Oil Advice and Recommendations Here
Discussion
You will have already seen me around and hopefully the advice and posts that I have made will have been of interest to you.
As you know I work for an Oil Distributor who has access to a lot of technical information on a broad range of oils.
I am prepared to offer advice and recommendations on this thread for any make of car.
To assist me, you will need to give me specific information as the data that I get is from a proprietory database and an accurate recommendation is only as good as the information you give me.
I will not be posting brand names or prices, merely the correct viscosity and spec oils for your car.
I will email brands and prices to you on request.
I am also happy to give general advice if needed. Hopefully given time this thread will be of use to all Members of "Pistonheads".
To request a recommendation, I need the following:
Make
Model
Year
Engine size and type
Any significant modifications
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)
I hope this service will be of interest.
Cheers
Guy
As you know I work for an Oil Distributor who has access to a lot of technical information on a broad range of oils.
I am prepared to offer advice and recommendations on this thread for any make of car.
To assist me, you will need to give me specific information as the data that I get is from a proprietory database and an accurate recommendation is only as good as the information you give me.
I will not be posting brand names or prices, merely the correct viscosity and spec oils for your car.
I will email brands and prices to you on request.
I am also happy to give general advice if needed. Hopefully given time this thread will be of use to all Members of "Pistonheads".
To request a recommendation, I need the following:
Make
Model
Year
Engine size and type
Any significant modifications
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)
I hope this service will be of interest.
Cheers
Guy
Make: Porsche
Model: 928 S2
Year: 1984
Engine size and type: 4700cc All alloy V8 Normally Aspirated
Any significant modifications: Bigger Valves
Milage : 117K
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Castrol GTX Magnatec 15W-40
>> Edited by cheburator on Tuesday 14th September 07:49
Model: 928 S2
Year: 1984
Engine size and type: 4700cc All alloy V8 Normally Aspirated
Any significant modifications: Bigger Valves
Milage : 117K
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Castrol GTX Magnatec 15W-40
>> Edited by cheburator on Tuesday 14th September 07:49
Thanks for the offer. It would be good to have someone to give good advice on something that can be quite confusing. There has been quite a few discussions on this subject in other forums and the more I read the more confused I get!
Make -Porsche
Model -993 C2
Year -1994
Engine size and type -3.6 aircooled, NA
Any significant modifications -none
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)-whatever the garage put in it at last service.
Would be grateful if you could suggest the brand as well, PM if needed.
Make -Porsche
Model -993 C2
Year -1994
Engine size and type -3.6 aircooled, NA
Any significant modifications -none
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)-whatever the garage put in it at last service.
Would be grateful if you could suggest the brand as well, PM if needed.
Not a question saying which oil, as someone above has already asked the question for a 993TT. What I wanted advice on was topping up the oil - the Porsche dealer who did the last service filled her up with Castrol TXT synthetic, which I understand is probably a hydra-crack oil and not a real synthetic.
That's OK, Porsche do recommend hydra-crack oils for the engine, however, I've been topping up with 0-40 Mobil1 (these cars tend to consume around a litre every 1000 miles). Is there a problem topping up with a different oil from the main fill, or is it OK as long as the grade is right and the quality is as good/better than what is in there already?
Thanks - have enjoyed your articles on General Gassing and learnt from them.
That's OK, Porsche do recommend hydra-crack oils for the engine, however, I've been topping up with 0-40 Mobil1 (these cars tend to consume around a litre every 1000 miles). Is there a problem topping up with a different oil from the main fill, or is it OK as long as the grade is right and the quality is as good/better than what is in there already?
Thanks - have enjoyed your articles on General Gassing and learnt from them.
nel said:
Not a question saying which oil, as someone above has already asked the question for a 993TT. What I wanted advice on was topping up the oil - the Porsche dealer who did the last service filled her up with Castrol TXT synthetic, which I understand is probably a hydra-crack oil and not a real synthetic.
