Recommended oil and filter for a 78 3.0

[skijaker]

Well, time for my first oil change on my 911. What oil and filter do you guys recommend for my 78 3.0? Also, many quarts should I get?

Also, I noticed some funky whitess/beige goo just around the oil cap and a little down the drain. Like a sludge. Any ideas what the heck that could be? The oil hasn't been changed in about 2 years but only has about 500 miles on the oil. Could it had gotten water in it over time. Dealer changed it back then.. However, my dipstick didn't register an oil it it so it is very low. My gauge was showing it to be low as well. Since I didn't know what oil was used, thought I would just change it out.

Thanks guys, skijaker

[IROC]

Use a factory or Mahle filter. Our host sells the Mahles for around $6.50 each (I just bought some). As for oil, I would recommend a 20W50 from your favorite brand (synthetic or dino - doesn't really matter).

The whitish goo is condensation forming on the cap. It's a "feature" of many 911s this time of year.

It usually takes around 10.5 or 11 quarts to refill the system during an oil change. I usually buy a case of 12 quarts. Make sure you are checking the oil correctly (engine at operating temp and idling, with car on a level surface).

Mike
(still wish I lived in East TN)

[sammyg2]

That white stuff is contamination from di-hydromonoxide.
It usually means you aren't driving the car enough or not getting it all the way up to temperature when you drive it.
Short trips where the oil doesn't get a chance to warm all the way up can cause this.
For a filter use a good mahle or similar, no fram junk.
Oil? Just get the clean slippery stuff.

[Rot 911]

You say the dipstick and the gauge both show the oil low. In order to check the oil make sure the engine is up to operation temperature, idling and sitting on level ground.

[rlane]

I beleive the Mahle filter is the #53.
In our part of the world with the colder weather maybe a 10w30 or 15w40, old fashioned dinosaur oil. I usually wait til the weekly cycle at Advance or Walmart or Pep Boys brings up Castrol GTX and get it for less than $1.40 a quart, also a lot easier if you can find the 5 qt jugs on sale. Buy you oil filter from our host here and also make sure you have the BIGGIE/SUPERSIZE drain pan, 11-13 quarts can make a hell of a mess!

[Rick Cabell]

Listen to what Kurt said above, or you're going to overfill your car and have a very messy situation on your hands.

Spend a little time with the search button and read up on how to do the oil change and how to check your oil level.

[sammyg2]

I think that part of the official 911 owner's initiation is to overfill your oil tank and kill all the moskitoes, overfill your drain pan when the oil comes out too fast and cover your entire garage floor with dirty oil, and to drop your dip stick in the oil tank.
If you guys keep giving up all of our secrets we'll have to go back to hazing

[dmarv]

Sir, yes Sir!!

Hazing, LOL, getting college flashbacks!!

[skijaker]

Thanks guys for all the input. I got a Mahle filter this evening from a local Porsche shop but it was double the cost what I can get it through Pelican. Guess I will be stocking a few from PP.

I did let it sit for quite a while on level ground but still the level on the guage was low, getting into the red and still no oil showing on the dipstick.


Actually, this is my 2nd oil change you can say. My first one was an experience. Never a Porsche owner before, never knew there were 2 drain plugs. So I only drained one of them. And then filled it with 11 quarts of oil. So I ended up having about 16 quarts in it. I realized something was wrong when the oil fumes and smokewere coming through my vents, under the car, etc. and just gagging me out. I thought it was just the new oil. Did some investigating before I drove it much longer and found out about the other drain. Fortunately, no harm was done to the engine but I got really lucky nothing did. Just shows you need to do a llittle investigating on these toys, even some of the most common maintenance.