Hello all.... My 2020 Macan S just turned 12,000 miles and the dealership is saying that I should also replace the spark plugs because the car is 3 years old. Do you all agree with that? I am new to owning a Porsche so I'm not sure and I want to do the right thing. It just seems kinda crazy with only 12,000 miles. Thanks.... Bob
Do I need to change the spark plugs?
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Plugs are done at the 30K/3 yr year service. Considering they are a consumable item, I'd wait for 30k miles and ignore the time interval. Attached is what the dealer gave me as far as their service intervals. I have started doing most of this myself. Some of the stuff isn't even on here like front and rear diff fluid and transfer case fluid.
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I did not skip the time interval for mine, not worth the risk of them possibly becoming frozen in place where they could not be easily removed.
The time interval is specified for a reason. Do you want to learn that reason the hard (and possibly expensive) way?
The time interval is specified for a reason. Do you want to learn that reason the hard (and possibly expensive) way?
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This brings up another thought...if your car is still under warranty, you may need to have it done to keep it in warranty.
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The only reason for doing them early as far as Porsche is concerned is because of the potential for them to get frozen in the head. This is much more of an issue with the Cayman as the spark plugs being down close to the ground in the flat engine setup. (getting water/salt splashed up there, not going to happen in a Macan)
That being said there are many many cars with aluminum heads that run plugs for 5-10 year before being changed. I've never seen one that was frozen...
That being said there are many many cars with aluminum heads that run plugs for 5-10 year before being changed. I've never seen one that was frozen...
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I changed mine out myself after 5 years and 26K miles. It was a simple 1.5 hour task for me taking my time with Bosch plugs I ordered off of Pelican Parts. The old plugs came out with ease and looked like they could go another 20K miles. I don't normally say this, but for the Macan, I think this conservative interval is just to make it easy (and profitable) for dealerships. The sports cars actually have a practical reason as to why the intervals are as such due to their low mounted flat orientated engines where the plugs get exposed to the elements right near the rear wheels. On my Cayman, I changed them at 4 years and 12K miles.
12K miles is nothing. Changing them now is throwing money in the garbage.
That's what I originally thought but what about it being three years old and the potential for them becoming seized in the head?
Is that just a scare technique?
It is extremely rare for them to become seized after only 3 years. I would not really worry about that until at least 5-7 years.
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The concerns about them seizing is more for the flat engines that sit low and behind the rear wheels in the sports cars. Unless you live on a tropical island and park with your hood open every day, I would not worry about them seizing for a Macan in only 3 years. Dealerships also rake people over the coals for what they charge to do spark plugs on Macans. If you really want to change them for peace of mind, either learn them to do it yourself or have an independent do it. Otherwise you are throwing money into the toilet for no real reason.
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These plugs have a very fine thread and you don't want them welding themselves into the head that's why they say three years. Do them yourself, this is an easy job. If you buy a German car you're accepting complexity so either open your wallet or a Saturday afternoon!
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The plugs are steel and the head is aluminum so with dissimilar metals seizing is a common problem. Along with the thread seizing there is also the chance that the coil insulators glue themselves to the head. That happened to me in under two years. Luckily only one of the four. When I change plugs I lubricate the insulators with silicone spray so it won't happen next time.
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No. You can use some dielectric grease on the plug insulator to make it easier to remove the coil next time if you wish. Or you can buy a kit with new plugs and coils and still be money ahead of what a dealer will charge for just the plugs.
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Back in the day that would have been recommended. But I've experienced problems trying that with modern sophisticated ignitions.
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Correct! Changed mine at 40K and it was a white knuckle experience. I guess the heat of the Cayman engine realy adds to the galling or corrosion that makes the plugs difficult to remove.
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