Winter oil recommendation

wright77 · 10-21-2003, 05:19 AM

I am moving to Ohio where the winters are cold! What weight engine oil should I use? I have a 1978 911SC.

I dont plan on driving that much in the winter.
Thank You, Bob

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

I am in same boat right now and have searched and searched the posts for the many different options. I think i will just go with what the manual says. "SAE 30". I believe this is 5W SAE 30 though right? "10W" is thicker for hotter temps. (allright i am quitting right there...i don't have a clue...anyone have any thoughts?). Kinda like to do this change in the next day or so.

joe 68 L

wright77 · 10-21-2003, 05:53 AM

Joe, 30w is a straight weight oil. whereas your 5/30 is a multiweight. I was thinking of using 10w/40, but just wanted to see what others thought. Ya, you are in Cleveland! I will be in Columbus. Thanks!

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

Paraphrasing and repeating one of my earlier posts; why not use what the manufacturer reccommends?

According to the owners manual for my '78, for year round use:

"... use multi-grade oils SAE 10 W-50, 15 W-50 or 20 W-50. The 20 W-50 oil should not be used at constant temperatures below +5 degrees F/-15 degrees C."

From this it would appear 20W50 would be fine for winter (in Maryland, NOTE: Ohio gets colder), you might look at using a 10W40 or 15W40, both should be readily available in any name brand. It would also appear that 10W30 (I wouldn't consider 5W30) is much too thin (except, perhaps, in the most extreme cold, e.g. consistantly below zero F.).

Jerry M
'78 SC

georgie · 10-21-2003, 07:49 AM

Castrol 15W-50.

georgie · 10-21-2003, 07:50 AM

Oops, I mean Castrol Rx 15W-40.

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

going in a half hour to parts store.... georgie, why that?

georgie · 10-21-2003, 07:55 AM

no comprende'. Readily available by me at Autozone, Advance Auto, etc.

911SCfanatic · 911SCfanatic's Garage

Just changed my oil Saturday and put in what my mechanic recommended-- Valvoline 20w50. I live in Detroit. I'll take it out on warm days (35F) a couple of times. The 20w50 is what I want to run normally, so when spring comes I have the oil I want already in there. It will be fine for the few days in the winter.

cyprusx · 10-21-2003, 09:50 AM

Mobile 1 0-40 in the winter months and 15-50 in the summer months...

gduke · 10-21-2003, 02:27 PM

i'd been running 10w30 until recently and switched to 20w50. Didn't know the proper wt. until another Pcar owner told me that I should run the heaVIER WT. oil. Hope it didn't cause any damage.

GB83SC · 10-21-2003, 04:16 PM

20-50 will not hurt you car! Dont loose any sleep.

Bill Douglas · 10-21-2003, 04:39 PM

And, as the car was built in '78 the parts would be reasonably loose by now and have plenty of room for 20-50 to circulate well.

chrisreale · 10-21-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cyprusx
Mobile 1 0-40 in the winter months and 15-50 in the summer months...

Me too. 20-50 Dino is way too thick for cold temps. I know it says it should be ok, but those first few seconds after you start up and yo have no oil pressure made me go to the 0-40 Mobil 1

island911 · 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wright77
I am moving to Ohio where the winters are cold! . .. I have a 1978 911SC.

I dont plan on driving that much in the winter.
...

OhiO!?
If it were my SC in OhiO, I would plan on ZERO winter driving.
Those knuckle-heads salt the roads like you wouldn't believe.

"Winter Cars" corrode fast in that area.

cyprusx · 10-21-2003, 06:50 PM

Nope... Don't drive when the snow starts to fly here in MN. Time to put her away for some R&R during the snowy months. However, up to that time, I drive and enjoy no matter how cold it gets...