John Sampson

Hello everyone!
I have a 2002 Boxster, with about 115k miles on it. It's about time for an oil change (bought used) and the dealer put 5w-40 oil in it. Should I go with the same? Or go with the recommended 0w-40 by Porsche? What differences would I expect if I changed it?

Thank you!

Starter986

What? No inquiry about the IMS bearing or which tires to run?

LexVan

What brand of 5W40? Most dealerships use either Mobil or Pennzoil. Best to re-use the same brand. Different brand's additive packages can fight with each other.

What is your location?

I'd recommend Mobil 5W50 for the summer. If you plan to drive in the winter, change over to 0W40 Mobil for that work. Both A40 approved. And easy to find at your local Napa store.

Change your oil every 6 months and every 5,000 miles.

Congrats on the new Boxster.

John Sampson

I believe it's Mobil one, I live in North Carolina, I was planning to change my oil at the end of summer (Late August). Also what's the best place to buy 5w-40? I can't find it anywhere.

Thanks for the help!

paulofto

Sarcastic as ever Mr Starter!!

Starter986

LOL. Thank you. With so few posts, the OP, I thought he might be trolling. Apparently he's serious.

Have a nice day.

Macster

Search online for an approved 5w-40 oil then see where you can buy it. Maybe the local Walmart store? Or an auto parts store even a car dealer parts department might carry a oil that is also Porsche approved.

Or you can order the appropriate oil online and have it shipped to you.

Added: You might have better luck finding Mobil 1 0w-40 oil. This is the better choice than 5w-40 oil. The 0w-40 flows better at colder temperatures and yet still has the same high temperature/high sheer viscosity index number (40). I really don't see any benefit to running a 5w-40 oil. Now did switch to a 5w-50 oil for my Porsche Boxster and Turbo not for the "5w" but for the "50" because while it doesn't get that cold where I live and drive it gets plenty hot. For example we are forecast to get our first 100F+ heat wave Monday/Tuesday this coming week.

paulofto

John, here is the Porsche A40 Approved Motor Oils from 2016. Not the most recent list but should give you a good idea of what is and isn't approved.

Byprodriver

Affects us all the same either way, da ja vue all over again! SEARCH.

NuttyProfessor

Driven DT40 or MOTUL X-Cess 8100 5W40.
Stay away from 0W40 Mobil1. Of course, they have recently changed their additive package on that oil. We'll wait and see.

paulofto

My car has had nothing in it but Mobil1 0W40 since it left the factory. Never a problem, never a leak, never a noise, engine purrs. Just about everyone in the local PCA chapter uses it as well.

I'm curious as to why you single out this oil. Did you personally have problems?

bcrdukes

I think you have to be mindful of where you live, particularly in regards to the climate. If in doubt, change your oil every 5000 miles, or every 6 months, whichever comes first. I run Liqui Moly 5W40 in my Boxster S.

NuttyProfessor

Just because there is a little fancy sticker on your rear deck lid, don't drink the Kool Aid Paul even if all the other followers are laying on the ground bloated and non-responsive. I choose to listen and learn from trust worthy sources of information, not marketing hype found in those fancy print ads, FB marketing, and TV commercials. Even then, I question it and research what others are experiencing in real world applications and closely examine UOA and VOA findings. Porsche has changed it's recommended oils for the 996 and 986 in January. Have you heard? After so many modes of failures on the M96 engines, you think Porsche has our best interests in mind? They denied the whole IMS bearing problem and then decided to settle NOT fight it in court. If intermix, d-chunk, and IMS bearing failure wasn't enough, now a lot of my personal friends are finding their low miles cars are plagued with cylinder bore scoring on bank 2 of their engines! When it comes to oil, I'm anything but the run-of-the-mill M1 0W40. It's Driven, MOTUL, or Liquid Moly for me.

rileyracing1

Not another oil war !! I have used Mobil 1 in my Cayenne for years with no issues but recently moved to Castrol Syntec for it . My 911 I use Liquid Moly 5w40. I have read many articles on Mobil 1 and I just feel I can get better oil for the same money so why not ? Just remember more importantly clean oil is way more important than brand of oil.

paulofto

Thanks for the info, do you have a link or source for these recommended oils from January? I'm interested in what they have to say.

Thanks