Oil Fred: Rotella T to Penn 20w50.

[Quasimoto]

It's my longstanding policy to refrain from oil threads, but this is my first air-cooled car, so please allow me some leeway here...

Car is an 84 3.2 with about 56k on the clock. No drips or leaks, but a couple very small weeps in a couple cylinders. Records from the previous owner show the last few oil changes were with Rotella T.

Considering moving to Penn 20w50, but have read a few concerns about switching from conventional to semi or full synth potentially causing some leak issues.

Would like to hear some opinion, particularly from anyone that has done this switch, before making the move.

Thanks

[OldSpool87]

Switched to VR1 synthetic in my 930 and I’m healthy as a horse...not a drip. I figured I could always switch back.

[Quasimoto]

Thanks!

[SalParadise]

I use Rotella T exclusively in all my aircooled stuff - from Ducati bikes to Porsches in the fall/winter time. I find it to work very well. It's inexpensive, and I have used it in my Volvo and Audi TT as well with great results. Other than that it's VR1 20/50 but the Rotella is awesome for me.

[Quasimoto]

I’ve used Rotella T in lots of motorcycles over the years and been happy with it.

T seems to have been replaced here with T4, and I haven’t taken the time to get educated about it yet.

[Trackrash]

FWIW Brad Penn, now Penn Grade BTW, is not synthetic oil. Because of the high quality of the base they use the government considers it "semi synthetic" or some other nonsense.

I am using Penn Grade now with good results. I have used Rotella with good results, but it is not the same as it used to be.

I will at some point, once my motor has some miles on it change over to Mobil 1. However my motor only has about 4K miles on it so far. So with fresh seals there should be no problem with leaks.

I tried Mobil 1 in my old motor and sure enough what was a few seepages turned into annoying leaks.

IMO with your old motor be prepared to see an increase in leakage if you change to Mobil 1.

As noted, you can always switch back....

[wildcat077]

Been using Mobil 1 15w50 for the past 7-8 years with my 911 without issues ... as for
the Rotella T6 , my son has been using it for a few years in his Subaru WRX and i know a few people who use in in their Turbo 996's ...

The Rotella is highly recommended in the Subaru forums , it's all about ZZDP content for the older 911's

[Arne2]

Previous owner of my '84 used Mobil 1 15w-50. I switched to Brad Penn 20w-50 for a couple of changes, and later to VR1 20w-50.

No leaks ever with any of these oils. I did notice a decrease in valve train noise when I changed from BP to VR1.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Quasimoto

Car is an 84 3.2 with about 56k on the clock. No drips or leaks, but a couple very small weeps in a couple cylinders. Records from the previous owner show the last few oil changes were with Rotella T.

If the Rotella leaks, weeps, I would try something else, given your engine is original.