New to 996 - what am I missing about oil?

[REVerend]

I have had air cooled 911 for a while and recently picked up a low mile 996 for a daily driver. After doing a bunch of reading it seems like a lot of people talk about using 0W-40 and then other people saying it’s better to use 5W-40 or 5W-50.

And I get that oil is a whole huge rabbit hole to go down but when I look in my owners manual for temps higher than 50 F it specifies from 10W-40 to 15W-50. Even for cold weather the lightest it recommends is 5W-30…. So WTF are people using 0W-40? What am I missing?

For what it’s worth I live in the Deep South and we will be lucky if it gets below 75 for the next four months. Based on the owners manual it seems like I should be running 15W-50? Did I somehow misunderstand something?

My local Wal Mart has 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1 in 5W-40 and 15W-50… which one?

[rfuerst911sc]

Heat shear is a killer of motor oil . I have two water cooled Porsche's and would never run 0w40 . I have been running 5w40 for years and after I use up my stash I will move up to 50w . I am pretty sure I will go with 15w50 as that weight is " generally " shear stable . I am in north Georgia and drive mountain roads at a good pace . Oil temps really climb on a 90 + degree day .

Let's not forget that mother Porsche is now recommending 5w50 for 986/996 engines . I won't go down the rabbit hole of what brand of oil to use . I would suggest pick a brand and do a VOA . Then do a UOA after 3,000 miles . The data will tell you all you need to know about your brand of oil choice . Alter brands as needed and let the data be your guide .