Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

The first choice should be 10W40 year round use.

Originally Posted by san rensho

Since this post has predictably turned into a discussion of which oil is best, I'll put in my 2 cents worth.

http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-tech/60791-calling-all-engineers-motor-heads.html

Originally Posted by jmatta

I change my oil once a year in the fall after around 2500 to 3000 miles; Castrol Syntec 10W40 is my oil of choice. LN Engineering, Jake Raby and JFP in PA all recommend oils other than Mobil 1 0W40, for obvious breakdown characteristics.

My '02 S with 21k on the clock has no start up noise or other issues.

Not to get into an oil debate, but I wouldn't put Mobil 1 in my lawn tractor.

Originally Posted by schnellman

Thank you for providing a link to this most excellent (and very long) article. Everyone here should read the entire article before drawing conclusions regarding their choice of oil and/or change intervals. I've always been happy with Mobil1 0-40 every 5000 miles or spring and fall. Having read this article, I think I'll stick to my plan. Flame on, boys!

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Wow. After reading that article I'm afraid to put coco butter on my face; never mind choosing the right engine oil . So what's the verdict for normal to "spirited" street
driving ? Either 0-30 or 10-30 synthetic ?

Originally Posted by paulv

JD,

The Porsche approved oil list doesn't have any 30 grade oils listed on it -- pretty much 0W-40 and 5W-40 (couple of 50 grades) and all are synthetics.

After my factory fill, I used Motul 8100 5W-40 for 3 oil changes and Mobil 1 5W-40 (TDT) for 2 changes. I just recently changed the oil and have started using Redline 5W-40. Although the previous oils gave me good UOA reports, the car always would have valve train startup noise. With Redline, that noise is now gone.

I change my oil at approx 7500 mile intervals, mainly because the Porsche oil tests are run for approx 200 hrs which roughly equates to 6000 miles driven.

BTW, as we've both seen, summer is fading fast in our area so don't worry about the coco butter :)

Regards,
paul...
PS: Tried to upload my UOA history (pdf) but it didn't work (IE or Mozilla).

Originally Posted by san rensho

Since this post has predictably turned into a discussion of which oil is best, I'll put in my 2 cents worth.

I was first convinced that, based on several on line sources, I should use a heavier weight oil, I used both 15-50 and 20-50 for "flush" oil changes of about 1k miles each (I just got my car and the previous owner went long on the oil change intervals), both to try to get rid of the start up rattle and since I live in Miami Florida where its always hot, to protect against heat breakdown of oil. The heavier weight oils made no demonstrable difference in start up clatter.

Then I read the article below and I am a now a convert to M1 0-40. The long and the short of the article is that oil flow is what is important. You want as much volume going through the motor as possible at all times. Since 0-X weight oil is thinner when cold than a 5, 10, 20-X oil, it will provide more volume while the motor is warming up.

And remember, oil temp lags behind coolant temp during warmup. My Durametric shows that oil temp is about 10 C degrees behing coolant temp until the coolant gets close to 90 C, which takes a good 20 minutes in my car with combined city/highway driving. Once its up to temp, the oil temp is a little less than 10 C hotter than the collant temp, in the 100-105 C. range.

Once the oil is hot, the viscosity in now at 40, which at the oil temps I am running, is more than enough to protect the motor. Now, if I were running my car on the track, oil temps might be significantly higher, so I might consider a heavier oil.

But for the type of driving I do, I am convinced a 0-40 oil will protect the engine better during the crucial warm up, which if you do a lot of short trip city driving, will be a big portion of the time you are driving your car.


http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-tech/60791-calling-all-engineers-motor-heads.html

Originally Posted by stateofidleness (Post 258667)

What's this "Redline" stuff? I'd like to get rid of the cold start chatter (ticking sound) at startup.

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3 (Post 258664)

Gee Flavor 987S who peed in your Wheaties ??? Just because you have not seen any 10W40 approved on a Porsche list doesn't mean 10W40 is not the right weight oil to use. Look what the shop owners say.

Originally Posted by d18mike (Post 258253)

Everyone has a different approach on this. Porsche recommends every 15k. I think the majoriity of owners do it around 5k. I tend to be between 3-5k. Serves 2 purposes: good engine maintenance and an opportunity to see if I am having an IMS issue by monitoring for metal shavings in the filter.

I also change it before storing in the winter.

Originally Posted by dennis (Post 258670)

So what is the updated recommended oil by Porsche as of SEP, 2011?

Originally Posted by johnsimion (Post 258675)

Whoa! I'm not so sure Porsche recommends changing the oil at 15K miles, at least not for everybody!!! ................