vdub

First of all, I have to give a big Thank You to all who participate in this forum. I do a lot of looking and post relatively little (I'll do better in the future), but today I'm the beneficiary of your experience and opinions!

Tonight I fired up the S2 after a short winters nap (2 weeks) and to my surprise heard a loud knocking from the engine. Oh great I thought, another winter project! Fearing the worst (sounded like a rod knock to me) I quickly jumped on to RL and started searching. A Roco16 and Jeremy came to my rescue in a great post about just the knocking I was hearing. After removing the DME relay, craking the motor for a few seconds, replacing relay and then refiring, I was back in business and thankful I would not be tearing down the motor over the winter. Thanks again!!!

This experience got me thinking about a needed oil change and what viscosity would be best for the hydrolic lifters in our cars. I've read and heard a lot of opinions, but for me the jury is still out on what direction to go, heavier or lighter weight oil. A Porsche dealership mechanic I know told me that as a general rule they use 20w50 synthetic on all mechanical lifter motors (old 356, 912, 914) motors (incidentially this is also what I run in aircooled VW race motors with great success - Brad Penn brand) and 0w40 synthetic in all hydrolic lifter motors. SO, is my experience above a symptom of too heavy or light viscosity oil? What weight oil has worked for this community, paricularly those who have experienced sticky or loud lifters as I described above?

Keith

AznDrgn

Factory recommends 10w-30 but I typically run 15w-40 or 10w-40 in my car.

Legoland951

After sitting for a while, a lot of the 944s I have seen makes that lifter noise. The most persistent ones lasted 15 minutes with the engine idling. After the lifter noise goes away, it does not come back unless you let it sit for a long time again. I use 20/50 for my street cars as I normally don't just drive around the corner so my oil is adequately warmed up. Also, I live in S. Ca where the temperature is normally higher than where you are.

jstand22

I always use 20w-50 conventional, it really keeps the lifters quiet. When i switch to my winter oil (10w-40) the lifters will be noisy at times. I'd say go with the thicker oil, unless it will be used in colder conditions. Adding some mystery oil to 10-40 also should eliminate lifter noise. Also long periods of the car idling will sometimes trigger the noise, it's better to rev it slightly or drive it to try and quiet it down.

bjzorn

I use 20w50 in my S2 as well. I do have some lifter knock during start up and alittle after a long drive. So I think I have a few lifters going soft or they have there oil passages slightly plugged. Then again the car has 180K on it so the head may need a rebuild here in the next year or so.

vdub

The car will see limited use during the winter, just enough to keep the battery charged and tires from getting flat spots.

kevintee

Radial tires will not flat spot from sitting. That is a bias ply tire thing that people naturally carried over. So unless you have bias ply tires on your car?

Great first post I know.

Lemming

Shell ROTELLA® T SAE 15W-40

RMills944

I've been using Rotella T 20W-40 advanced soot control.

If it meets the TDI's requirements, it's good enough for the 944.

KuHL 951

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I hate to disagree with your 1st post but I had a set of Khumo Ecstas (radial) that would take about 5 minutes on the freeway to warm up smooth out after sitting in the garage for over two weeks, sounds like flatspotting to me.

kevintee

I guess it is the amount of time they sit that will get them. Radials just take much longer whereas I've read of people who've had their bias ply tires flatspot over night

jackpine

I don't have my first Pcar yet, so take MHO for what it's worth...


I use a Euro specific Ams. 5W-40 synth. in the wife's '02 GTI VR6. Noisy valves, lifters have always been quieted down for me with either a little Marvel Mystery oil or some Rislone, in several different vehicles. Overall, how do you like the S2?

vdub

kevintee - radials will flat spot given time. How much time I'm sure depends on the # of plys, tire compound, air pressure, and who knows what else. The point is I don't want to find out how long it takes. I almost lost my fillings last year when I test drove the 912E my Dad bought. It had been sitting in excess of 1 year, but not sure the exact amount of time. Even after a month of driving, those Pirelli's were still jolting.

Jackpine - I really like the car so far. It's my first Pcar and it sure is fun to tool around in. I like cars with torque and the S2 is pretty respectible (at least with my butt dyno). It handles like a dream, but is not the fastest car on the road...then again I didn't buy it to win drag races, that's what my 67 VW bug is for.

John_AZ

Porsche has updated oil to use: http://www.wrightune.co.uk/downloads/approved_oils.pdf. AutoZone sells Mobil One European Porsche approved for about $6.50 qt.

John_AZ
1988 924S
1987 924S

vdub

This is exactly what I mean. Porsche recommends low multigrade oil (5W40) and yet many 944 owners are going with more viscosity as evidenced by posts in this thread (15wXX or 20wXX). What gives?