Oil Recommendation ?

[Johnny Danger]

I know in past that this topic has been discussed ad infinitum. However, after researching the forum, I noticed in the end that many of these threads were reduced to argumentation, finger pointing - ultimately giving rise to extraneous discussion . With that said, I'm looking for a simple recommendation with regard to choosing a brand and grade of oil for my vehicle . Up until now, I've been using Mobil One . However, I' m interested in switching to another high quality synthetic oil . My vehicle is an '02 S with 18k original miles, and it's driven seasonally (April-November) up here in New England .
Some brands that I have read positive things about are Motul, Redline, Royal Purple and
Castrol . Any thoughts ?

[DenverSteve]

Johnny, my thoughts are pretty simple......okay didn't really mean that....but, as to oil, if it ain't broke.........why change? Someone will try to discredit every brand, make & model of everything. Mobile 1 is being run in probably more U.S. Porsches than anything else.

[Mark_T]

LMAO Johnny - you serious or are you just trying to start something?

[jsceash]

I race stock drag 12 years. Castrol was the highest rated at that time. This is the first car that I did not use Castrol in. The Castrol did show better than the other brands for lowest internal deposits and rapid seating of pistons and valves. If you want to change look at the racing divisions the three that stand out. Mobil 1, Castrol syn. and Royal purple the new up and comer. Their primary concerns are reduced friction @ high temp and high RPM. Unless the team has a oil sponsership they are using one of these.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

LMAO Johnny - you serious or are you just trying to start something?

As much as I like to be a provocateur at times, I'm being quite serious . Although, I'm starting to get a sense of where this thread is heading .

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Johnny, my thoughts are pretty simple......okay didn't really mean that....but, as to oil, if it ain't broke.........why change? Someone will try to discredit every brand, make & model of everything. Mobile 1 is being run in probably more U.S. Porsches than anything else.

Point well taken .

[Flavor 987S]

I have just over 45,000 miles on my 987S. For most of the past 6 driving seasons, I've very successfully used Red Line 5W40 with Blackstone UOA's. Last year, prior to winter hibernation, I switched to Mobil 1's 5W50 (hard oil to find). It was just drained last week, after one driving season and about 6,400 miles. The UOA looks excellent, and I plan on using it another year.

If my UOA's continue to to be excellent (as expected) I plan to stay with the 5W50. If not, my pan was/is to try Motul.

I went with the Mobil 5W50 for these reasons:

1) Porsche approved
2) A 5W50 weight (I wanted a 50 weight)
3) Easier to obtain than Red Line (not shipping, I can pick up from a Mobil dist. in Elgin, IL)
4) About $6.75/quart


IMHO, the only way to justify your oil selection is with several data points from a UOA report.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

I have just over 45,000 miles on my 987S. For most of the past 6 driving seasons, I've very successfully used Red Line 5W40 with Blackstone UOA's. Last year, prior to winter hibernation, I switched to Mobil 1's 5W50 (hard oil to find). It was just drained last week, after one driving season and about 6,400 miles. The UOA looks excellent, and I plan on using it another year.

If my UOA's continue to to be excellent (as expected) I plan to stay with the 5W50. If not, my pan was/is to try Motul.

I went with the Mobil 5W50 for these reasons:

1) Porsche approved
2) A 5W50 weight (I wanted a 50 weight)
3) Easier to obtain than Red Line (not shipping, I can pick up from a Mobil dist. in Elgin, IL)
4) About $6.75/quart


IMHO, the only way to justify your oil selection is with several data points from a UOA report.

Just so I understand, you feel that 50 grade oil provides better lubrication at higher operating temperatures than 40W ? Also, some of what I've read suggests that there's a benefit to using 0-5W for initial start-up over the usual 10W . Does this make sense ?

[san rensho]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Just so I understand, you feel that 50 grade oil provides better lubrication at higher operating temperatures than 40W ? Also, some of what I've read suggests that there's a benefit to using 0-5W for initial start-up over the usual 10W . Does this make sense ?

