Motor oil facts and real data.

Here are some articles I've found helpful in dispelling some of the myths on motor oils. There are few opinions here. Well written and informative. http://63.240.161.99/motoroil/

Thx - excellent write up!

Yes, thanks. It's a very informative write-up. It seems there's a reason at Porsche went to 0W-40 motor oil. Perhaps the startup process is a lot more catabolic than many of us theorized. In particular, this link from the web site suggested above is very relevant to recent discussion and definitely explains why I am going back to 0W-40 this winter and sticking with it from then on.

This info would seem to contradict those who think that a heavier oil should be used to maintain good oil pressure.

Thanks for the link. Very insightful. I'm pretty sure that my 996 is generating well over 4.5 bar at redline at the track which would also indicate that 0W-40 is more than adequate for that usage.

As a research scientist I have to throw my $.02 in as more of an a priori defense of this information. There will be soon enough people that chime in about how 15W-50 is better than 0W-40 and you risk this and that if you use the "water" of 0W-40 a the rec'd of the almighty advertising machine. They will also tell you that the manual USED to state at the rec'd of PAG/PCNA to use the 15W-50. Here is where ignorance to one key word puts them down the path of 15W-50......EMPIRICISM. For me, I will take the empirical evidence that has been documented regarding 0W-40 and continue to use that for my choice fill. Only when I ran track days back in Vegas in 110-120 degree heat did I use 50 weight oil to protect form the higher temps. Other than that, 0W-40 is a great oil for 99% of all P-Car owner running the M96 engines.

EMPIRICISM? Yea...whatever he said

Sorry, I should have defined it. Epiricism is a basic tenet of scientific research that states the research is based on OBJECTIVE observation. Further, anything (for example oil research) propsed like the 0w-40 is better now for the M96 than 15W-50 should be supported with empirical evidence (and it is). When research is backed by empirical research the credibility is strengthened. One word of caution though. There may be research in the near future that shows that 0W-40 was a not so good choice (or rather something better exists). However, this needs to be supported with empirical data as we have right now supporting 0W-40.

And there you go. I thought the Empericals died off around 4 B.C. That shows what I know But I do use 0W-40.

I would like to point out that I never mentioned anything,positve or negative, about the choice of viscosity in this particular post...I'm just the messenger! Porsches recommended oil is based on the best info and analysis they currently have...That is why you will see periodic TSB's which will supersede previous recommendations. A manual is printed at a static time and cannot possibly be expected to be current as technology and chemistry advances.

It's interesting to see a similar 'discussion' opening up on the Land Rover Discovery forum - same sets of ideas being discussed, same mis-understandings, same assumptions - I posted the above link and it certainly gave everyone pause for thought. Amazingly there are also a whole group there that won't even admit that synthetic is better than mineral oil!

I read the entire thing...and it would seem that 0W-30 would be preferrable to 0W-40??? based on the oil that thickens up overnight the least is the best.

Hi, pecivil - fortunately, Porsche have their own oil quality standards for Approval and official Listing. A cornerstone of this is their minimum HTHS viscosity of 3.6cSt. Currently no ?w-30 lubricant is Listed as they do not meet this requirement Regards

Good info. No commentary yet from the board oil expert?

thanks Doug, that would not have been a good mistake to make. I am paranoid enough with the 3.4 going into my Boxster after reading the 996 forum. Hopefully my engine, being a 2001, will be ok. **Gulp**

I'm warming up the Popcorn machine!

I apologize in advance for the oncoming debate...I guess i had a momentary lapse of reason and needed some excitement.....

After this 'pay per view' is done, can we do the 'why Mac is better than PC' one next?

OIL?? Is there any in my P??? Have never seen it...I guess that is a good thing....bring it to the shop and they do "something" to it....give it back to me, when I pay them about 200 bucks....and they call it an OILCHANGE.....the whole viscocity thing goes over my head....and I am glad that there is something in this world I do not understand.....it would be different I guess when I would have the guts to take my "baby" out to the track.....because that is where it really counts. I guess that now that I stated the above I am officially a poser...cruising with my 99 c2 TIP!!?!!? ..top down, having my 99 converted to a 02 with a front and rear turbo bumper...louder exhaust...and cheaply lowered it with H&R springs..... About MAC versus PC.........I am all for MAC....never have to figure out how it works..it just does...I also got a PC and turn it on about 4 days a year to do my taxes...man that PC is a royal Pain in the rear!!!

I believe there are a few xw-30 oils that have a HTHS of 3.6, such as Castrol 0w-30, and Redline 5w30.

Dr. Haas is VERY pro thin oil.