That's OK, Porsche do recommend hydra-crack oils for the engine, however, I've been topping up with 0-40 Mobil1 (these cars tend to consume around a litre every 1000 miles). Is there a problem topping up with a different oil from the main fill, or is it OK as long as the grade is right and the quality is as good/better than what is in there already?
Thanks - have enjoyed your articles on General Gassing and learnt from them.
We generally do not recomend topping up with other oils as the addative packs within the oils tend to be very finely balanced, often the addatives can react with one an other, however topping up with the same grade and a similar spec will reduce the chances of this.
Cheers
Guy.
Make: porsche
Model: 944 Turbo (250)
Year: 1989
Engine size and type: 2.5, inline 4, 8valve, water cooled.
Any significant modifications: None
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Texeco vavoline (semi synthetic) 40/10? Can't remmeber what the garage said, definatly Texeco, something begining with v and 40 something.
Any Brand and other specifics would be great =>
mr_yogi@blueyonder.co.uk
Was told mobile 1 was to thin and would leak out of an old engine, dunno if this was BS?
Model: 944 Turbo (250)
Year: 1989
Engine size and type: 2.5, inline 4, 8valve, water cooled.
Any significant modifications: None
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Texeco vavoline (semi synthetic) 40/10? Can't remmeber what the garage said, definatly Texeco, something begining with v and 40 something.
Any Brand and other specifics would be great =>
mr_yogi@blueyonder.co.uk
Was told mobile 1 was to thin and would leak out of an old engine, dunno if this was BS?
Make: porsche
Model: 964 C4
Year: 1992
Engine size and type: 3.6, flat 6, air cooled
Any significant modifications: AMD chip
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): 10-40 semi-synthetic.
Have been topping up with Magnatec. Getting a little smoke every now and then when very hot - only done 70k.
Model: 964 C4
Year: 1992
Engine size and type: 3.6, flat 6, air cooled
Any significant modifications: AMD chip
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): 10-40 semi-synthetic.
Have been topping up with Magnatec. Getting a little smoke every now and then when very hot - only done 70k.
Butzi said:
Thanks for the offer. It would be good to have someone to give good advice on something that can be quite confusing. There has been quite a few discussions on this subject in other forums and the more I read the more confused I get!
Make -Porsche
Model -993 C2
Year -1994
Engine size and type -3.6 aircooled, NA
Any significant modifications -none
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)-whatever the garage put in it at last service.
Would be grateful if you could suggest the brand as well, PM if needed.
Butzi
Perhaps you could share any answer with me. I have a pre vario 1995 993.
Cheers
Patrick
Wow, you have been busy!
I will reply to you individually but there are some general things to consider in relation to Porsche models and the change in OEM oil recommendations.
OLDER MODELS (late 80's early 90's)
Your handbook will state to use only Porsche Approved oils - well, they would say that wouldn't they.
Your handbooks will list older API spec oils such as SF, SG, SH, SJ etc however, All API ratings are backward compatible. Therefore, an SL rated oil will be just fine for an SH, SG or SF rated vehicle. However, on a newer vehicle that calls for an SL rated oil, it is not recommended that you use an oil that does not indicate that it meets the SL standard.
A quick point about API specifications.
API specifications are minimum specifications for oils. They exist for your safety so that you have reasonable assurance that an oil will "adequately" protect your engine. However, these are not, by any means, a standard by which you could determine whether an oil was good or not. As an example, you'll find that even a cheap oil which costs next to nothing will most likely carry the API SL rating. That should tell you something about how hard it is to attain that rating
Moving on, your handbook will have a chart which will list data something like this -
-10 to +40 degC 20w-40 or 20w-50
-15 to +40 degC 15w-40
-20 to +35 degC 10w-40 or 10w-50
-25 to +20 degC 10w-30
"All year round fuel economy oils"
-35 to +40 degC 5w-40, 0w-40
For the UK climate there is a wide range of oils that you can consider but you should take a couple of factors into account before making your selection and they are as follows:
Age of vehicle
Engine condition
Use of vehicle (road/track etc)
The reason to consider these is that older engines tend to like thicker oils as they tend to quieten down the components and older pump designs are inefficient.
