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

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Neil Bardsley
356 Fan
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:21 am
Location: London

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

#226 Post by Neil Bardsley »

In the paddock at the Goodwood revival Motul has a free oil testing service and I chatted to them. They had some interesting things to say.

1). Don't idle your car to warm it up. Get in and drive. The rings aren't sealed/heated properly so petrol is coming past and wearing the oil. I've also, believe, that I've heard Cliff writing about not having a low idle because the CAM is getting enough oil.

2) store your car for longer periods with fresh oil. Someone asked this on here a while ago. He didn't explain that one

User avatar
Martin Benade
356 Fan
Posts: 12181
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

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

#227 Post by Martin Benade »

The cam lobes nearly dip into the oil if its full and I hear it’s pretty windy inside a crankcase so at least with stock valve springs personally I wouldn’t worry about idle speed lubrication. Storing with clean oil is good because dirty oil can have acidic stuff in it that can damage the bearings while it’s stored.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna

Jorge Avila
356 Fan
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:57 pm
Location: CA

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

#228 Post by Jorge Avila »

I suggest getting a full flow air filter from Precision Matters. It will keep the oil cleaner for a longer period and as a bonus, it will make you engine run cooler. Thanks Ron

Dave Erickson
356 Fan
Posts: 2189
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Monterey, CA

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

#229 Post by Dave Erickson »

I need to refill the ZF steering gear after removing, draining it and replacing the seals. Is this the preferred lubricant: MOBIL 1 Synthetic, SAE Grade : 75W-90

User avatar
Tom Wavrin
356 Fan
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:39 am
Location: Oregon

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

#230 Post by Tom Wavrin »

Check out Pennrite steering box lube. 16 oz. Lithium based and pourable, gel-like consistency. Appropriate for ZF boxes from what I've read. Restoration Supply Co in Escondido used to carry it.1-800-306-7008 Made in Australia.
Tom, Reg # 10576, Oregon
'62 1600S Karmann HT

Mike Horton
356 Fan
Posts: 1260
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:13 pm
Location: Texas Panhandle South Plains

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

#231 Post by Mike Horton »

Martin Benade wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:08 am The cam lobes nearly dip into the oil if its full and I hear it’s pretty windy inside a crankcase so at least with stock valve springs personally I wouldn’t worry about idle speed lubrication. Storing with clean oil is good because dirty oil can have acidic stuff in it that can damage the bearings while it’s stored.
... and dirty oil will 'sediment, or gravity " fall out, and leave the bad stuff on the case sump floor, and other remote, hard to find places...

Ron's Pre-mat sump screen billet cover, with its re-designed drain plug, actually creates the real low place, for a more complete oil drain, while oil is warm, brilliant !
Mike

Mike Horton
356 Fan
Posts: 1260
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:13 pm
Location: Texas Panhandle South Plains

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

#232 Post by Mike Horton »

Jorge A. Avila wrote: Sun Oct 10, 2021 12:03 pm I suggest getting a full flow air filter from Precision Matters. It will keep the oil cleaner for a longer period and as a bonus, it will make you engine run cooler. Thanks Ron
... and last longer, as they did in aviation piston engine maintenance, when that industry adopted the full glow filters, in the early 1960s, a period I experienced and worked through professionally, proving these "claims", ... which proved to be true, as it was in the automotive industry, about the same time frame.

This is one of the best upgrades for the 616 engine design, in my opinion, based on experience, history, and tech knowledge, and included one of Ron's Pre-Matt centered kits on my hybrid '62 S90, at overhaul, as I had a big can original Leistritz muffler, for which this unit was designed, his remote, for those who's exhaust systems lack mechanical clearance for the centered unit, and I retained the original by-pass filter, for its finer particulate filtering properties, the extra near qt. of oil capacity, and the by-pass filter can's extra surface area for air flow cooling...

If you care about the benefits of the full flow filters, do your own, independant thought research, as through time, this "science", has been long proven, and leaves an original top side engine appearance.

... just my $.02
Mike

User avatar
Mark Roth
356Talk Moderator
Posts: 1866
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 1994 11:54 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

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

#233 Post by Mark Roth »

The discussion of the pros and cons of full flow oil filters is here.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47766
Mark Roth
65 C Cab (Black/black)

User avatar
Dennis Vogel
356 Fan
Posts: 493
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:10 pm
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Contact:

Re: Dino vs synthetic oil question

#234 Post by Dennis Vogel »

David Jones wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:44 am Bill, use this chart to make your decision, You can rule out most of their oils based on ZDDP amounts. Choose one with more than 900 ppm. From all my research I would say 1200/1300 ppm is optimum.
I dug up this thread as I don't seem to be able to get PennGrade in NorCal anymore, and Sierra Madre isn't offering it for shipment either.

The link in David's post was no longer working. I think this Has Zinc Been Remove from Motor Oils FAQ topic includes a link to the current product chart including Zinc level.

Based on what's currently offered, and David's comments, it appears the Mobil 1 15W-50 with 1300 PPM Zinc level is the recommended Mobil 1 choice.
1960 356 S90 Sunroof Coupe
1970 914-6
2014 Carrera S

User avatar
Steve Proctor
356 Fan
Posts: 1318
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:15 am
Location: Spring Hill, TN

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

#235 Post by Steve Proctor »

Brad Penn fan and have never run a synthetic in a 356, but now considering the higher zinc Mobil 1 blends that come in higher viscosities. Anyone have an option as to whether they are less likely to leak? I recall that was a common rap on synthetics. Thanks,

STP
STP
Steve Proctor
Member Since 1977
VIN 84757

User avatar
Wes Bender
356 Fan
Posts: 4861
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:54 am
Location: Somewhere in the Gadsden Purchase, USA

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

#236 Post by Wes Bender »

PennGrade partial synthetic 20W50 is available on Amazon.

(Hi Steve! We still miss you out here....)
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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

#237 Post by David Jones »

Considering how relatively cheap synthetic is and the basic needs of even a high performance street 356 engine I believe Mobil 1 15/50 is more than adequate. As to the leak concerns that was eventually traced to non compatible additives in the early synthetic oils that caused a reaction in the material of the oil seals. That was addressed and I have not seen oil leaks from seals for a very long time. Paying $90 a gallon for a boutique oil that is unnecessary is a real waste. I think all the major brand 15/50 oils will have around the same amount of ZDDP because that viscosity range is intended mostly for diesel engine vehicles.
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
Martin Benade
356 Fan
Posts: 12181
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

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

#238 Post by Martin Benade »

What is a good break-in oil? I gather Mobil 1 is not recommended.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna

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

#239 Post by David Jones »

I use Shell Rotella 15/40 conventional. It has 1200 ppm of zinc which is enough for our engines. Less than $15 a gallon at Walmart. It is also good enough to use as an everyday oil for most street driven close to stock engines.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715

Kevin Wills
356 Fan
Posts: 501
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:04 am
Location: Northern Virginia

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

#240 Post by Kevin Wills »

"Driven" is another option for break-in oil. That is what I am going to use on the engine I am wrapping up. Was recommended by LN Engineering that I got P/C's from.

Post Reply