spark1

Did not see this previously posted. I found this info in another forum. Per Porsche internal technical service bulletin - 33/18, not a public document but available at your P-car dealer, Porsche has developed a synthetic 10w-50 oil recommended for 968's

Here is a Porsche Classic link:
https://www.porsche.com/usa/accessor...ghts/motoroil/

Here is an interesting LNEngineering article:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/...id=iD8Bl4jX1H8

Some online parts stores have it as available but not all seem to offer it.

Not sure how wise it would be to change to a synthetic oil after running non-synthetic oil for twenty plus years...

DSMblue

Pricing for their oil borders on insanity. More than double the price of Mobil 1. No thanks...

Daniel S

Interesting. When I talked to some of the Porsche Classic technical folks about the 20w-50 for use in the the 968 at Luftgehkult, they mentioned that they had just released a 5w-50 for the transaxles and that it was for the 924,944, 968, and 928s. (maybe they were confused between a 968 and 986?) I was trying to find out how much ZDDP was in their oil. The told me what they said the engineers told them, "just the right amount." As an engineer, I tried very hard not to roll my eyes at that comment.

I will stick with what I already use.

RajDatta

5W is too thin and will blow right thru. Need atleast a 10W.

Jfrahm

The pre-W (cold viscosity) number is not as clear as it used to be in determining how thin an oil is or even how chocked full of VI improves it is anymore. Newer synthetics can pass the spec for 5w and still be as good or better a 40 or 50 weight oil at normal operating temperature. Used to be if you wanted a solid performing 40 or 50 weight oil at operating temp you had to get a 10w40 or 20w50 as 5w or 0w40 was too full of VI improvers to be a good performer at temp. However that's not really the case anymore although I would hesitate to use a 5w50 in a performance car I did not drive in bitter cold.

Yogii

Which is what? The dealer that did my PPI used 10-30 Mobil!

-Yogii
AKA 968 Novice

Boeing 717

Let me guess....the Porsche oil is more expensive than pretty much anything else you can buy?

Daniel S

CAVEAT: Oil discussions can get very opinionated very fast. So, I will just say, this is what I use and your mileage may vary.

NOW on to your question: I have been using Valvoline VR-1, which is a 20W-50. I am open to other ones, but as Raj points out, I would not go all the way down to a 5W, especially out here in sunny CA, where it gets nice and toasty. 10W-30 is probably not a bad choice. I looked at my owners manual (forget the page # at the moment) which has a nice graph of different oils and temperature ranges, so I would use that as a starting point. As Joel points out, oil technology has improved since the book was written, but I think you can still use it as guidance.

I agree.

Daniel S

I think the standard response here is, if you have to ask the price, you cannot afford it.

Boeing 717

The point I'm trying to make is that Porsche has become very good at separating people from their money simply by using the word "Porsche" on whatever it is their selling. That in itself is reason enough for me not to buy it.

Daniel S

Well, it seems I am 0 for 2 on sarcasm via email or posting today. I really need a sarcasm emoji.

Seriously, I completely agree with you. I would not pay for the privilege to have oil with the word "Porsche" on the can.

Boeing 717

Yea I knew you were being sarcastic I just didn't think I made my point clearly. That's just my personal opinion on the oil though. Maybe it's good stuff, it's just the older I get the less interested I'm getting in flushing my money down the toilet when there are so many other choices.

spanky

Truer words have never been spoken!
Im sticking with the oil I am currently using in my high mileage 968 (228,500) miles, Liqui Moly 10/60. I have not owned the 2nd 968 long enough to worry about oil as it currently has a fresh oil change using Redline 15/50. When I do get around to a oil/ filter change for it I most likely will go to Liqui Moly 10/60 in it also