If you are using the car as a daily runner it's a completely different story to using it on a track where the engine will be more stressed and running higher temps.
The Quality of the oil is important
Moving onto the most important factor in selecting an oil, it's a cost/benefit equation.
The pecking order for quality is from worst to best as follows:
Mineral Oils
Hydrocracked/Molecularly modified mineral oils
Poly alpha olefins (Synthetic)
Esters (Synthetic)
As I have mentioned before, all oils "shear" or thermally breakdown with use but not at the same rates.
Mineral oils require the most frequent changes and Synthetics the least. Synthetics are not petroleum based and therefore more pure and uniform making them more thermally stable as a basestock.
The Viscosity improvers in Mineral and HC/MC oils which are required to meet wide temperature ranges have a tendency to "shear" with use meaning that the oil will not retain it's upper viscosity.
So, all that explained, it's important to note that oils are sold in all viscosities and made up of all different basestocks, for example.
You can obtain a 10w-40 mineral, HC/MC or Synthetic but without doubt if you want a good 10w-40 the Synthetic is the best choice should you want the best protection over a longer period.
So, what's best for older Porsches?
Viscosities such as 10w-40, 10w-50 and 15w-50 would be the best choice. Stay clear of sae 60, firstly because it's not recommended and secondly it's too thick which can cause "oil drag" and slow circulation.
As a grade 10w-50 is a good selection as it gives better cold start protection than 15w-50 but also gives the same high temperature protection of sae 50.
Look at true synthetics as they are more "shear" stable and therefore better for those times when you wish to do a bit of "spirited" driving. A synthetic should contain poly alpha olefin or ester, the best ones are a blend of the two.
NEWER MODELS (993, Boxster, Ceyanne etc)
These cars are much simpler from an oil selection point of view and here I would recommend following your handbook closely and using Porsche Approved Oils.
In almost all cases, they call for "all year round" type oils such as 5w-40, 0w-40 or 0w-30.
Recently we discovered that Porsche are no longer approving anything other than 5w or 0w oils for use in the 993 (disconcerting as we know of owners using 10w-60 oils in their 993's).
The factory fill oils on all new Porsche models for the last few years has been 0w or 5w oils so you would be advised to use these thinner oils.
These oils have some benefits over their heavier counterparts.
Better Fuel Economy
Better Power delivery (less oil drag etc)
Required to meet new emissions
So, what would we recommend here.
Use Porsche approved ones, if it doesn't say so on the bottle don't use it. (we have a range of approved ones) Also check your handbook before buying.
The issue of quality still arises and as mentioned above the use of "true" synthetic oils is a must to ensure that your engine is getting the best protection.
Phew! My fingers hurt.
See my next post for actual recommendations.
Cheers
Guy
I will reply to you individually but there are some general things to consider in relation to Porsche models and the change in OEM oil recommendations.
OLDER MODELS (late 80's early 90's)
Your handbook will state to use only Porsche Approved oils - well, they would say that wouldn't they.
Your handbooks will list older API spec oils such as SF, SG, SH, SJ etc however, All API ratings are backward compatible. Therefore, an SL rated oil will be just fine for an SH, SG or SF rated vehicle. However, on a newer vehicle that calls for an SL rated oil, it is not recommended that you use an oil that does not indicate that it meets the SL standard.
A quick point about API specifications.
API specifications are minimum specifications for oils. They exist for your safety so that you have reasonable assurance that an oil will "adequately" protect your engine. However, these are not, by any means, a standard by which you could determine whether an oil was good or not. As an example, you'll find that even a cheap oil which costs next to nothing will most likely carry the API SL rating. That should tell you something about how hard it is to attain that rating
Moving on, your handbook will have a chart which will list data something like this -
-10 to +40 degC 20w-40 or 20w-50
-15 to +40 degC 15w-40
-20 to +35 degC 10w-40 or 10w-50
-25 to +20 degC 10w-30
"All year round fuel economy oils"
-35 to +40 degC 5w-40, 0w-40
For the UK climate there is a wide range of oils that you can consider but you should take a couple of factors into account before making your selection and they are as follows:
Age of vehicle
Engine condition
Use of vehicle (road/track etc)
The reason to consider these is that older engines tend to like thicker oils as they tend to quieten down the components and older pump designs are inefficient.
