Just bought a 996

[Mark Wilson]

Well, I wasn't really looking, and it's not a great time - famous last words right. Came acoss a really clean, low miles 99 996 last week. Arena red with cashmere guts, 6 speed and 48K miles. It's in Seattle, so asked my buddy Glenn (island911) to do a once over and talked to Mark Akers since he serviced it for several yours. Did the deal, sent the check and Glenn picks it up this week. Looks like a road trip in my future - Seattle to LA to Dallas. This will be the secong 911 I've bought out of Seattle.

Steve - if my drive hits Portland during business hours, I'll stop by for a few.

[Steve]

Hi Mark,

Give me a heads-up if you are coming through,..

Regarding your "new" 996,......

1) Use Total or Motul 5w-40 oil,..do NOT use the Mobil 1 0w-40 crap. Change it every 3K.

2) Use German OEM oil filters and open them up at every oil change to inspect their innards. Never overlook this one!

3) Consider proactively replacing the IMS bearing with the LN Engineering kit. This can save the $20K engine.

These three measures will help your experience be a good one.

[Mark Wilson]

Steve - thanks for the heads up on the oil - it's good to hear the real story from a pro rather than the noise from other sources! I'm tentatively planning to leave Seattle next Wed early moring - sometime depending when I can get a flight in. If there was time, I'd love have you do the IMS and a clutch, but I'll need to be in LA for a Friday morning meeting and shoot back to Dallas over the weekend. Plans will firm up tomorrow and I'll let you know.

Mark

[Mark Wilson]

She's back home and it was a great ride. I skipped CA and drove through OR, ID, UT, CO, OK and in to TX. I really enjoyed getting to know the car. She was cleaner than I expected and I'm starting the list of fixes I need to do. Here is a pic I took at a rest stop in UT.

[Steve]

Sounds like had a great trip and a lot of fun.

[Mark Wilson]

Steve - meant to ask you about your comments on the oil. Looks like you aren't a fan of the Mobil 1 - I remember seeing some bad juju re Mobil 1 a couple years ago when they removed an additive or some such. Can you help educate me about why you recomend the Motul or Total instead. Thanks!

[Steve]