How often to change oil?

[Jager]

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

Interesting article… It looks like to me I have to plug-in an oil heater and get the oil up to 180 degrees before starting the car. This could be a great opportunity for someone to invent a Porsche oil heater! Turn the key… Analyze and heat the oil… Start the car. Oh Jake... Got another project for you.

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

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.

My 2000S Porsche owners manual states to use 10W40 synthetic as the first choice. And the car has a Mobil 1 recommended sticker under the trunk lid. If Porsche recommendations are so important to you, please ponder this thought. Porsche's recommended oil change interval is 15,000 miles. Do you agree with that ? I'd bet you don't. As we can see in the posts about oil and change intervals, just about everyone doesn't agree with Porsche on that. So why is the Porsche approved list so important to you ?

Here is another example. My 2000S came with Porsche recomended tires. They were awful. I replaced them with low cost non Porsche approved tires that out perform them and give me vastly improved handling.

I drive my Porsches, Fords, trucks and motorcycles well above average amount of miles per year. In the 40 years I've been driving, I have logged well over 2 million miles on vehicals I own and self maintain. I think my oil practices have proven to be correct because of the long life and good running condition of my motors and drive lines. I'm very satisfied with my choices and feel comfortable recommending them to others. They a based on experience and a considerable amount of reseaching my choices before I buy.

10W40 synthetic is a good choice for the 986 cars. 3 to 5 thousand mile changes depending on use is good.

Bill

[Wayne 962]

I agree. 3000-5000 miles is about the longest I recommend going with the oil changes. Porsche's recommendations are just too long.

-Wayne

[stateofidleness]

My last change, I switched from Mobil 1 to Castrol Edge 5w40 to see if it would reduce the "chatter" at startup. What's this "Redline" stuff? I'd like to get rid of the cold start chatter (ticking sound) at startup.

(wayne: welcome to the board!!)

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by stateofidleness

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

http://www.redlineoil.com/

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

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.

Just because someone disagrees with your irresponsible (at best) recomendation, that means I want to piss in your breakfast? Grow up and contribute some sound advice. And if your going to make strong recommendations ("The first choice should be 10W40 year round use") that fly in the face of Porsche, let other, not so knowledgeable Porsche enthusiasts who visit this board know the advice you are offering is counter to Porsche.


Lastly, your owner's manual oil list is out of date, and Porsche has released several updates since 2000.

[dennis]

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

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by dennis

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

The site owner at Renntech, Loren, maintains a very accurate list for Contributing Members. We are not allowed to post it on other sites. The list is several pages long (12?) and contains hundreds of approved oils br brand and country locations.

The only Porsche approved oil viscosities, for modern day Porsches (for example 996/986 and newer) are 0W40, 5W40, and 5W50.