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I recall a big oil debate on BMW boards over a decade ago with the purists insisting that only X, Y, or Z oil conformed to spec and if you used anything else, you'd void your warranty. The truth is that with modern high quality oils of the right viscosity, you could just add oil, never change it, and easily get the car through the warranty period. Of course, down the road, the impact on the engine would be severe.
It seems the C4 spec is to accommodate the particulate filters in the exhaust, which US cars don't have ... yet? But still, given the high performance nature of Porsche's engines (my older BMW runs 80BHP/Liter with a 7K rev limit, a GT3 over 125BHP/Liter w 9K limit), it'd be prudent to use a C4 spec oil optimized for Porsche engines.
The good news is that while the Mobil 1 oil is almost impossible to find in the aftermarket, both Motul and Liqui Moly offer C4 spec oils and are more readily available. The (small) catch is that they're 5W40 vice 0W40. Not a problem unless you live in or near the Great White North. In warmer climes, the 5W40 would probably be a better choice anyway and both companies make superb products.
There is more to the C40 spec oil than the GPF's. It's much more important to be spec compliant than viscosity compliant. As stated above unless you live in conditions close to mine you can use Liqui Moly or Motul 5w-40 and limit your driving to above -25F.
FYI, you can order ESP X3 (C40 approved) from AutoZone. Free shipping and currently 20% off >$120.
There's some confusion with labeling and inventory but if you order the following part number, you'll get the correct oil.
Part Number: 124798
That part number on the AutoZone website shows the non-X3 A40 spec. Perhaps they sent you a different product but as listed that is NOT the correct C40 spec oil.
That part number on the AutoZone website shows the non-X3 A40 spec. Perhaps they sent you a different product but as listed that is NOT the correct C40 spec oil.
You're talking about Part number 123875. That is the non-X3, ESP, A40 spec oil.
Part number 124798 is the C40 spec oil. As discussed a number of times above, AutoZone has not cataloged it correctly in their inventory system. I have 12 quarts of it sitting in my house from AutoZone as I type. Maybe I just got lucky. But the part numbers as I just described are correct to the respective oil specs.
Here it is with part number 124798 as stated above (not available at my store but I can have it shipped - no idea how much).
However the only thing(s) I don't see specifically are:
So it does say X3 and mentions GPFs but I don't see C40 mentioned, but it looks like the real thing. What isn't is the shipping cost for me anyway. 8 qts. comes to $65.68 and UPS ground (an absolute rip off as they fly into Anchorage and then hand off for the last mile and trucking up 350 miles) they want $106.13. Hopefully it will be cheaper for you folks. Liqui Moly through FCP actually ships for a reasonable amount which unless you live up where I do is fine at 5w-40 or Motul.
05-19-2021, 06:33 PM
