20 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHEngine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Leading reported evidence
Check porsche oil is 0w-40 european formula
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
With Mobil 1 last time I checked the Porsche oil is 0W-40 European Formula.
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Check porsche oil is 0w-40 european formula' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check filter' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Run m1 0w-40
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I ran M1 0W-40 for one change and did not like the startup clatter.
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Check filter
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I like to keep a short leash on checking the filter for any metal shavings (none so far, thank God)
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace time
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Note that formulations change all the time, so oils previously having the Porsche A40 rating may no longer be approved.
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Use mobil 1 products completely not long
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
We also do not use any 0W-anything oils due to low film strength issues inherent to zero weight oils, regardless of the manufacturer, and stopped using Mobil 1 products completely not long after Exxon acquired them and started reformulating the line.
Engine Oil for 2001 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
20 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I can't believe that people are still getting this wrong.
I have been using Mobil 1 10/40 M Formula for my base 986, I live in the Central Valley of California, cold weather isn't a problem here. And no, I have not replaced the IMS and have had no signs of trouble on a car with 42K Miles.
Can I use 0/40 M Formula and not cause myself any additional risk?
Thanks
Not a problem, gets new blood every 3000 to 4000 miles. I like to keep a short leash on checking the filter for any metal shavings (none so far, thank God)
I also live in California and since it never gets below ~20 deg 0W-40 is not required. I ran M1 0W-40 for one change and did not like the startup clatter. 5W-40 or 10W-40 from now on.
With Mobil 1 last time I checked the Porsche oil is 0W-40 European Formula. "Formula M" in contrast describes oil meant for Mercedes diesels.
In any event, the oil should include "Meets Porsche A40" printed on the container.
In addition, there is zero advantage to 10W-40 versus 0W-40 in any conditions.
You might as well be saying, "Zero is a better number than Ten." unless you have facts to back it up or personal experience to quantify it. Not saying you are wrong, just that I see no basis for your statement.
Oh then try the inverse. Since I live where the temps I drive in are 50 to 100 deg f. there is zero advantage to running 0W anything. In fact my Owners manual states 5W-40, 10W-40 and 15W-40 are recommended.
However If you read Lubrizols ( major developers of Viscosity Modifiers)papers on the subject you will find that the 0W oils start with a 10 or less viscosity base stock, then through the use of long chain polymeric modifiers increase the viscosity to 30W 0r 40W. Since there is the potential that the molecular chains can be sheared and reduce the oil viscosity and since I drive in a lot of 90 degree temps, I choose to have a higher viscosity base stock to begin with.
I attempted to not start another oil war by saying the oil is not REQUIRED and only related my experience with 0W-40.
I'll add a few links for some reading.
A simple primer:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1327/viscosity-index-improvers
Link to Lubrizol
http://hddeo.com/ViscosityModifierPart2.html
There is certainly much info on the subject eg Bob's the Oil Guy. I don't profess to be the authority, I just don't follow the crowd. I do my own research and use my best judgement. YMMV
Okay, I think I am totally confused. I was curious because I was running Porsche spec'd 10/40W Mobil 1. Now Walmart is selling 0/40W Mobil 1 (Porsche spec'd) for a heck of a price (5 gal for $22.58, okay I'm a cheap bastardo always looking for a deal). My oil is changed every 3 to 4K miles. So with winter approaching (if you want to call it winter in California) I thought getting an oil that gets less thick as it cools, should I really be that concerned.
So, should I be a cheap bastardo under my particular circumstances ?
These are my opinions only! The oil commercials are somewhat misleading when they state 0 viscosity oil gets there quicker on startup. Let me throw this out there. The oil pump in your engine is a POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT gear pump, hence the need for an oil pressure relief valve. This means that for each revolution of the pump a precise volume is moved unless there is blockage, then the relief valve opens preventing overpressure and damage. This also means that any viscosity oil that can flow without the relief valve opening will arrive at the exact same time. Since we live in temps where the relief valve is not likely to open IMO 0W is not REQUIRED, If you wish to run it is also ok. Now if you live where you're starting your car @ 0 and below then it is required.
What you should really be thinking about is anoil's flim strength and a given product's ability to stand up to high temperature/high shear conditions without falling out of grade. Then the differences between a 0W and 10W-anything become much more obvious, regardless of the minimum ambient temperatures.
Depends upon what you want. We do not use any 0W-40 M1, and have not for many years now. The are much better oils available now that offer far superior engine protction. We also do not use any 0W-anything oils due to low film strength issues inherent to zero weight oils, regardless of the manufacturer, and stopped using Mobil 1 products completely not long after Exxon acquired them and started reformulating the line.
What you have blundered into is an area where there are strong opinions and even a few based on facts. There are forums devoted to the subject (
like this one
) and, even after hundreds of postings, still differing opinions.
There are folks whose experience inside the M96 engine exceeds 1,000 that don't use any Mobile product. There are tens of thousands of P-car owners who do. An oil developed with Porsche is mind is Joe Gibbs DT40. May be tough to get though depending on where you live.
I can't believe that people are still getting this wrong. The viscosity of an oil at operating temperature is always the higher number. The 5W or 0W is only the winter rating or viscosity as 0 degrees Celsius. Even youtube car "experts"
get this wrong
.
ALL oils are thicker when cold, though ideally they should be a consistent viscosity at any temperature.
This is true with conventional oil, but synthetic base oils are inherently multi-grade and don't need friction modifiers (
link to reference
)
Bottom line is look at the back of the bottle for the Porsche A40 spec. If it's there, you are good to go, otherwise use at your own risk. Note that formulations change all the time, so oils previously having the Porsche A40 rating may no longer be approved. For example, the Mobil1 15W50 oil which was Porsche A40 rated a couple months ago is no longer approved in favor of the new 5W50 oil. There are no 10W40 oils that are on the Porsche approved list.
Good to know, thanks.
Are there any particular brands you do suggest and weight? Like I said I have a 2001 Base with 43K miles and not replaced the IMS. I live in California and we have very mild winters (that is even a stretch, rarely hits freezing, and I actually rarely drive it in the winter, only on trips to the coast). Appreciate any help on this matter.
