge) Full Synthetic 5W40 to 10K+ mile oil service intervals, i have not used any Mobil product above 7500 miles, really, it thins out too fast, and required more frequent replenishment. For example, the 02 996 TT had Mobil 1 0W40 in it when i acquired it in 2008, consuming about 1 quart every 250 miles. I put 4k Miles on my first change of Mobil 1 0W40 in the 996 TT in 2008, and when i changed it in 2009, it was like black water, and the engine was getting loud. i was not happy with that oil interval, that why all Porsche's should run Castrol only, really. Ever since i changed to Castrol in 2009, the current oil change in AUG 2011, i added 1 quart of oil at approximately 850 miles. The mileage speaks for itself, and so does the performance. The 06 CTTS has 12K Miles on the current oil, and is still pegging 0.8 bar whenever you want it. i guess the higher quality oil is extending the oil service interval, as i am not seeing the Service Due indicator yet; consumption is normal, and i am also doing white paper oil blot tests every 1000 miles to check clarity and residue (much cheaper than lab testing). Even a fellow RennTech Enthusiast, royxaxa proved the Castrol oil is more durable, and burns less; thank you for posting your results, i'm glad other Porsche Enthusiasts are realizing that we always have options, not just what the dealer says or tries to sell us. IMHO, 5W50 i would only use it if i lived in a climate that was 110F+ from May thru October, like Phoenix or Vegas. I feel with having clocked 43K+ miles on the 08 CTT since 2010, the Castrol Syntec (Edge) 5W40 works just fine. W50 sounds nice, just not sure how well if flows at 90F at 5k to 6K RPM for an extended period, the only way to live in a 996 TT. Mercedes changed their oil spec across the board in July 2006 from Mobil 1 0W40 to Mobil 1 5W40, lime-green cap. This change was prompted by a cold start, low oil pressure valve tap in the 5L V8 engines, almost sounded like Dieseling. This was experienced first hand in the E500 wagon, the 05 E55 AMG Sedan, and the 03 SL55 AMG coupe. i still like the Castrol Syntec (Edge) flavor better, more robust. Hahnmgh63 is using Redline, which i have not used yet. I will do my research on this product, thank you for this useful information. FYI, Porsche only made 1500 06 CTT S's, and only sent 600 of them to the U.S...Sweet. I hope my daily driver tested results are of assistance to all of the RennTech community. i really need to spend more time on this site. Its good for all of us. Everyone enjoy the rest of the summer. Keep qualifying. Take Care, Mike.