If you are using the car as a daily runner it's a completely different story to using it on a track where the engine will be more stressed and running higher temps.
The Quality of the oil is important
Moving onto the most important factor in selecting an oil, it's a cost/benefit equation.
The pecking order for quality is from worst to best as follows:
Mineral Oils
Hydrocracked/Molecularly modified mineral oils
Poly alpha olefins (Synthetic)
Esters (Synthetic)
As I have mentioned before, all oils "shear" or thermally breakdown with use but not at the same rates.
Mineral oils require the most frequent changes and Synthetics the least. Synthetics are not petroleum based and therefore more pure and uniform making them more thermally stable as a basestock.
The Viscosity improvers in Mineral and HC/MC oils which are required to meet wide temperature ranges have a tendency to "shear" with use meaning that the oil will not retain it's upper viscosity.
So, all that explained, it's important to note that oils are sold in all viscosities and made up of all different basestocks, for example.
You can obtain a 10w-40 mineral, HC/MC or Synthetic but without doubt if you want a good 10w-40 the Synthetic is the best choice should you want the best protection over a longer period.
So, what's best for older Porsches?
Viscosities such as 10w-40, 10w-50 and 15w-50 would be the best choice. Stay clear of sae 60, firstly because it's not recommended and secondly it's too thick which can cause "oil drag" and slow circulation.
As a grade 10w-50 is a good selection as it gives better cold start protection than 15w-50 but also gives the same high temperature protection of sae 50.
Look at true synthetics as they are more "shear" stable and therefore better for those times when you wish to do a bit of "spirited" driving. A synthetic should contain poly alpha olefin or ester, the best ones are a blend of the two.
NEWER MODELS (993, Boxster, Ceyanne etc)
These cars are much simpler from an oil selection point of view and here I would recommend following your handbook closely and using Porsche Approved Oils.
In almost all cases, they call for "all year round" type oils such as 5w-40, 0w-40 or 0w-30.
Recently we discovered that Porsche are no longer approving anything other than 5w or 0w oils for use in the 993 (disconcerting as we know of owners using 10w-60 oils in their 993's).
The factory fill oils on all new Porsche models for the last few years has been 0w or 5w oils so you would be advised to use these thinner oils.
These oils have some benefits over their heavier counterparts.
Better Fuel Economy
Better Power delivery (less oil drag etc)
Required to meet new emissions
So, what would we recommend here.
Use Porsche approved ones, if it doesn't say so on the bottle don't use it. (we have a range of approved ones) Also check your handbook before buying.
The issue of quality still arises and as mentioned above the use of "true" synthetic oils is a must to ensure that your engine is getting the best protection.
Phew! My fingers hurt.
See my next post for actual recommendations.
Cheers
Guy
silver993tt said:
ok, here's one for starters:
993 Turbo (1997)
Make: Porsche
Model: 993 Turbo
Year: 1997
Engine size and type: 3600cc, bi turbo
Any significant modifications: none
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Mobil 1 (0w-40w)
Would recommend using 0w-30, 0w-40 or 5w-40 all year round Porsche Approved.
