blepski

Description Weight Specification

MOBIL 1 European 0W40 A40

MOBIL 1 ESP x3 0W40 C40

From the Mobil website:

"ApplicationsMobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40 is recommended for high-performance engines requiring GPFs (gasoline particulate filters).

• Mobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40 can only be used in the vehicles for which it is approved. It is not backward compatible with vehicle engines requiring an A40, C30 or C20 . ***

*** Always consult the owner's manual of the vehicle for the manufacturer's recommended viscosity grade and specifications"





After a bit of further research it seems local dealers are also seeing ESP X3 0w-40 listed as the proper oil for the US spec GT4 BUT as far as I know the US spec GT4's do NOT have an actual GPF in the exhaust system.

Based on Porsche's oil approval it seems for everything except the 4 cyl. 718's that the only difference between A40 and C40 is the addition of a GPF which I believe the GT4 does not have.





The questions are:

1. What did Porsche use as factory fill for US spec GT4's ?

2. What is the purpose of the C40 spec. oil for US market vehicles that do not have a GPF?

3. Based on the above information wouldn't the A40 specification be more appropriate for this application?

9972RS

well, just to let you know. I recently had my 991.2RS oil changed at the dealer and they put in 0w-40esp

blepski

Yesterday I reached out directly to the Mobil technical help desk to see what information they might have.



Here is the exchange:

***

Thank you for writing to us. Every year, new model data trickles in slowly from the manufacturers, and we haven't received the 2020 Porsche specs, yet. If you can share the specs from the fluids section of your owner's manual, we can try to find an appropriate oil together.

If the Cayman is calling for the Porsche C40 spec, then, yes, Mobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40 is likely what we want. If it calls for the more common A40 spec, we would be looking at Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, aka "European Car Formula."
https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...il-1-fs-0w-40/

Thank you for choosing Mobil,
Jim
Mobil Help Desk Team Lead






Hi Jim,


Thank you for the quick reply. The owner's manual does indeed call for C40 spec but other Porsche documentation seems to suggest C40 spec oil is solely for vehicles with a particulate filter which the US spec GT4 does not have, hence the confusion.

If you look at this attached sheet on page 4 you will see this distinction for the other 911 and GT models.





***

Because the correct oil profile can be tied to your warranty coverage, and warranty denials typically start at the dealer service department level, it might be safest to get your service manager's opinion before taking any risks. They may even come up with a TSB from Porsche amending the recommendation.

Thank you for choosing Mobil,
Jim
Mobil Help Desk Team Lead

Jim Rockford

Quite likely they just lifted that table from the European 718 owner's manual and failed to alter it for the ROW manual.

m3bs

What about this product? It was apparently just released in April, so it may not appear on the published approval lists, but it says C40 and VW 511.00 "Approved". Looks like it is available in the US as well via Amazon, and probably other Motul distributors as well.

https://www.motul.com/us/en-US/produ...ean-gen2-5w-40

GrantG

One of the many reasons I do my own oil changes

GrantG

I really like Motul oils, but I think X-Cess is probably better if you don’t have OPF requirements. Otherwise, looks like a great choice.

Croc999

Good to know another C40 oil options in addition to Mobil1.

See here some comparisons between old and new standards.

blepski

Has anyone found more information on which oil is correct for the US spec cars?

tdlondon

I can't understand why Porsche is doing this. I mean, I do. Obviously forcing everyone to take the car to the dealership and get ripped off on $500 oil changes.
Is this secretive MO of specs, engine oil capacity, etc. really appropriate and legal? I've never seen a car not even having published the oil capacity of the engine.
Doesn't the Right to Repair act mandate that the manufacturer needs to enable the customer to do independent or self-repair work? This is by far not enabling!

blepski

In fairness, the information is available through Porsche tech info and Porsche does have to comply with the Right to Repair but that doesn't mean that have to make it easy to access this information...... My feelings are that Porsche owes more to their customers than that and should make all of this information available in the owners manual just like they used to years ago.

ralphmusic

In the UK new Porsche cars are provided with a litre of engine oil in a pouch velcroed to the wall of the frunk. The oil is Mobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40 Advanced Full Synthetic Oil as pictured below:

matty1

This is the stuff that came with my Canadian car. (Spyder) On the back of the container, it reads "protects particulate filters.

Do we have particulate filters on N.A. cars? Mine is up on the lift and the muffler system doesn't look like what seems to be the Europe version.

ralphmusic

I believe the pipework is the same, OPF/non-OPF but the ceramic matrix inside the OPF housing is different. The 718 GT4 exhaust valves are still vacuum actuated and either open or closed whereas 992 and 992 GT3 are/will be stepper motors with variable openings controlled by the ECU

sobiloff

Summary: C40 is required for GPFs. North American cars have inert GPFs, so they don't require C40 and instead use A40.