Finally decided to go with 20W50.

[Maleficio]

Poured in VR-1.

The 928 really seems to like it. Acceleration is better than ever.

That's the thickest, slowest pouring oil I've ever seen.

Was reluctant all this time because of three incidents of 20w50 burping past the oil filter gasket onto the ground.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by Maleficio

Poured in VR-1.

Acceleration is better than ever.

Your kidding, right?

[924CarreraGTP]

I cleaned my oil strainer with gasoline and let it evaporate before reinstalling it. I run Castrol 20W50 in my white 928S and it has rendered my car indestructable so far. It makes the old motor a little tougher to crank, but it runs wicked when it's at running temperature. There is some virtually unheard of issue with oil rising into the crankcase ventilation system. I'm not saying this might be the cause, but I read that cleaning the oil strainer fixes it. Maybe what you had burping out was caused by this.

[Danglerb]

Placebo is a powerful thing.

[harborman]

Wow, 20 w 50 oil?? Very thick oil. You would not run that in a car here in winter when temps get down to 10 below or more. Did they throw all the charts out on oil vs temp??

[MPDano]

I use 15/50 Royal Purple in both my 928's. I use what works for me and where I live. I'm in SoCal at about 500 feet and work at Sea Level. There really are no Season here and the temp average is about 65 degrees.

[garylewa]

Originally Posted by harborman

Wow, 20 w 50 oil?? Very thick oil. You would not run that in a car here in winter when temps get down to 10 below or more. Did they throw all the charts out on oil vs temp??

I run VR-1 20w50 in mine year round; of course it's in the garage in the winter but it still turns over nicely when I roll it around in the garage to keep the tires from developing flat spots. I usually let it run for 15-20 minutes and try out all of the electrics to make sure everything is working properly. when I changed the oil this summer to VR-1 (my first time using it) the engine justs sounds better IMO.

[Maleficio]

The reason I made this thread is because of all the flack I got when I first bought the 928 1.5 years ago. I was hesitant then to run 20w50, and was reproached non-stop by seemingly everyone in the forum, and the other forum.

I am now sold on 20w50 for this car. Wish I'd switched a long time ago.

[Maleficio]

Originally Posted by harborman

Wow, 20 w 50 oil?? Very thick oil. You would not run that in a car here in winter when temps get down to 10 below or more. Did they throw all the charts out on oil vs temp??

Temps don't get that low here. They get low, but not that low.

[Maleficio]

Originally Posted by 924CarreraGTP

I cleaned my oil strainer with gasoline and let it evaporate before reinstalling it. I run Castrol 20W50 in my white 928S and it has rendered my car indestructable so far. It makes the old motor a little tougher to crank, but it runs wicked when it's at running temperature. There is some virtually unheard of issue with oil rising into the crankcase ventilation system. I'm not saying this might be the cause, but I read that cleaning the oil strainer fixes it. Maybe what you had burping out was caused by this.

The burping occurred years ago on another car. Amsoil 20w50, Amsoil oil filter. Three different times, upon start-up, oil pressure was too great for the bypass, so it found another bypass: the gasket. Yes, the filters were on tight.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by Maleficio

The reason I made this thread is because of all the flack I got when I first bought the 928 1.5 years ago. I was hesitant then to run 20w50, and was reproached non-stop by seemingly everyone in the forum, and the other forum.

I am now sold on 20w50 for this car. Wish I'd switched a long time ago.

really? I thought a lot of guys run 20-50 I used too until after I rebuilt the motor and it never came off 5. My 951 is pretty much a summer only track car, that gets 20-50. As long as your in a warm climate it's okay.

[rjm65]

I've been using VR-1 20w50 and have been very pleased. According to the '79 manual, 20w50 works unless temps get lower than +5° F, in which case the recommended viscosity is 10w40.

I live in the same area in SoCal as MPDano, it is a mild climate. But temps can often get over 100°F in the summer time, and we frequently drive the car on trips through the desert where temps can get over 115°F.

[19psi]

So what exactly is the downside of 20W-50 that would cause someone to doubt that choice? According to the owner's manual, that's about the most logical choice for most of the US. 10W-40 might be better far north or in Canada.