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.


Calling All Engineers (And Motor-Heads) -
__________________

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Just so I understand, you feel that 50 grade oil provides better lubrication at higher operating temperatures than 40W ? Also, some of what I've read suggests that there's a benefit to using 0-5W for initial start-up over the usual 10W . Does this make sense ?

I can tell from the UOA that the 50 weight is doing it's job, because the zinc and phosphorus are lower than Red Line's content. And wear metals went down with a longer drain interval.

I think a 5 weight is better than a 0 weight because it narrows the gap to 50 and keeps the range tighter. A 0 weight would be good for a very cold climate (when my cars are stored). There are no 10 weight oils that at Porsche approved for the 986/987/996/997.

My car sees a LOT of +6,000 RPM's (shifting).

I'll post my cumulative UOA from the past 4 oil changes one day this week, when I get a chance, and you'll see the data.

Without the UOA's I'd never know that the Red Line 5W40 was a great oil, and the Mobil 5W50 appears to be as good or better.

[Series9]

I was keeping Pentosin 5w40 in stock for my TDI customers and then discovered that it was Porsche approved for the M96.

I'm now using it for all synthetic applications.

[thstone]

Mobil 1 10w-40 High Mileage year round in LA. Also comes in a 5w-30 for cooler climates. Strong anti-wear package is the reasoning.

[944boy]

I have been using LubroMoly Vollsynthese 5-40 and it has done very well. I will be doing another UOA on this change. 96K miles on an '05 with no leaks, no consumption, and very little start-up noise.

just my $0.02.

[Johnny Danger]

Hmm... I noticed that Mobil 1 comes in a 0-40W grade . I may stick with it after all ??

[Stroked & Blown]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Hmm... I noticed that Mobil 1 comes in a 0-40W grade . I may stick with it after all ??

That's what I run.
Autoengineering guys recommend it as well.

[paulv]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

That's what I run.
Autoengineering guys recommend it as well.

S&B,

Do you bring your 986 to them for service? I was just curious as I've heard a couple of negative things about them from people I work with (who don't know anything about cars), so I'd like an opinion from someone who is a real "car-person". Thx.

Regards,
paul...

[landrovered]

I had switched to Castrol Synthetic from Mobil one when they lost their ratings about five years ago but they have been re-rated so I have switched back to Mobile one 5W-40 but I would also use 0W-40 in cold winter weather.

Here is the most definitive discussion of oil I have read. Check it out

[The Radium King]

i've recently been researching this also. ln engineering have a good article on their site here:

Oils: What motor oil should I use? Which oil is best for my Porsche or aircooled engine?

where they suggest 5w40 is best. mobil 1 have two formulation that i can find; one for turbo diesels and one for mercedes. according to mobil the turbo diesel formula is also good for high performance gas engines, and has the SL/Cl-4 rating preferred by lne. researching that oil specifically i've found that lots of folks use it (or it's precursor delvac) and lne recommends it.

otherwise, i've read that the mobil 1 0w40 we get here is a different oil than what mobil sells in europe (different additive package).

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by landrovered

I had switched to Castrol Synthetic from Mobil one when they lost their ratings about five years ago but they have been re-rated so I have switched back to Mobile one 5W-40 but I would also use 0W-40 in cold winter weather.

Here is the most definitive discussion of oil I have read. Check it out

I've read that article several times in past. And, based on what I can glean from it, the lower the viscosity rating is on start-up the better it is for initial lubrication (i.e. 0 vs. 5 or 10). Thus my decision to use a synthetic that has a rating of 0-40w . Does this make sense ?

[landrovered]

I was just re-reading it myself and it is very clear that 0W grade is better than 5W and better than 10W due to less thickening when the oil cools off.

I am sold, I am going to M1 0W-40 next oil change.