Metal in Oil: Porsche 996 Warning Signs & Urgent Help

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and had a similar issue with my 2002 Porsche 911 (996's successor). Actually, my Boxster had this problem too. I noticed metal particles in my oil and warning lights, and it turned out someone had used the wrong type of oil during the last service. My regular workshop found that this incorrect oil was causing increased wear on engine components. They had to flush the engine, replace the oil with the correct grade (make sure to use Porsche-approved oil!), and replace the oil pressure switch as it got damaged in the process. Total cost was around 175€, and it solved the issue completely. Could be different in your case though, these symptoms can mean various things in a 996. What's your maintenance history like? And have you noticed any unusual sounds from the engine? This info would help me give you better advice.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car has 27150 KM and had its latest service about 3 months ago. I haven't noticed any unusual engine sounds, honestly. I'm keeping a close eye on the oil level and checking it daily now. I might take it to my Porsche specialist next week just to be safe. Better catch any potential issues early, right?

Hey again! Thanks for the additional info about your car. Yeah, I totally get your concern, when I had this issue with my 2002 911, I was also super vigilant about checking the oil level daily. Since you mentioned your car was serviced just 3 months ago, I'm wondering if they might have made the same mistake my mechanic initially made with the oil type. My car had similar mileage when it happened (around 29,000 KM), and the symptoms were identical. You know what? It's actually really smart of you to plan on taking it to a Porsche specialist. That's exactly what I did, and it saved me from potentially bigger problems down the road. When they checked mine, they confirmed it was the wrong oil type plus a faulty pressure switch, both relatively simple fixes compared to what it could've been! Quick tip from my experience: when you take it in, ask them to specifically check the oil grade that was used in your last service. This was the key to solving my issue, and it might save you some diagnostic time. Keep me posted on what they find! I'm really curious to know if it's the same issue I had.

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely ask about the oil grade when I take it to the specialist. It's really reassuring to hear that your similar issue had a relatively simple fix. I've just booked an appointment for next Tuesday, and I'll make sure to mention your experience with the oil type and pressure switch to them. Really appreciate you taking the time to help me out with this. I'll let you know what they find once I get it checked out! Thanks again!