Ciaka, Welcome to the wonderful world of Cayenne Turbo's and Oil Consumption, really. Are you new to the Porsche family? Is this your daily driver? I have 3 Porsche Turbo's in the House, I buy my Castrol Syntec 5W40 (Now called Castrol Edge, yes it is full synthetic, new name same product as Syntec), by the case, last purchased 20 cases which = 120 qts. IMHO, I am an ASE Certified Tech with 27 Years experience, and have been using Castrol products since 1982. I made the transition to the Castrol Synthetic oil in the Porsche's when they were acquired in 2010. My opinion, The Castrol Synthetic Motor Oil is by far more robust and better quality than the M stuff that is on the decal under the hood of all Cayenne's. It wears better, i use less of it than the M stuff, and upgrading from the 0W40 to 5W40 has been great. I average about 600 miles per quart of oil use, within the Porsche guidelines in the Owner's manual. 5W30 is NOT on the recommended list for Approved Porsche Oils. I usually run about 10K Miles between oil changes with the Castrol Edge 5W40, and even up to the 10K mile mark, i have no changes in performance at all. Drive it like its stolen everyday, yup everyday. And i still get 40K miles on my brakes. When you are due for an oil change, the center instrument display that shows you seat belts, TPMS and other daily functions will display a service reminder, "Service in 2000 miles". this begins to appear when the computer determines that your oil is near the end of its service life, and it needs to be changed, preferably before the "Service" mileage reaches 0, at which time you will be reminded fulltime that "Service Due". So as hahnmgh63 stated previously, the Oil Change Service reminder can only be reset with a computer program and a cabled link to the computer. Oil consumption, my 911 Turbo was using 1 qt of oil every 250 miles with the M stuff, i have 600 miles on the Castrol full Synthetic and i am only a half qt down from full. I do weekly oil checks, pop the hood and pull the dipstick and check on the dipstick where the oil level is. As far as the dipstick goes, i have found in my level checks and monitoring of the dipstick range that the oil range on the dipstick from MAX Line to MIN Line seems to be 1.5 qts. From the MAX Line down to the front edge of the letter N (the front edge being the side of the letter N next to the blank black plastic mid section of the dipstick where no print appears) of the word MIN is 1 qt. The Gen 1 CTT (2003 to 2006) oil level sensor may take some oil consumption to display in the center dash, i've seen it disappear from the dipstick and still not illuminate in the center display. That's why i do the weekly oil level checks (just to be safe) with the vehicle on level ground, (try to pick a comfortable spot where you park the vehicle frequently) and start with that. As far as the dipstick goes, i have found in my oil level checks and monitoring of the dipstick range that the oil range on the dipstick from MAX Line to MIN Line seems to be 1.5 qts. From the MAX Line down to the front edge of the letter N (the front edge being the side of the letter N next to the blank black plastic mid section of the dipstick where no print appears) of the word MIN is 1 qt. i also use the trip odometer in the dash as my oil use mileage tracker, every time i add oil to the engine and confirm i am at the MAX Line, i reset the trip odometer. Weekly, or when i get around 600 miles on the trip odometer, i do an oil level check. Yes im crazy, but this is a critical fluid, highly consumed, and the CTT engines are very expensive. Also, i keep a full 6 pack (1 case) of oil in the cargo area of the Cayenne, as its about $9.20 per qt around here in PA, and not everyone carries it. Brakes are the same way, indicating in the center display when its time to be replaced. a technician will determine whether its rear or front brakes that need to be replaced, the center display only shows "Brakes". Do you have a preference for your vehicle servicing, the Porsche dealer or a good Indy? Good luck to you with your Porsche. Write back if you have any other questions. Take Care, Mike.

Doug, Along with your application of the small vacuum hoses to dampen the wind effect, were you sure to orient the cross bars properly, as they are correctly positioned with the little embossed vehicle diagram on the side panels of the cross bar ends facing the same direction of the vehicle they are installed on. Just FYI. The cross bar is aerodynamic, if you look at the profile from the side, it is shaped like an airplane wing. The Germans are so thorough, gotta love it. I have them on a Cayenne Turbo with a Pano Roof, and I have full unobstructed clearance for roof functionality with the cross bars fully locked in their available notched positions. I have very little wind noise with mine. Let me know. Thanks. Mike.

:welcome: Do you have the 6 page installation TSB? The bracket are very specific to locations as I recall. Loren, Thank you for responding to my request for information. I do not have the 6 page installation TSB, and I am not sure how to locate the TSB. What did you mean by bracket and location, I am not sure what your reference is. The locations that I was using were the notches in the base rails, allowing for even alignment on both sides for uniform locking. Please reply. Mike.

All, First Post, glad to break the ice. I wanted to address a problem I am having with my attempting to install a factory roof transport system (cross rails - side to side) on a 2008 CTT. The rails are from an 03 Cayenne, should not make a difference based on the Part Number being available for all years 2003-2006 and 2008-2010. The issue at hand is once I unlock the lock panels, open them both out until they lock open, install the cross rails in the track, and position a rail in one of the track notches, I activate the inside lever to allow function of the end key lock panel. When I try to close the lock panel and I get approximately 60% of the lock panel travel from full open, it requires near brute force to close fully before turning the key. I had the opportunity to try these cross rails on a 2010 Cayenne, and had the same result. My concern is that it seems there is too much force required to close the lock panels (key function is normal once lock panel is brute force held against the rail end), and I do not want to cause damage to the roof transport system, nor to the body of the vehicle. Has anyone else experienced this? With this being my first post, I figured this would be good info for all of us who plan on using the top of a Cayenne for its intended purpose, not just for the birds. Thank you again for all of your input.