Mobil 1 0w-40 (PAO), Fuchs Titan Supersyn SL 0w-30 (PAO), Fuchs Titan Supersyn SL 5w-40 (PAO) or Silkolene PRO S 5w-40 (Ester/PAO)
Cheers
Guy
cheburator said:
Make: Porsche
Model: 928 S2
Year: 1984
Engine size and type: 4700cc All alloy V8 Normally Aspirated
Any significant modifications: Bigger Valves
Milage : 117K
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Castrol GTX Magnatec 15W-40
Would recommend 10w-50 or 15w-50
Mobil 1 15w-50 Motorsport (PAO), Silkolene PRO S 10w-50 (Ester/PAO), Silkolene PRO R 15w-50 (Ester/PAO), Fuchs/Silkolene Titan XTR 10w-40 (HC/MC), Castrol Performance 10w-40 (HC/MC).
Cheers
Guy
turbobloke said:
Make: Porsche
Model: 965 Turbo 2
Year: 1991
Engine size and type: 3.3 flat six turbo
Any significant modifications: engine wise = 1.0 bar boost, ZucZ Powerflow induction, B & B Triflo exhaust
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Mobil 1 Motorsport 15W/50
Would recommend 10w-50 or 15w-50
Mobil 1 15w-50 Motorsport (PAO), Silkolene PRO S 10w-50 (Ester/PAO), Silkolene PRO R 15w-50 (Ester/PAO), Fuchs/Silkolene
Cheers,
Guy
Butzi said:
Thanks for the offer. It would be good to have someone to give good advice on something that can be quite confusing. There has been quite a few discussions on this subject in other forums and the more I read the more confused I get!
Make -Porsche
Model -993 C2
Year -1994
Engine size and type -3.6 aircooled, NA
Any significant modifications -none
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known)-whatever the garage put in it at last service.
Would be grateful if you could suggest the brand as well, PM if needed.
Would recommend using 0w-30, 0w-40 or 5w-40 all year round Porsche Approved.
Mobil 1 0w-40 (PAO), Fuchs Titan Supersyn SL 0w-30 (PAO), Fuchs Titan Supersyn SL 5w-40 (PAO) or Silkolene PRO S 5w-40 (Ester/PAO)
NOTE: Being an older model would suggest the 5w-40 PRO S to be your best option.
Cheers
Guy
mr_yogi said:
Make: porsche
Model: 944 Turbo (250)
Year: 1989
Engine size and type: 2.5, inline 4, 8valve, water cooled.
Any significant modifications: None
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): Texeco vavoline (semi synthetic) 40/10? Can't remmeber what the garage said, definatly Texeco, something begining with v and 40 something.
Any Brand and other specifics would be great =>
mr_yogi@blueyonder.co.uk
Was told mobile 1 was to thin and would leak out of an old engine, dunno if this was BS?
Would recommend 10w-40, 10w-50 or 15w-50
Mobil 1 15w-50 Motorsport (PAO), Silkolene PRO S 10w-50 (Ester/PAO), Silkolene PRO R 15w-50 (Ester/PAO), Fuchs/Silkolene Titan XTR 10w-40 (HC/MC), Castrol Performance 10w-40 (HC/MC).
Cheers
Guy
cerowe said:
Make: porsche
Model: 964 C4
Year: 1992
Engine size and type: 3.6, flat 6, air cooled
Any significant modifications: AMD chip
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known): 10-40 semi-synthetic.
Have been topping up with Magnatec. Getting a little smoke every now and then when very hot - only done 70k.
Would recommend 10w-40, 10w-50 or 15w-50
Mobil 1 15w-50 Motorsport (PAO), Silkolene PRO S 10w-50 (Ester/PAO), Silkolene PRO R 15w-50 (Ester/PAO), Fuchs/Silkolene Titan XTR 10w-40 (HC/MC), Castrol Performance 10w-40 (HC/MC).
Note: 10w-50 may be a good choice to quieten things down a bit.
Cheers
Guy
McSwerve said:
Make Porsche
Model 924 Turbo (No laughing at the back)
Year 1980
Engine size and type 2 litre Turbo Charged, Water Cooled
Any significant modifications None
Brand and viscosity currently used (if known) Err Pass
Mileage 120k
Would recommend that you use a decent 10w-40 semi-synthetic or a 5w-40 fully synthetic if the engine is in decent nick.
Cheers
Guy
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