Ultimate Motor Oil Thread or Why we hate CJ4/SM oils

[winders]

With modern gaskets there is no issue using a quality synthetic oil. What does it matter if it is a 993 3.6L or a 3.2L or a 2.0L? They all benefit from what synthetic oil offers...especially how well synthetic oils deal with higher temperature levels. Remember, air-cooled heads get a lot hotter than oil temperatures indicate.

Handling higher heat levels without failing is why every race engine builder I know uses something like Driven XP6.

[HarryD]

Reviving a VERY old thread.

Many changes have happened. It is too hard to keep up.

FWIW, I have changed to LiquiMoly Touring High Tech 20W-50 for my personal use.

Be careful out there.

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/us/touring-high-tech-sae-20w-50-p000213.html#20114

[cnavarro]

We're still using and recommending Driven DT50 for most, if not all aircooled Porsche 911 engines for street use.

For track use we still use Driven XP6.

Driven's GP-1 20w50 is a suitable replacement for the old Brad Penn, the only difference being that Driven uses a fairly hefty dose of MoS2 (Moly) in this formulation which helps to drop oil temps substantially. In fact, GP-1 is made by ARG (American Refining Group) in Bradford, PA for Driven.

I personally use all these products in my own personal cars and continue to see used oil analysis results that back up how well these oils are working in our engines.

[SRT356/911]

Good to know about Driven. I have been using SWEPCO 306 20w-50 in my air cooled race engines for years.
Have now switched to Motul for my 2015 Cayman GTS based on previous recommendation from Charles.

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by SRT356/911

Good to know about Driven. I have been using SWEPCO 306 20w-50 in my air cooled race engines for years.
Have now switched to Motul for my 2015 Cayman GTS based on previous recommendation from Charles.

Indeed there are some good oils out there including Swepco. Many have had excellent results with LM and Motul but formulations do vary so it's best to do used oil analysis so you know the health of your engine and also how well a particular oil is performing for how you use your car.

I'll also throw out that many assume the LM oils have moly in them and if they do, it's usually not much- that is not always the case. Many use their MoS2 or Ceratec additives which boost moly FM levels, but on average, Driven oils have more moly in them out of the bottle than adding LM additives to an A40 approved oil.

[SRT356/911]

Originally Posted by cnavarro

Indeed there are some good oils out there including Swepco. Many have had excellent results with LM and Motul but formulations do vary so it's best to do used oil analysis so you know the health of your engine and also how well a particular oil is performing for how you use your car.

I'll also throw out that many assume the LM oils have moly in them and if they do, it's usually not much- that is not always the case. Many use their MoS2 or Ceratec additives which boost moly FM levels, but on average, Driven oils have more moly in them out of the bottle than adding LM additives to an A40 approved oil.

Do you now recommend Driven for water cooled engines as well?

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by SRT356/911

Do you now recommend Driven for water cooled engines as well?

For A40 approved oils, I'm still recommending Motul X-Cess 5w40 or LM 2040, but since warranty considerations at this point are out the window, DT40 is what I recommend for street driven watercooled Porsche models.

The newest cars are calling for C40 oils (for LSPI and emissions system protection) which Driven's DI40 would be the equivalent.

What's even worse is that now there are C20 and C30 oils for improved fuel economy. A Macan I had a while back called for a C20 and I used Driven DI40 instead. UOA looked great but fuel economy sucked!

[HaroldMHedge]

Charles,

I have a 2004 996TT. Does your DT40 recommendation still apply to the Metzger engines?

Originally Posted by cnavarro

For A40 approved oils, I'm still recommending Motul X-Cess 5w40 or LM 2040, but since warranty considerations at this point are out the window, DT40 is what I recommend for street driven watercooled Porsche models.

Porsche Classic has a new 5w-50 for 996 and 986 models (all derivatives) so does this change anything?

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

Charles,

I have a 2004 996TT. Does your DT40 recommendation still apply to the Metzger engines?

Porsche Classic has a new 5w-50 for 996 and 986 models (all derivatives) so does this change anything?

DT40 would be appropriate for a water-cooled Mezger engine or anything that calls for an A40 oil.

The Porsche Classic oils are nothing special.

Here are two VOAs for the classic oils:

[HaroldMHedge]

Thanks Charles,

The Porsche Classic oil VOAs are interesting to know.

[Trackrash]

I have been contemplating changing to Moblil 1 15-50. It looks like it still has reasonable zinc levels. Phosphorus 1200 ppm and Zinc 1300 ppm, which I am assuming is appropriate for our air cooled motors? Thoughts? https://www.mobil.com/lubricants/-/media/project/wep/mobil/mobil-row-us-1/pdf/mobil-1-engine-oils-product-guide-sheet--may-2022.pdf. Interesing that most of Mobil 1 oils, with some exceptions, now have lower levels.

[jrwilson]

I always enjoy these threads because the Americans throw around all these brands and then I go to look for them in Canada and they're not available.

Can anyone recommend a brand I might be able to find here without having to ship it from Wisconsin?

[Trackrash]

What are the current thoughts on oil change intervals?

I noticed in the '72 owner's manual that Porsche recommends 10k miles.

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

What are the current thoughts on oil change intervals?

I noticed in the '72 owner's manual that Porsche recommends 10k miles.

If the car is used year round, every 6 months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.

If put away for the winter, change before the car goes into storage and then you can do one oil change yearly.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by cnavarro

If the car is used year round, every 6 months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Why so frequent Charles?

Just a preference or do you have data to support this frequency? Just curious thanks!

(I'm assuming that this is for normally driven cars that aren't used for frequent short trips, have effective air cleaners, aren't subject to fuel dilution due to accelerator pumps or in other severe operational use.)

[Marknado4000]

In NZ our options are fairly limited, I cant find a supplier of Driven GT-1, our best options I can find locally are Penngrade 1 20w50 which I have been using, is this still ok in 2022 or worth hunting something else out for a regularly street driven 3.2?

[Marwil]

In Canada I've been running Castrol Edge 5W-50 without any apparent issues. Just did a valve adjustment, no apparent wear on the cam lobes and no leaks from the engine case. The car regularly sees 6000 rpm.

You buy the 5L jugs of it as Crappy Tire - frequently on sale at about $40 Canuck bucks.

[Peter M]

Originally Posted by Marknado4000

In NZ our options are fairly limited, I cant find a supplier of Driven GT-1, our best options I can find locally are Penngrade 1 20w50 which I have been using, is this still ok in 2022 or worth hunting something else out for a regularly street driven 3.2?

Mark,
There are some Penrite oils worth considering that were discussed recently by us Downunder owners.

Oil info-simple question I hope

You probably have ready access to some mixed fleet 15w-40's that are worth considering too.

[proporsche]

Hi Charles..i know you told me once ..i guess i`m still ok using this Oil Classic Pistoneeze 20w50 – 1020 ppm? Here in Europa we do not get much choice and the 10W60 Porsche oil i do not like too much...

Ivan

Ivan

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Hi Charles..i know you told me once ..i guess i`m still ok using this Oil Classic Pistoneeze 20w50 – 1020 ppm? Here in Europa we do not get much choice and the 10W60 Porsche oil i do not like too much...

Ivan

Ivan

Millers makes great stuff. Can't go wrong there.