CD: Here's the contact info for the company that carries the Mobil 1 5W 50. They also have the Mobil Delvac 75-90 gear oil which is what's recommended for the 996TT manual tranny and front differential. They sell the oil for around $35 a six-pak and the Delvac for $22 a gallon. They'll break case lots on the gallons of Delvac, but only sell the 5W 50 in the six pak. The owner asked me not to put out a firm price on the oil becasue with the fluctuating market, the prices are going up and down a few dollars according to the current cost per barrel...but you won't find any cheaper source....believe me, I've spent days looking.

Here's the contact info for E.R.Vine and Company:

2825 Railroad Ave
Ceres, CA , 95307-4625
Phone: 209-537-0723
FAX: 209-537-1402


H20: I'm not very knowledgeable about the pro/cons or chemical make-up of the various oils and am only going off of what I've read and have seen as listed by Porsche as "approved". You may well be correct, I just don't have the background to be able to respond to your comment. One thing I know is that there are a bunch of guys holding their breath hoping that this won't evolve into another major discussion or long drawn out novel on which oil is better....so I offer the contact info for the company in response to CD's question...and that's all. No popcorn....

 

Let us know what the analysis shows?
I use M-1 0w40 in the 996. I use M-1 15w50 in the 964.
An argument I hear that seems it could have validity is that the newer oils are different enough that they could negatively effect the older cars. I believed this argument enough (or had a weak moment) to order some ZDDP additive for my 964. The article said that the newer cars are designed to perform well enough with the newer oils but the older cars need an additional shot of the ZDDP, which implied to me the 996 was OK, but the 964 may need an extra shot. I only used 1/2 the recommended amount of the additive. Guess I'm not totally convinced yet.
I meant to send my last oil change sample on the 964 out to test but forgot! I'll catch the 996 as I will change it in the next couple of weeks.

 

I agree with this thought process. 3 bars is about 50 ounces of oil low. That's a lot of oil!

 

You guys aren't going to believe this because I didn't believe it when the service advisor at the Honda dealership told me that Honda uses 0W-20 oil (non-synthetic) in their cars.

Now we're talking about the proverbial "water" (as someone here has called it)!

 

Just the facts: I had 5W-50 in the 996 when I bought it, and had the ticking for about 10-15 seconds every time I started it. Also, it burned about a quart in 1500 miles. Switched to 0W-40 and no more ticking and not a drop of oil gone. I'm a believer (and about to be flamed, I suspect).

Bob

 

WRONG

The difference between the min. and max.(6 bars IIRC) on the engine oil level gauge is 1.5 liters which is about 50 ounces. Therefore, if his oil level was 3 bars low his engine was approx. 25 ounces below maximum capacity.

Operating the engine 3 bars low would not have caused the ticking sound.

 

0W20 is also the factory fill on my V8 Eddie Bauer Explorer!

 

DreamCarrera, maybe you are correct, but I have been told the info in our owners manual states that 1 bar is equal to just over 13 ounces. I don't have access to my manual to confirm, though.

 

DreamCarrera, this old post may prove helpful about the 13 ounce per bar comment:

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/442077-should-i-take-it-back.html

 

Sure about the pricing on the Delvac gallons??? That stuff runs nearly $50 a gallon and not many dealers have it.

Here's a link to one of the more popular places it is purchased from guys here on the board: LUFTEKNIC

 

I just bought a gallon of Delvac M1 75-90 at Lufteknic (they are 2 miles from me) $42.

I don't know about the 13 or 8 oz's per bar, but on my 2002, the bars exactly match the one quart low to fill line on the dipstick, so by my calcs that is 5.3 ounces/bar. So at most I am 1/2 qt (16 ounces, 2 cups) low from total full. A little more (25oz, 3 cups) if it is 1.5 liters between min/max on the dipstick. I notice a change in idle quality if I go total full, and others have noticed the same. There is NO way 1/2 qt or .75 L down from total full can cause lifter tick. And I make my measurements level , totally cold. If I check it hot, it is down 1 to 2 bars. Nary a drop in the 3k + miles I've owned the car, and according to the PO, but I never believe anything I don't witness myself!

And I am glad that Rotokim experienced the same results as I. Did you notice any difference when the variocam kicks in? 3.4's may be different feeling than 3.6's...I suspect mine had higher viscosity as well...it is noticeably freer (Freeer?) reving, (revs to higher rpms faster out of gear) now than before the oil change.

 

Yes I'm sure on the pricing. I ordered two gallons from back east before I found these guys in Ceres....and I paid $42 a gallon plus shipping!! Then I went on a quest for something closer to home and cheaper and found these guys...I spoke to them two weeks ago and the price was $24 a gallon. I even wrote the "other company" who sold me the Delvac for $42 and asked if perhaps they had made an administrative error on pricing....never got a reply.

Bottom line....the phone number is posted...call them and put an end to the question.