Just wanted to create a reference thread for anyone who might be looking for proper oil for the (2014) Panamera S e Hybrid.

The Panamera owners manual lists the all-conditions oil as 0W-40, however there is a supplemental manual for the Hybrid. And the spec is different than the rest of the lineup.

If you need to top-up, or you bring oil to your service shop, or DIY (shudder to think lol) then this is what you need:

5W-30 with either VW 504 00 or Porsche C30 Approval.

I've been scouring my local places, and can't find it. Online the prices are quite spendy for a liter or two.

Took a chance on the local VW dealer, and they had the right stuff... for a decent price. $9.19 per Liter. Castrol Edge Professional LL03 5W--30

Also meeting the spec and approvals are: Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30 & Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200 5W-30

There are likely other options and will also likely prove to be difficult to purchase in small lots.

 

Online motor oil tends to be bulk. Amazon carries Castrol Edge 5w30 Titanium Synthetic @ $52 / 6 quarts, which is $8.66 a quart. Fortunately, my local Pep Boys has it, and wants $10 / quart for single quarts.

I'll keep that in mind when my car shows up.

Oh, and the Cayman is on the dealer's lot, but not in our hands yet.

 

Hey Gus.

The oil you mention... Castrol Edge 5w30 Titanium... does not have the proper approvals. That's the GM/Ford/Honda formulation... in general terms.

You can find synthetic 5W-30 is any store up and down the block, but not one that meets the approvals called out in the PSeH manual. A good rule of thumb is that if it's in a quart bottle, it's not the right stuff. All the ones I listed in the first post are in liter bottles.

When you take delivery of your PSeH and bring it in for service, I think it is highly advisable to remind the SA of the unique engine oil requirement. As we've discussed, these dealer guys don't know much about the model. Not on the sale side, nor back in the shop. I really don't want the wrong fill in my car. I don't know if a dealer would even stock the proper oil stock.

 

Here are a few more options:

Motul Specific 504 00 5W-30
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic EURO L 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower XL-III 5W-30

These are all relatively obscure oil formulations... at least outside the diesel world.

 

Happy to report that my dealer used the correct oil for the 10K service.

It took one full week to get the work done, but I can forget about service for another year now.

Also asked them if there were any more software updates for the EVSE, was told I would have to bring it in to find out. FFS, that is not an efficient way to handle this.

I don't think Porsche wants to sell plug ins. I really don't

 

I think Porsche corporate is interested, but individual dealers - probably almost all individual dealers - don't care.

 

The most recent issue of Porsche's Christophorus magazine devotes 16 pages to the Panamera e-Hybrid, with photos of the car in various places in NYC. Given the amount of money they've spent on advertising, present and past, I think it's clear that Porsche corporate doesn't see it as a complaince car. Contrast it with Fiat or the Honda Accord plug-in, where it's clear the HQ is only reluctantly selling EVs and PHEVs.

The real problem is that they're not making any effort to educate the dealerships. I think they don't realize it's an issue.

 

Not to start an oil war --

I just purchased a 2015 E-Hybrid with 16K miles on the clock.

I own 5 other Porsches -- and owned many others -- I almost exclusively use
15W/50 -- either Mobil 1 for the street cars or Amsoil for track and race, as well as my
Cayenne Twin Turbo.

What is the reasoning for the special formulation? What am I looking for (high ZDDP?)?

thanks,

Mike

 

The engine of the PSeH is sourced from the Audi side of the family.
The supplemental insert in the owner's manual is very specific as to the spec. And the Porsche dealer has followed the guideline on each service.
Using a heavy weight oil in your other Porsches shouldn't have any bearing on what goes into the PSeH, IMO.