Which oil should I use for my 3.2?

[jfig]

Will only drive it in spring/summer/fall, I drive in spirited manner but no tracking. Only drive it on the weekend so cost is less of an issue. Thank you in advance!
Jonas

[Roswell]

Valvoline VR1 20W-50

You could try the search function...

[HarryD]

A high quality 20W-50 with a high level of ZDDP. Valvoline VR1, Penn Grade, Kendal Gt2 are are common recommendations.

While it can be overwhelming, read the many threads on the topic.

[jjeffries]

I run 15/50 Mobil 1 in my SC, mostly because it's so affordable at Walmart and has high ZDDP. I'd likely be just as well off running Delo or just about any other modern oil. We all obsess way too much on this. I do buy Mahle filters....don't go cheap on those. Best, John

[stlrj]

Porsche A40 approved oils in 0w 40 M1 for me.

[cabmandone]

Can of worms opened.

Right now it has Castrol in it. I typically buy Havoline 20w50 but the place I normally get it was out. I have no preference to brand.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by jfig

Will only drive it in spring/summer/fall, I drive in spirited manner but no tracking. Only drive it on the weekend so cost is less of an issue. Thank you in advance!
Jonas

Your car was originally spec'f for a 15w-50 or 15w-40 oil w/ ZDDP levels in the 1100 to 1300 ppm range

there are several oils available that fit the bill
If a particular oil company refuses to provide ZDDP levels I'd avoid their products

Mobil is widely available and reasonably priced, here is the Mobil 2019 spec sheet, remember you are looking for 15w40 or 15w-50 and Phosphorus and Zinc levels in in the 1100 to 1300 ppm range, anything outside those values is not what was originally spec'f and the further out the worse for the motor longevity.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Your car was originally spec'f for a 15w-50 or 15w-40 oil w/ ZDDP levels in the 1100 to 1300 ppm range

there are several oils available that fit the bill
If a particular oil company refuses to provide ZDDP levels I'd avoid their products

Mobil is widely available and reasonably priced, here is the Mobil 2019 spec sheet, remember you are looking for 15w40 or 15w-50 and Phosphorus and Zinc levels in in the 1100 to 1300 ppm range, anything outside those values is not what was originally spec'f and the further out the worse for the motor longevity.

Bill:

Looking at my Bentley, 20W-50 is recommended for 15 F to 100F+

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Bill:

Looking at my Bentley, 20W-50 is recommended for 15 F to 100F+

"API SE or SF 10w/50, 15w/40, or 20w50 For all year operation Latter oil not for temperature below -15C"
SF became the spec in 1988 ZDDP for that and SE was ~1100/1400

generally these were non synthetic back in that era. Porsche latter codified it and specified
mineral oil
15w-40, 20w-50 for temps mostly above 50F/10C
synthetic oil
10w-40, 15w-40, 15w-50 for temps mostly above 50F/10C

other specs for lower temps of course,

This is all in the TSBs from the era

[adias]

The first 3 years I owned this 3.2 I used Brad Penn 20W50 with an oil consumption of 1200miles/qt. Next I switched to Valvoline VR1 20W50 and consumption dropped to about 1750miles/qt. This year switching to Liqui Moly Touring High Tech 20W50 and having driven about 600 miles I do not see any appreciable oil usage, even though as miles build up it is natural to expect some oil consumption, but no doubt this reduction is notable. And the engine purrs beautifully!

I also use Liqui Moly MoS2, but I used that along with the previous oil brands.

[Storage Man]

This could get ugly. BP 15w40 but I tend to top off with BP 20w50.... please check this out. Many questions will be answered...
Ultimate Motor Oil Thread or Why we hate CJ4/SM oils

[shawn908]

FYI - here is one where there is a specific pitch on the website for use in air cooled Porsche engines. FWIW this product was recommended by a Porsche shop about 40 miles from Philly when the local PCA club held a meeting at the shop. I've been drinking the Brad Penn koolaid...so no direct experience with Joe Gibbs.

https://lnengineering.com/joe-gibbs-racing-dt50-full-synthetic-15w50-aircooled-engine-oil-12-quarts.html

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by shawn908

FYI - here is one where there is a specific pitch on the website for use in air cooled Porsche engines. FWIW this product was recommended by a Porsche shop about 40 miles from Philly when the local PCA club held a meeting at the shop. I've been drinking the Brad Penn koolaid...so no direct experience with Joe Gibbs.

https://lnengineering.com/joe-gibbs-racing-dt50-full-synthetic-15w50-aircooled-engine-oil-12-quarts.html

The Joe Gibbs product seems to be very good. That said, I have been using BP almost since I got my car in 2002. I had to get a top end done to my car about 1-2 years ago with 160,000 miles. when the motor was apart, other than the damage to my piton and head due to a screw getting into it, the internals looked excellent and minimal evidence of wear. To me, anyway, BP 20W-50 looks to be the correct product for my use.

[DWeg1998]

I don’t know that I have ever read on here someone saying that their engine when apart was showing excessive wear and issues that pointed to use of inferior oil product selection.

If you keep it clean with appropriate change intervals and use proper weight with any API certified oil, I have to think you are going to be alright for a road car.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by DWeg1998

I don’t know that I have ever read on here someone saying that their engine when apart was showing excessive wear and issues that pointed to use of inferior oil product selection.

If you keep it clean with appropriate change intervals and use proper weight with any API certified oil, I have to think you are going to be alright for a road car.

Mostly because almost everyone is using a decent oil.

The problems beagan back in the early 2000s when there was a switch in some oils to less than a 1000ppm ZDDP, it's now common is some oils to have 800ppm or less. Thes oils don't provide proper wear characteristics on the cam lobes. I know one fellow that trashed his 964 after just a year or so of using such oil.

Use the right weight and right ZDDP content and the car will be happy, there are several very good oils out there and also some marginal ones. Just avoid the sub 1000 ppm ZDDP oils by doing your due diligence

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Mostly because almost everyone is using a decent oil.

The problems beagan back in the early 2000s when there was a switch in some oils to less than a 1000ppm ZDDP, it's now common is some oils to have 800ppm or less. Thes oils don't provide proper wear characteristics on the cam lobes. I know one fellow that trashed his 964 after just a year or so of using such oil.

Use the right weight and right ZDDP content and the car will be happy, there are several very good oils out there and also some marginal ones. Just avoid the sub 1000 ppm ZDDP oils by doing your due diligence

Bill, Well said. Exactly the point. Our flat tappet engines require a bit of extra due diligence. One can always read this foolish thread for some older wisdom: forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/367300-ultimate-motor-oil-thread-why-we-hate-cj4-sm-oils.html

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, reputable brand, good ZDDP, replace it more often than specified. And don't thrash the car when it's cold. This advice leads to a long and happy life for a 911 engine.

[adias]

There are substitutes for ZDDP... In Germany no one uses Brad Penn or Valvoline...

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by adias

There are substitutes for ZDDP... In Germany no one uses Brad Penn or Valvoline...

Like this soon-to-be-hitting-US-shelves Liqui-Moly Klassic

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/company/news/detail/news/classic-car-care-fountain-of-youth-for-your-favorite-1717-1.html

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by adias

There are substitutes for ZDDP... In Germany no one uses Brad Penn or Valvoline...

True but they are not available here at a reasonable price.