Oil changes and drain plugs

[Blue_IXXI]

Heellppp!! My first oil change and already needing help, advice, solice. Looking around I have found both plugs , one in Oil tank and the other at the bottom of the engine. Wanting to do this right the first time, I'm interested in knowing if both plugs are identical as well as the seals/gaskets that will need to be replaced once I have drained the existing oil and ready to put in the new. Are the gaskets metal, are they the same for both the oil tank and engine? Do the seals/ gaskets typically get destroyed when removing the oil plugs, or can one expect to use them over several oil changes? I am assuming our host has them for sale, but it would appear that the cost of seal/gaskets versus shipping charges are not proporational.

Now onto the more important issue. Given that I rarely drive the car during the winter months, at best once per week if the weather is perfect, what is the best oil for the Colorado climate? I use Mobil ! for my Diesel F250 and was wondering about synthetics for Blue_IXXI. In reading the forums, appears there are mixed review regarding oil vs synthetics especially when it comes to leaks.
Thoughts and advice from the sage is welcome and definitely appreciated.

[Rot 911]

Plugs and gaskets are the same. If you have the copper gaskets they can be reused several times without leaks. If you have a lot of miles on the engine, I would stick with dino oil. For driving in the winter I use 10w40.

[Por_sha911]

Gaskets are a big 35 cents each. Why save less than a buck on a car worth ten to twenty thousand? Order them here at Pelican and get a Mahle filter and you are good to go.
Oil: Learn to use the search button. There's a ton if info (some fairly recent).
BTW, you have to post pics when you come on board. Its a rule around here.

[pwd72s]

or at least give the year/model of the car you ask the question about?

[kqw]

Just a note: The drain plugs on my Carrera are not the same. i.e., The magnet size: The tank plug has a cylindrical type magnet (larger) and the engine plug has a cone shaped magnet. Don't know why....

[Wil Ferch]

My 85 has a 22 mm oil tank plug and a 20 mm (side-outlet) engine plug....I know because I have two different part numbers Fumoto drain valve in these two locations so I never have to futz with washers again.

Wil

PS- Fumoto issue can also be found as a search function...

[5axis]

Your F250 will be happier with a good diesel rated oil like Rotella T or Dello and both these are good dino oils for our 911's.
The high pressure oil system for the injectors in the power stroke is a molecule shear monster!

I use Rotella T in my F350 power stroke and my 911 turbo cab, and my Ski Nautique. In winter I do switch to rotella syth for easier cold starts in the F350.

Search Rotella here on pelican, someone had written to Shell for information regarding its application in our air cooled motors. It came back quite good if I recall correctly.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=31

loads of Power Stroke information.

[Blue_IXXI]

Thanks for all the data. Obviously still new to the process. I think I have successfully dowloaded a picture of my Blue_IXXI but would appreciate feedback if I'm not successful.

My pride is a 1987 911 Carrera coupe W 63K miles. I am the second owner.

I noticed that several responses ( kqw and Wil Ferch) indicate that there are in fact differences between the oil and engine drain plugs. Looks like to be safe I will take Por_Sha 911's advice and just buy another set as I already have the Mahle filter.