Engine oil for Porsche 996 Turbo 0w40 or 5w50

[bcnr33v]

Hi all.

I have a 2001 Porsche 996 turbo that has been running M1 0w40 since new. This is the factory full and have stuck with it.

I am now considering switching to 5w50. The car only does c. 1000 miles per year. It does c. 3 track days per year, so maybe 200-300 miles of that is track work

i live in Australia where the temperaturrais hot. Never below 40F overnight in winter and up to 110F in summer. Car is garaged so unlikely to ever see oil temperatures below 55F.

What does everyone think?

 

[zray1]

I think you will be fine with continuing the M-1 0w-40. My driving climate in NE Oklahoma is a little more extreme in both directions than yours, with winters down to 0 F and summer driving long distances with ambient air temperatures above 115-120 F not considered unusual at all.

I’m using the M-1 0w-40 year round in my supercharged 2002 Jaguar XKR. The car is my daily driver, and gets exercised at every opportunity. Many cross country trips , with 1,000 mile days not uncommon. Oil temperatures are generally 16-20 degrees F higher than the coolant temperatures. Occasionally I will see oil temps in the 210-230 F range. I’m averaging 15,000- 25,000 miles yearly, depending on how extensive the summer driving turns out to be. Total mileage on the car is 184,500. So far, very reliable.

 

[chris719]

I would probably use X2 5W-50 given it’s a Mezger and you track it in a hot climate. I’m not sure you can go too wrong though. If your oil temps are well controlled the 0W-40 should be fine.

 

[CleverUserName]

Rowe Hitech synth RS 0w40.

It has a HTHS that rivals a 5w50 at 4.0+ and is group IV/V.

 

[buster]

Here is a recent VOA of the SP formulation. Noack is 6.6%.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

M1 0w40 as it falls within the goldilocks HTHS range of over 3.5 but less than 4.0.

As long as your oil temps remain stable go with the thinnest possible for max HP!!!

 

[FranklinJL]

Can you get Motul products? Thier Sport 5w40 has a HTHS of 4. Its popular with older Porsches

 

[travis8352]

View attachment 184026
Here is a recent VOA of the SP formulation. Noack is 6.6%.

Impressive! Would love to know the SP 0w40

 

[bcnr33v]

Thanks for all of these tips. I think I will give the 5w50 a shot.

To be honest, I have zero idea about oil temps. I have no gauge. I would be surprised if they are not well controlled though. The mezger dry sump engines hold a lot of oil and coolant temps are rock solid. I did a track day in 110F heat and coolant never went above c. 195F.