What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
David Jones
Classifieds Moderator
Posts: 7323
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:32 pm
Tag: I wish I knew as much as I think I know.
Location: Kentucky

Re: Oil Recommendation for 356C

#106 Post by David Jones »

Shell Rotella Triple T 15W/40. Has 1200 ppm ZDDP and has what I think is the perfect viscosity range. I used to use Mobil ! synthetic but that was back when I was racing and used it in the race car as well. Now I only drive street 356's and not as much WOT so I think the Rotella is more than adequate. Takes about 1500 miles for it to go from honey colored to brown.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715

User avatar
Jim Alton
356 Fan
Posts: 1772
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Oil Recommendation for 356C

#107 Post by Jim Alton »

For Mobil 1 15W-50 Mobil quotes:

• Nominal Phosphorus Level, PPM = 1,200
• Nominal Zinc Level, PPM = 1,300

At https://mobiloil.com/~/media/amer/us/pv ... e-2016.pdf updated February 2016.

Personally, I'm a bit more concerned about the oil breaking down at high temperatures and killing my matching-numbers engine (which sometimes runs hot) than I am about ensuring my $ 40 valve lifters will last 200 years at 3,000 miles per year (or less).
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

Dan Epperly
356 Fan
Posts: 1139
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:35 pm

Re: Oil Recommendation for 356C

#108 Post by Dan Epperly »

O'Reillys or any FLAPS brand oil, it's the name brand stuff without the fancy packaging and a lower price. I use 30 wt but I live in So Cal. I put 25,000 miles on an unknown engine and tore it down to the case recently to do the top end and the cam is fine.

Wyatt Blankingship
356 Fan
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:40 am
Location: Metairie. Louisiana

Oil for 356C

#109 Post by Wyatt Blankingship »

I was finally able to locate some engine oil locally for my 356C. I am now
using Valvoline VR1 20W-50 Racing Oil. Auto Zone has it and also Advance Auto Parts. Label on container says "High Zinc". The Product Information sheet indicates that the Zinc/Phosphorus content is 0.14/0.13. How does this translate into parts per million?
Wyatt Blankingship

Wyatt Blankingship
356 Fan
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:40 am
Location: Metairie. Louisiana

Re: Oil for 356C

#110 Post by Wyatt Blankingship »

David,
Thanks for the info. on the PPM of the Valvoline VR1 Racing 20W-50 Racing Oil. Looks like it will be good oil for my engine. I do not intend to do any racing. Got my car up to 105 MPH in 1965 on the Sunshine Parkway in Fla. at 3:00am. Manual said it could do 110. Gust of wind hit me and I could not feel the steering wheel. Must have been airborne. I keep it under 70mph today. Wyatt B.
Wyatt Blankingship

User avatar
Derek Carpenter
356 Fan
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:41 pm
Location: Bedford, New Hampshire

Re: Oil for 356C

#111 Post by Derek Carpenter »

Not too highjack the thread, but I just now picked up a 5 gallon jug of the stuff (used to run it in my 930 Turbo) but what is the suggestion on filter? I ordered a two pack from Amazon that look to be solely paper ribbing on the outside, but I was just sold a Wicks filter that appears as a perforated metal canister. Is this ok to use? I also have a '64 356c original oil system.

Thanks!
Currently:
1964 Porsche 356C Ruby Red
1995 Porsche 993 Ocean Blue

Previous:
1979 Porsche 930
2006 Porsche Boxster S
1982 Porsche 911SC
1987 Porsche 944S
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo

Follow me on instagram: carpentercaptures

User avatar
David Jones
Classifieds Moderator
Posts: 7323
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:32 pm
Tag: I wish I knew as much as I think I know.
Location: Kentucky

Re: Oil for 356C

#112 Post by David Jones »

Wix are a very good choice of filter but as the stock 356 uses just a bypass filter system I doubt it make a lot of difference what brand of filter you use. The filters that use a composite enclosure are OK to use. Fram has a steel outer and they are by far the worst filters in my opinion I have ever used.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715

Wyatt Blankingship
356 Fan
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:40 am
Location: Metairie. Louisiana

Re: Oil for 356C

#113 Post by Wyatt Blankingship »

WIX is a good filter. O'Reilly should have them. P/N 51010. They come with a rubber gasket that does a good job sealing the filer cover head. Most other brands use a paper gasket. I have a list of 12 other brands. Let me know if you need any more choices.
Wyatt Blankingship

User avatar
Sonny Caudill
356 Fan
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:11 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Oil for 356C

#114 Post by Sonny Caudill »

I use the VR1 in our '60 356 and my '66 Corvette...I think it's a good choice for these. Our '60 has the original filter system on it too...I just change the oil fairly regularly to help keep any contaminates to a minimum. Have fun!
1960 356B

Dick Weiss
356 Fan
Posts: 4182
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am

Re: Oil for 356C

#115 Post by Dick Weiss »

I always use the open-pleated filter cartridge (Mahle OX-79 D)--never the metal shielded version w/the little scattered holes.
Stoddard has 'em.

Dick

Elizabeth Scheyder
356 Fan
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 12:47 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#116 Post by Elizabeth Scheyder »

We've used the new Porsche Classic Motor Oil (http://www.porsche.com/international/ac ... oroil-faq/) for the last year, and have been very pleased with it. The old girl (1965 356C) runs well, oil stays cleaner longer, gas mileage up about 5-10%, and it doesn't burn as quickly, so we don't go through it as fast. Oil pressure seems to be maintained at higher ambient/running temperatures.

It's pricey, but worth it to us.

YMMV (literally, in this case),
Elizabeth

Edwin Ek
356 Fan
Posts: 1898
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:16 am
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#117 Post by Edwin Ek »

Elizabeth,

That's an impressive list of benefits. What kind of oil were you using before?

Thanks,
Ed
#6386

robert e gwaltney
356 Fan
Posts: 130
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:40 am
Location: Powhatan, Virginia

Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#118 Post by robert e gwaltney »

just took my 62B to Lufteknic in Richmond and they did oil change using Liqui-Moly 15W-40 Touring High Tech Diesel, anyone used that if so thoughts yes or no? thanks, robb
Robb Gwaltney

71 911 T Coupe RS Outlaw, white
62 356B Coupe Silver Metallic
95 HD FLSTN
2018 Porsche Macan Sport Edition
1998 E36 M3 track car
2007 BMW 650i

Jeffrey Leeds
356 Fan
Posts: 1280
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:57 pm
Location: Northeastern MA

Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#119 Post by Jeffrey Leeds »

Just read this whole topic thread. There are 8 pages of thoughts on every oil you could think of, and some you never heard of.
< Jeff >

Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2

User avatar
Charles H Jacobus
356 Fan
Posts: 493
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:02 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#120 Post by Charles H Jacobus »

Anyone else use the new Porsche Classic 20W-50 oil?

I just sent a sample of new Porsche Classic 20W-50 oil into Blackstone Labs to get a baseline. We'll see what they say. I've used Blackstone on my other P cars for a long time and been very satisfied. My discussions with them personally were much more detailed than the cursory comments provided above.

ChuckJ
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C

Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90) :)

Post Reply