2001 996 for reference.

Has anyone ever replaced their oil with 5W-30 Mobil1 Synthetic Oil?

What are the cons by using this viscosity instead of factory recommendation

 

The factory fill is 0W-40 mobil 1 , why would you want to change to 5W-30?

 

0w40 (thick oil) Pros:
1)Porsche approved - peace of mind
2)Better film strength, less wear in high temp high pressure situations
3)Meets ACEA A3 standard
4)Higher idle oil pressure
5)Lower oil consumption

5w30 (thin oil) Pros
1)Better gas mileage
2)Quicker flow at startup= less wear?
3)More readily available (Walmart is dropping 0w40)
4)New Mobil 1 "Extended Protection" version available with higer additive levels
5)New version of 0w40 (new bottle) apparently has LESS additives to meet the new US "SM" requirements
6)Higher oil flow rate of thinner oil may cool better

EDIT: Some of the new Mobil oils are using Antimony based additives. This may be why the new Mobil 1 0w40 appears to have less antiwear additives. The oil analysis I saw did not test for Antimony.

 

Viscosity at various temps. GC= German castrol. Note that even though 0w40 has a lower cold temp rating, vs the 5w30, it's thicker at all temps down to -20C.

 

so if its thicker how can it be better at lower temperatuers than the 5w30?

 

My point was that I always thought that a 0wX oil was thinner at low temps than a 5wX oil. This is not the case, except at very low temperatures.

 

The 5W-30 is more readily available and it is a thinner oil viscosity.

I know local store carry 0W40 but wanted to know if anyone ever used this grade.

I don’t drive my 996 in the winter so the concern of low temperature statistics wouldn’t apply.

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/Mo...s/Mobil_1.aspx

 

I wouldn't go lower than 40W on the high side. Get a 10W -40W or 15W - 40W. If I didn't have a blower I my car, trhere would be no way I would run a 0W - 40W. I would be back to 10W or 15W - 40W.

 

The owner's manual gives several choices for oil viscosities. I'm not sure if 5w30 is in there.

 

A Technical Service Bulletin dated 2/2004 says to use any synthetic ACEA A3 rated, 0w40, 5w40, or 5w50 oil. Below -12F temp use 0w40.

 

Remember that the - 12 degrees F you refer to is the temperature that your car is at sitting in cold. It references the starting temperature of where the car is at startup. If you always start you car from cold in your garage, the engine will never reach these temps.

 

true.. cold starts require thin oil but the flat-6 runs hotter than other engines hence the recommendations for the W40 rating...

 

I use 5w-50.
You modified guys should be on 5w-60.

http://www.ows.com.au/products_lubricants.html#5w50

might as well use the best.

 

And just why would us "modified guys" need use a thicker oil on our water cooled engine?

 

Well.. I have to agree that SC motors need the best.... I mean mobil 1 is superb but if your running that kind of horsepower I hear MOTUL is the best around... has great heat absorption properties... better than Mobil 1 synthetic for just a bit more.

The SC guys here in Toronto swear by MOTUL.

just an observation.