I do find it odd that 10W-30 has such a limited range but they give "energy conserving" oil in the same viscosity a huge range. Actually I didn't even think energy conserving oil existed in 1982.

[waynestrutt]

Finally decided to go with 20W50.


I've used 20-50 wt oil since the late 50's in all my vehicles .Living in the great white north it gets very cold and sure the oil is thick but a block heater and /or a fully charged warm battery
will always get it started. I know I can thrash the engine and not get a failure. High oil pressure means no metal to metal contact in the bearings. Adding STP however blocks the small oil passage in wristpins that will result in seizing it and pistons rings may wear the bore oval and beyond reboring. Very hot 20-50 will always perform better than very hot 10-30 helping you to put hundreds of thousand miles on you car.

[Maleficio]

Originally Posted by 19psi

So what exactly is the downside of 20W-50 that would cause someone to doubt that choice? According to the owner's manual, that's about the most logical choice for most of the US. 10W-40 might be better far north or in Canada.

I do find it odd that 10W-30 has such a limited range but they give "energy conserving" oil in the same viscosity a huge range. Actually I didn't even think energy conserving oil existed in 1982.

I've run 10w40 for the last 1.5 years in the 928. Redline recommends 10w40 in place of 20w50, 10w30 in place of 10w40, etc. That was some fine oil! Expensive, though.

This VR-1 seems to be very good. Pulling away from stoplights is quick and fun, leaving everyone else behind without even trying. Before, on the lighter oil, getting started was more difficult. I suppose I have better ring sealing now.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by 19psi

So what exactly is the downside of 20W-50 that would cause someone to doubt that choice? According to the owner's manual, that's about the most logical choice for most of the US. 10W-40 might be better far north or in Canada.

I do find it odd that 10W-30 has such a limited range but they give "energy conserving" oil in the same viscosity a huge range. Actually I didn't even think energy conserving oil existed in 1982.

A common mis-perception is that viscosity it the most important thing protecting your motor when in actuality it is the FLOW. Bearings ride on a layers of oil that is completely Dependant on flow. Once the flow shuts off your motor is done, regardless of the viscosity. The drawbacks of 20-50 is lack of flow at start up and waste of energy. When cold it takes a long time for the oil to flow to the bearings, if it gets cold enough there's always the chance they will run dry waiting for it to get there. Which is why they say 90% of engine wear is at start up. It's when there's the least flow. The other drawback is that your car has to work harder to pump the heavier oil reducing power to the wheels and gas mileage. The 928 was designed with the heavier oils in mind so one shouldn't really doubt it. My wife CRV takes 5-20. It will easily go 200k miles because the oil pump has high flow. If I dumped 20-50 in it I doubt I would make it out of the driveway in the middle of winter. Always go with whats recommended

[harborman]

Like I mentioned before, even the Porsche manual has a chart on oil vs operating outside temp. Sure in Southern Cal where it hits 100 and rarely goes below 50 the heavier oils probably work fine. Here in the Mid-west it does not work, you have to adjust for winter temps. I have been using 15 w 40 but I don't drive the car in winter. I have seen it 24 below here and believe me if you had 20 w 50 and the car was outside, I doubt it would turn over.

[Dean_Fuller]

I only run 20-50 year round in my every day driver ( my only car). I live in the deep south though. This last change I also added RESTORE oil additive. I swear the motor idled much smoother right after start up.

I would be reluctant to run it in most other areas in the colder months.

[Maleficio]

Granted, it is a very thick oil, and it will slow down the engine, and is now harder to start. I can't just blip the starter in the morning and it light off first try now. I have to blip it twice.

Is the car running better than before? I'll just say it's getting closer to running how it's supposed to run.

[Dean_Fuller]

I know some will disagree ( oil additive to some are a no no ) but try some RESTORE...its formulated to help keep oil up in the higher areas and not settle in the pan. Although the label doesn't say I would think it has zinc in it as its been around awhile now. I've used it in other cars I've had with high miles and it really did help the engine smoothness.

Maleficio...where do you live?