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

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

#196 Post by Paul Fragoso »

How about the Porsche motor oil made specifically for the 356?? Porsche claims they have the right formula to be used in these old cars.

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

#197 Post by David Jones »

Paul, read previous replies in this thread.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
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Graeme Langford
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#198 Post by Graeme Langford »

David Jones wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:18 pm Graeme, I have not tried it but I am sure it will perform well. I cannot see any reason to try it though when there are other choices just as good that can be bought anywhere for less cost. Because it has the Porsche name on it does not mean it is better. When Porsche refines and blends its own oil I may try it.
much appreciated David. Having been serviced as part of the purchase agreement this is the engine oil they used.
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Neil Bardsley
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#199 Post by Neil Bardsley »

Can I recommend to everyone a good book "Which Oil" written by Richard Mitchell a 912 owner from Down Under. It directly addresses many oil internet myths with data. Some mentioned on this thread. Even if you just skip to the section where Richard recommends an oil for his 616 engine and the commonly asked questions section you will benefit. I will not put the conclusions in here as the book is only about £10 and if someone how taken the time to write a book then it's up to them if they wish to summarise it.

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

#200 Post by Conrad Carter »

Porsche Classic oil for air-cooled Porsches is 20W50. Can we assume that engineers set that spec instead of marketing dept (for what sells)?
Conrad

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

#201 Post by David Jones »

I am sure the engineers would have set that spec but it is also very likely that it is just Mobil 1 repackaged just for Porsche to sell. Somehow I doubt Porsche has the capability of manufacturing their own oil. Shell Rotella is as good as it gets for a conventional oil and Mobil 1 15/50 is in my opinion overkill for a 356 engine but it is what I use just because after using it racing and on the street and seeing the wear results I know it works and the cost differential between it and Rotella is insignificant any more.
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Jeffrey Leeds
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#202 Post by Jeffrey Leeds »

Conrad Carter wrote: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:24 pm Porsche Classic oil for air-cooled Porsches is 20W50. Can we assume that engineers set that spec instead of marketing dept (for what sells)?
Conrad
I use this "air-cooled clue" as Porsche's imprimatur for the 356 engine. My choice (after Kendal GT1 morphed to Brad-Penn) has been Mobil 1 V Power 20W-50 which touches most of our criteria: "four-cycle, air-cooled, V-Twin type engines" I figure a lazy V is likely flat and a "Twin" is half-way to a four. Available off the shelf at most Walmart's so it's easy to find on road trips.
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#203 Post by Ashley James »

I use Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil 10W60 on the basis that it’s designed for old or racing engines, which both are more stressed than moderns and because fully synthetic oils are quite a lot better than old fashioned oil.

I realise that I may never see a difference, but I feel happier with it.

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

#204 Post by Martin Benade »

I thought I’d heard that Walmart had the V power oil in five quart jugs for a good price. I only see quarts at about $9.50 each. Is that as good as it gets? All the modern car Mobil 1 they sell is half that cost.
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#205 Post by Max Handley »

I’m using Gibbs HR3 15/50 , Gibbs-01606-HR-3-15W-50 full synthetic
With high levels of ZDDP to protect your engine, Joe Gibbs driven hot rod oil delivers the chemistry that classic cars, muscle cars and historic racers need.
 Contact email Spyderwerks@comcast.net

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

#206 Post by David Jones »

Max, I thought Porsche classic motor oil was a bit on the expensive side but Joe Gibbs has it beaten to a shadow. Do they come to your house and do the oil change for you? When I consider how relatively reliable the 356 was back in it's heyday running on conventional oil and leaded gas I am amazed that anyone feels the need to spend more than $25 for enough of a top quality synthetic oil to do an oil change. For me the reality was that Shell Rotella was as good as was needed for a long time but the difference in price is somewhat insignificant so I use Mobil 1 15/50 and change the oil between 3K and 5K miles which is probably overkill. My 97 boxster gets it's mobil 1 changed between 10K and 15K miles though Porsche seemed to think 15K was frequent enough.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
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Kim Thorpe
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#207 Post by Kim Thorpe »

Callas Rennsport has serviced my '60 B (T-5) for the past ~ 30 years. They use Driven (Joe Gibbs) HR-1 15w-50 (high Zinc) racing oil. Surprised I am not seeing this anywhere here? Thoughts?

Thanks!

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

#208 Post by Jeffrey Leeds »

Martin Benade wrote: Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:28 pm I thought I’d heard that Walmart had the V power oil in five quart jugs for a good price. I only see quarts at about $9.50 each. Is that as good as it gets? All the modern car Mobil 1 they sell is half that cost.
Hi Martin, I’ve been using this oil for more than seven years, always purchased at Walmart, but don’t ever recall seeing the big jugs at Walmart. I’ve never looked, but it may be available on Amazon. I do like the fact that I can always find the quarts at Walmart, which is very convenient on road trips, such as the biannual drive to Helen, GA.
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Martin Benade
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#209 Post by Martin Benade »

Is around $9.50 the right price for this oil? I generally refuse to shop at Walmart but I could make an exception.
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Jeffrey Leeds
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Re: What kind of oil should I use / what is the "best" oil?

#210 Post by Jeffrey Leeds »

Yes. I looked on Amazon after posting my previous response, and they have it for more than that price!
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