It looks like this place is picking up a bit.
 

I've noticed that we have some new members on here that actually post stuff. I like what I see. I wasn't to thrilled about finding one new post every other day. Keep it up guys.

Hi Adam: the forum only works if people have something to share and participate. My Boxster is now in full winter mode - hard top on, snow tires mounted and the frozen glaze of a North of Boston winter hanging on every surface.

I'm not sure if I am going to store my S. I just got it 3 mo ago so I like to get out and drive it a bit. The winters in Illinois can get nasty, but ussually every week or two we get alittle warm up and sunshine. I just don't drive it if it is raining ,snowing, or much under 32 degrees. BTW, I was wondering about something. Is it fine to rev the motor all the up in the cold weather as long as the motor is to temperature? I use 0w 40 mobile one. I saw in the porsche manual that they recamend putting in 30 weight for the for colder temps. I assume 40w is ok as long as you let the engine warm up completely before getting into the revs. Is this correct thinking?

Adam,
Forum Contributor

I believe you read oil weight/viscosity ratings as:

[flows like a] w [protects like a] , so...

0w40 flows like a zero single weight oil and protects like a 40 single weight oil.

If I remember correctly, the manual recommends up to a 15w50 for warm weather and down to a 0w30 for cold. Under the above reasoning, a 0w40 would be "better" in terms of protection for cold weather and still meets the cold flow requirement, therefore I wouldn't be concerned particularly about revving to redline in cold weather with that oil.

What I find interesting is that most dealerships seem to be using the 0w40 as their standard weight (a compromize "all season" weight), which would seem to mean that in warm weather some protection is missing... I have been using the 0w40 myself but decided this year to switch to the 15w50 at the next change given that the car 'sleeps' for the winter anyway and so I don't need the zero weight low end but could use the warm weather protection.

Thankyou Donv, that was very helpful. I will stick with what I have for now. Perhaps in late spring for the next oil change I will throw in some 5w or 10w 40. Do think Illinois summers would warrant this change, and should I talk to my dealer before changing anything? Additionally, this is purely a personnal preference thing, but I have 5,100 miles on the odo and I'm thinking about changing the oil soon. People I have talked to say change it around 5k if you drive it hard. The thing is, what would one consider driving hard. My average drive is comprised of city and highway(but under 75 miles) I often get into triple digit speeds(not that hard to do), I probably rev to near redline a few times during the average trip. Some times I take to redline in succession, gears 1-4. Is this considered "hard" driving? It's an 03 box s with the vario cam technology. My thinking is since this is a pretty serious car, and no slouch at the track(from what I heard) my driving is pretty average. What do you guys/gals think? Change oil now or wait awhile. This will be my first box oil change. Sorry, I know this topic has been drudged up many times, but I still don't know what is defined as "hard driving."

I do my oil at ~5K intervals (amounts to a yearly change for me). I do my own changes, but even at pay-for-someone-else-rates, I'd still have it done at 5K intervals...way cheaper than an engine rebuild and great for peace of mind.

BTW, sounds like you do "drive hard", but that's OK. Well within expectations of the car, but just not your average driver... ;)

It does sound sweet revving to 7K in 4th, doesn't it?!?!

So would you say that 5w 0r 10w 40 would be more appropiate for 80-90 degree weather? Your probably right about me being a more aggressive than average boxster driver. Maybe being 23 has something to do with it. I do excercise common sense when I drive which helps me stay out of trouble(read: no psm). I'm sure it's well within the limitations of the car like you said. When I have the means to do so, I think I will add on some parts for even more performance. I just hope it doesn't void my warranty, but I have a feeling it will.

Changing every 5K is totally unnecessary IMO with synthetic oil. I have 67K on mine and have gone the full 15K between changes with no ill effects. Of course if it gives you peace of mind then go for it I guess. Synthetic oil is different from regular oil, which is why you can go that many miles between changes. It doesn't break down after 5K like regular oil would. To each his own I guess.

Some people change the oil that came from the factory very quickly, then make subsequent oil changes at longer intervals. Is this necessary, or are they just wasting good oil? Do they believe that the first batch of oil will contaminate more quickly? Why would someone change mobile 1 with just 2,000 miles on it? Are these people just being super cautious?

A first change at an earlier point than subsequent ones is being super cautious... but it may be with good reason. A significant portion of the wear of the engine happens in the first few thousand miles ("break-in"), which loads the oil with metal particles at a higher rate than later - synthetic oil or not. The filter deals with a lot of that, but they're not 100% efficient. However, if they are highly efficient, the oil flow can be impeded - which is not good either.

A 2K mile change on a Boxster w/synthetic sounds too conservative, but somewhere in the 5-7K range for a first change sounds right to me. Again, this is along the lines of cheap insurance - $250(?) for just the oil change, compared with possible longer life for a $50K investment.

The first two new cars I owned were maintained right at the manufacturer's recommended intervals and both became smokers to some degree as they went past 70-80K miles - maybe just bad luck, but certainly not what I wanted to have happen. After that I moved to changes at 3-5K intervals (somewhere in 60-70% of 5-7.5K mfgr rec.) and these cars lived to a good old age with no oil consumption under the same driving habits (not on synthetics). I'd heard that the EPA leans on the car mfgrs to show longer change intervals in order to minimize oil use... interestingly, the intervals are getting longer but, for most cars, nothing has changed about the oils (unless on synthetics)...?

BTW, my 5K interval Boxster change is really just an annual event based on my driving, done just before storage to minimize water in the engine as it sleeps - doing my own changes, it costs me <$70 for this "insurance". If I were driving year round, then I'd likely be stretching the changes to 10K intervals. I roll over my used synthetic oil to use in the yard equipment, etc. before final recycling so I don't feel guilty about the oil going to waste. And the good news is that the snowblower never started easier!

Thanks for your input Donv. I feel that I have a better grasp on this whole subject now.