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1998 Porsche 911

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 911.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Porsche 911, featuring an automatic 4-speed transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 city, 22 highway, and 17 combined mpg, represents a specific configuration within the storied model's history. With just two total owner complaints spanning service brakes, air, engine and engine cooling, and exterior lighting, alongside a single recall, the car exhibits remarkably few documented issues. Contextualized against the model's 1990–2014 complaint history—where the highest year recorded 50 complaints and the lowest just one—the 1998 911 sits near the very bottom of the problem spectrum, indicating exceptional reliability for its era.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 1998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque96 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 99320720103. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	99320720103 alt 99310720305
Engine air filter	99311032701 alt 96411032701
Fuel filter	92811025307
Spark plug	99917019590
Front wiper blades	99362890101
Serpentine belt	99314718701 alt 99919236350
Cabin air filter	99357247900

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	167.7 in
Overall width	68.5 in
Overall height	52 in
Wheelbase	89.4 in
Curb weight	3064 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.5 / 56.7 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 911 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.6–6.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.60 sec — 1997 Turbo S Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1997	Turbo S Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	3.60 sec	11.90 sec	424 hp	AWD
1997	Turbo Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	3.70 sec	12.30 sec	408 hp	AWD
1997	Turbo S Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	3.70 sec	12.20 sec	424 hp	AWD
1997	Carrera S Coupe 3.6L F-6	4.90 sec	13.60 sec	282 hp	RWD
1996	Turbo Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	3.70 sec	12.30 sec	400 hp	AWD
1996	Turbo Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	3.70 sec	12.10 sec	400 hp	AWD
1996	Turbo Coupe 3.6L Twin-Turbo F-6	4.00 sec	12.40 sec	400 hp	AWD
1996	Carrera 4S Coupe 3.6L F-6	4.90 sec	13.50 sec	282 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 96 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 37.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.9 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.9 Pints
Engine Coolant	FILLED WITH PORSCHE LIFTIME COOLANT

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug

37.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	96 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	21.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	21.0-22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-2-4-3-5
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug Gap	0.028 in
Spark Plug Torque	16.0-22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.85 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.079 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	Loosen all bolts 720 degrees	720 degrees
3	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
4	60 degrees	60 degrees
5	60 degrees	60 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 30,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 15,000 mi	Air Intake System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 90,000 mi	Final Drive (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Based on the federal record, the 1998 Porsche 911 shows only 2 complaints and 1 recall, with no investigations or crash/fire incidents. This places it in a low-complaint trough between the spike of 12 complaints in 1995 and the elevated figures of 8 in both 1999 and 2001. Recalls also dropped from the 3–4 range seen in 1990–1992 and 1996 to just 1, a level it shares with 1997, 1999, and 2000. The 1998 model year thus appears to be a relatively stable point in the generation’s arc, avoiding the higher complaint counts of the mid-1990s and early 2000s. While the data does not specify root causes for the complaints, the low numbers suggest fewer reported issues than surrounding years. Therefore, the 1998 Porsche 911 is a good year to buy within this generation, offering a favorable balance of low complaints and recalls compared to both earlier and later model years.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

148

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97’98’99 ’00 ’01 ’07 ’14

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Service Brakes, Air,Engine & Engine Cooling,Exterior Lighting1

Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98E005000Air Bags:On-Off Switch AssemblyReported 24/02/1998

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: CHILD SEATING SYSTEM AIR BAG DEACTIVATION KIT FOR USE ON 1997-1998 911 CARRERA S, CARRERA 4, CARRERA 4S, AND TURBO (1997 MODEL ONLY), PART NO. 993 803 283 00, AND 1997-1998 BOXSTER MODEL VEHICLES… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AIR BAG DEACTIVATION KIT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 148 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
No. 2404	2024-03-15	Equipment	Special tools and equipment information for the Boxster, Cayman, 911, and Panamera
PIWIS2401j	2024-02-09	Unknown Or Other	Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.020
No. D8	2024-02-02	Unknown Or Other	Product knowledge for the chassis and VIN numbering systems
PIWIS2401f	2024-02-01	Unknown Or Other	Information for PIWIS tester update 42.500.008
PIWIS2401e	2024-01-29	Equipment	Information on PIWIS tester update 42.500.005

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 911. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Engine oil filter 99320720103 Engine air filter 99311032701 Fuel filter 92811025307 Spark plug 99917019590

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1998 911 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 911 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.