chris walrod

Hello all.

What is the preferred weight of Mobil One oil?

I live in California so we dont have huge temperature swings. My car is a 1995 with 40k miles.

Just looking to plan ahead for the upcoming oil change. I see at Wall Mart they have the 5 gallon jugs on sale.

I did look into the archives, but only found a Mobil One vs. Amsoil debate.

Chris

Robin 993DX

In California I would use Mobil 1 15W50 (The red bottle).

Although personally I am sold on the Mobil 1 0w40, but that’s because of Atlanta’s big temperature variation.

Viken

I've been using Mobil 1 / 15W-50 as specified by Porsche. Can't see a reason to change to anything else.

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Robin 993 DX In Atlanta:
<strong>In California I would use Mobil 1 15W50 (The red bottle).</strong><hr></blockquote>

Robin,

What do you mean by red bottle? The Mobil 1 cans I've known are silver with a red cap.

15W-50:

Robin 993DX

[quote]Originally posted by Viken:
<strong>

Robin,

The Mobil 1 cans I've known are silver with a red cap.</strong><hr></blockquote>

RED CAP is what I mean. I believe besides the silver bottle there are also red strip on the bottle. In additionl (Blue, and green)

0W-40:

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by Viken:
<strong>I've been using Mobil 1 / 15W-50 as specified by Porsche. Can't see a reason to change to anything else.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I've been using 15w-50 since I got my car 3 years ago; and god knows it gets f#(*@!! hot here in Houston. But recently Porsche changed the recommended oil in 911s from 993 forward to 0w-40... So I'm a bit conflicted as to what to use @ the next oil change.

I know the 0w-40 wouldn't impede the motor as much; but it's so hot here it seems like the bit heavier oil would be better for the motor. Having to pay $6+/quart at the dealership (since Walmart's not carrying 0w-40) chafes a bit, but wouldn't be a showstopper.

???

Don Magee

You might want to read the PCA website tech section, under engine questions. I put a similar question to Joel Reiser, PCA's 993 expert on 2-2-02. Basically, he said stick with 0w-40 for street cars. I have 0w-40 in now instead of 15w-50 and have no complaints.

<a href="http://www.pca.org/tech/tech_qa_question.asp?id={D511B82E-9AE1-4564-8F74-724C0847AD24}" target="_blank">993/996 engine oils (Revised)</a>

Robin 993DX

Robert,

But doesn't Huston get really cold in the winter just like Atlanta?

KC993

I know someone here would know what grade of oil was FIRST in these cars from the factory? Do they put different grades of oil from the factory for cars that go to northen Europe vs. Saudi Arabia?

I have just bought 6 jugs of those from Wal-Mart, don't tell me I need to return them. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> Besides, I have been using 15-50 since my 90 C2 days...

Edward

The way I see it, 15W/50 was what the car came with and, in a sense, was what it was designed for (i.e. their gearheads figured it was good to use, given alternatives). Still, it depends on climate. If weather is warm a majority of a given oil-change interval, I'd use the thicker viscosity only because it makes most sense....to me anyway.

Edward

amfp

My dealer received a bulletin from Porsche suggesting 0x40 for 993, 986, and 996's, which as mentioned was also referenced on the PCA web site. I have been using 0x40 for about one year, and no more occasional valve tapping at start up when car was sitting two weeks. The new SuperSyn which is the next generation for Mobil 1 has improved API characteristics.

tom_993

What I get from all this (and the PCA site) is: If you live in a hot climate and/or see track use, use 15W50, otherwise use 0W40. Perhaps I’ll switch to 0W40 next fall, but I’m sticking with 15W50 for now.

Bins

Does it seriously matter which of the good oils one uses?

eg, Mobil 1 the best
BUT Last service OPC put in ESSO Ultra, and since then I have been topping small amounts of Mobil 1

Next service, Im thinking of either Mobil 1 or Castrol Magnatech. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Robert Henriksen

Robin, it'll drop into the 20s (gasp!) occasionally each winter; other than that, 30s and 40s, usually. So I don't think it's on par w. Atlanta winters, but am willing to be corrected. My main impression of Atlanta winters was chipping ice off my (school) 996 before driving out of the pits at Road Atlanta

I read the referenced post on the main pca website, and I think the salient point is "But on the newer street cars the 0-40 is probably better if your climate is not hellaciously hot and you don't overdrive the car."

I was at a DE last Labor Day where it was 106 in the shade, and I was busily running the car at speed - up to redline over & over again. Just what constitutes 'hellaciously hot' and overdriving the car is the part I'm not sure about

I guess my dithering comes down to this: changing the oil twice a year is more than I need (I drive about the average 9k/yr), otherwise I'd be happy to swap back & forth between the two weights, winter/summer. I'd like to get the advantage of the lighter weight for the valve train, but am loathe to ask the motor to run severe duty on the track in the summer.

Wah, wah, wah <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Hear me bitch!

I think I've talked myself into a decision: play it by ear. When it comes time to change the oil again, I'll look at the track calendar & see if I'm likely to be out there in the hottest months, over the next 8-9 months. If not, I'll run a load of 0w-40 through it. If I am likely to track it at any point through the summer, I'll stick w. the 50.

Sorry if I bored anyone w. all this <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Don Magee

Robert, how high did your oil temps reach under those conditions? I am in Austin, and it gets a tad warm here as well. Last summer i never reached 248 degrees, but was very close when stuck in traffic. I later learned that my low speed cooling fan was out, so those temps were probably partly due to the oil cooler problem. At speed i never had any problem with oil temps , even when pushing it rather hard.As a side note, last weekend i was at an autocross in san antonio, and my tempgauge was at about 9 oclock when idling between runs, so i did the EJ trick of taking the headlight out and disconnecting the sensor-- worked great, oil temps right around 194. I hope this 0w-40 withstands the Texas summer heat.