motor oil
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 35
From: Semiahmoo/Blaine, Wa
motor oil
I recently purchased a very clean 96 C4S. The owner said that the place he had it regularly serviced at recommended using Quaker State full synthetic 5w40 for European cars. It doesn't seem easy to find. Is there any reason an alternative like Mobil 1 can't be used?
Seared
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16,887
Likes: 494
From: Ellicott City, MD
Probably because the shop purchased it by the drum, for cheap.
My 993 had Mobil1 15w/50 as the factory fill. The original owner used Mobil1 15w/50 at every change per the records that came with the car. I have used Mobil1 15w/50 for each oil change over the last 10 years and 30,000+ miles. I see no reason to change anything in that regard.
Andreas
My 993 had Mobil1 15w/50 as the factory fill. The original owner used Mobil1 15w/50 at every change per the records that came with the car. I have used Mobil1 15w/50 for each oil change over the last 10 years and 30,000+ miles. I see no reason to change anything in that regard.
Andreas
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: DFW
I will be looking into this further.
Chuck
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 224
From: Toronto
The big picture issue is formulation changes from the date the car came off the line to today. 5W40 grade will not kill your engine, the fact that the formulation has changed dramatically since the late 90's is the issue the additive pack of the modern day formulations will not protect air cooled engines as they did back then. 0W40 grade definitely should not be used.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: DFW
The big picture issue is formulation changes from the date the car came off the line to today. 5W40 grade will not kill your engine, the fact that the formulation has changed dramatically since the late 90's is the issue the additive pack of the modern day formulations will not protect air cooled engines as they did back then. 0W40 grade definitely should not be used.
Chuck
Trending Topics
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: DFW
This tech I talked to in the dealership can use whichever he chooses and he chooses the 0 and 10W and he is one of two they have dedicated to working on the air cooled engines. I think it's crazy and deserves some quantitative answers. These are expensive engines and I wish Porsche would come out with some answers.
Chuck
Chuck
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
Talos Takes Your 991 Porsche 911 GT3 to the Next Level for a Cool $1.13 Million
Verdad Gallardo
9 Vehicles Porsche Helped Engineer that Aren't Porsches
Verdad Gallardo
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Verdad Gallardo
I've Written 500 Rennlist Articles: Here's How Porsche Has Changed Along the Way
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Unnecessary Porsches Ever Built (And Why We Love Them)
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 S/C vs 718 Spyder RS: 10 Categories, One Winner
Joe Kucinski
This Builder Is Turning Heads With Its Slantnose 911 Creation
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 Artisan Edition Pays Homage to Japanese Culture
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche Reveals Coupe Variant of the Electric Cayenne With a Fresh Look
Verdad Gallardo
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 673
From: Dahlonega, Georgia
With the newest of these cars being almost eighteen years old, I seriously doubt that this is an issue for Porsche. The dealership technicians you spoke with apparently choose oil based on the information and experiences they have. There are people on this board that have just as much experience and information and they make different choices. That said, with 993's or any other old car, it's really up to the individual owner to educate himself and decide what is best for his car under the conditions in which he uses it.
Technical Guru
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 8,138
Likes: 122
From: USVI
I've always used 10W Mobil 1 and couldn't believe a dealer put in 5W Castrol Edge in my 993. I made them show me a written reference from Porsche since the owners manual called for 10W. They showed me. Then I asked another Porsche dealer tech who has been working on 993's since they came out. He said 5W Castrol EDGE was okay also. In fact he also said 0W Mobile 1 could be used also.
Last edited by JasonAndreas; Jun 9, 2015 at 08:38 PM.
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 2,049
From: Dallas, TX
For me an oil with slightly higher Zinc levels helps in consideration of the design of the air cooled engine and the extreme head temperatures encountered but not too high a level as it is known to be hard on the cats. Here is a recent (2013) Mobil 1 product chart to compare oils:
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: DFW
For me an oil with slightly higher Zinc levels helps in consideration of the design of the air cooled engine and the extreme head temperatures encountered but not too high a level as it is known to be hard on the cats. Here is a recent (2013) Mobil 1 product chart to compare oils:
Chuck
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 224
From: Toronto
Edge 5W40 sits slightly under 1000 ppm, if they are a Castrol house 5W50 Edge meets the zinc and ph requirements of our engines and is the replacement for the old 20W50 Edge formula they discontinued.