Original Oil Weight

6882 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by reiver, Nov 30, 2021

XK4

Discussion Starter · Jan 29, 2018

Just a quick question. What weight of oil does Porsche use in car when delivered from the factory? I know it should be either 0W-40, 5W-40 or 5W-50, but I haven't been able to find what comes with the car. I'd look at the car, but mine won't be here 'till May.

Thanks

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

ZuffenHouseRules

· #2 · Jan 29, 2018

0W-40.

There was a thread on this a while back, some searching may find it.

XK4

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 29, 2018

ZuffenHouseRules said:
0W-40.

There was a thread on this a while back, some searching may find it.

I thought there might be, but my search didn't find it.

Thanks for the info.

kwikit356

· #4 · Mar 13, 2018

I'm brand new to this forum- and I don't even own a 718, with my only mid/rear engine Porsche a much-missed 987 Cayman R.

There is a fellow on the 991 forum over at Rennlist (LexVan) who has done a considerable amount of thinking about Porsche-approved oils and oil weights. While I think that all the sports cars come from the factory with Mobil 1 0w-40, LexVan has made a very good case for choosing Mobil 1 5w-50, except for cold weather use. At my first oil change on my '15 991.1 (somewhere around 800 miles, but I cannot recall exactly) I switched to 5w-50. Please note that I think Mobil 1 is the only 5w-50 oil that is on the Porsche-approved list, unless that has been changed with an update.

[email protected]

· #5 · Oct 31, 2020

My 2018 Cayman just got serviced up here in Washington State and they put in Mobil 1 5-40. I was using 0-40 for the first 20000 miles. I was a little surprised but this is a highly recommended shop that works on German cars only so I trust them on this.

gatorfast

· #6 · Oct 31, 2020

[email protected] said:
My 2018 Cayman just got serviced up here in Washington State and they put in Mobil 1 5-40. I was using 0-40 for the first 20000 miles. I was a little surprised but this is a highly recommended shop that works on German cars only so I trust them on this.

The Mobil 1 5w40 oil does not carry the Porsche approval (it is actually made for Mercedes). While it is very likely fine to use, why would they put in an oil that doesn’t carry the appropriate approval?

DriveInHouston

· #7 · Oct 31, 2020

gatorfast said:
The Mobil 1 5w40 oil does not carry the Porsche approval (it is actually made for Mercedes). While it is very likely fine to use, why would they put in an oil that doesn’t carry the appropriate approval?

Given the mileage, Raceready has a MY18 requiring a A40 spec, not a C40. From the Mobil site:

0W-40, 5W-40 and 5W-50 should be OK.

C40 is required for cars w. GPF, I doubt if any of them in the wild has 30k mi.

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gatorfast

· #8 · Oct 31, 2020

DriveInHouston said:
Given the mileage, Raceready has a MY18 requiring a A40 spec, not a C40. From the Mobil site:

View attachment 28711

0W-40, 5W-40 and 5W-50 should be OK.

C40 is required for cars w. GPF, I doubt if any of them in the wild has 30k mi.

Aside from a 5w40 specifically for Diesel engines, this is the only 5w40 I see on Mobil 1s site:

www.mobil.com

Mobil 1™ Formula M 5W-40| Mobil™

Discover how Mobil 1™ Formula M 5W-40 motor oil provides exceptional cleaning power, wear protection and outstanding overall performance for both diesel and gas automobiles, including those requiring and specific Mercedes-Benz approvals.

www.mobil.com

Have you actually seen this M1 5w40 with A40 approval? I know there are various other brands that have A40 5w40 oils, just haven’t seen one from M1.

DriveInHouston

· #9 · Nov 1, 2020 (Edited)

www.mobil.com

Porsche motor oil | Mobil 1™

Get the best Mobil 1™ motor oil for your Porsche to help keep your engine in excellent condition.

www.mobil.com

Specifically for 5W-40 spec A40

From

PdsDetailsPage

www.mobil.com

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gatorfast

· #10 · Nov 1, 2020

DriveInHouston said:
Porsche motor oil | Mobil 1™

Get the best Mobil 1™ motor oil for your Porsche to help keep your engine in excellent condition.

www.mobil.com

Specifically for 5W-40 spec A40

View attachment 28717

From

PdsDetailsPage

www.mobil.com

Interesting. Doesn’t appear to be offered here in the states (can’t find it anywhere on the Mobil 1 website) and the link you provided appears to be for the Chinese/Taiwanese market.

On the US site I only see two 5w40 grade M1 oils - the diesel spec and the Mercedes spec.

Reactions: 1

[email protected]

· #11 · Nov 1, 2020

gatorfast said:
The Mobil 1 5w40 oil does not carry the Porsche approval (it is actually made for Mercedes). While it is very likely fine to use, why would they put in an oil that doesn’t carry the appropriate approval?

Checked the owners manual and it recommends A-40 ,0-40,5-40 or 5-50. It must be the weather up here for them putting in 5-40.

gatorfast

· #12 · Nov 1, 2020

[email protected] said:
Checked the owners manual and it recommends A-40 ,0-40,5-40 or 5-50. It must be the weather up here for them putting in 5-40.

Right I was just saying I was not aware of mobile 1 making an A40 spec 5w40 oil. I know their 0w40 and 5w50 are A40 spec but not the 5w40.

DriveInHouston

· #13 · Nov 1, 2020

I looked into it too! As I showed above, the 5W-40 is described in the Taiwanese site to be specced for the Mercedes, VW and Porsche A40. I believe this is the 'M Formula' or 'European Car Formula' sold in the states. The first link I gave is a US site and talks about Porsche A40, Mercedes etc etc.

However, if you go to sales, the Porsche reference drops out of the picture! If you chase the 0W-40 formulation, you see the Mercedes alongside the Porsche spec. Strange!...

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, I would tell the mechanic not to do it again and use 0W-40 or else... I can see an indie servicing Mercedes, Porsche and exotics buying 5W-40 by the 55 gallon drum and using it indiscriminately, and I wouldn't bellyache too much. Just see whether they may have a 55 gallon drum of 0W-40...

But... I live in Houston!...

0W?

gatorfast

· #14 · Nov 1, 2020

DriveInHouston said:
I looked into it too! As I showed above, the 5W-40 is described in the Taiwanese site to be specced for the Mercedes, VW and Porsche A40. I believe this is the 'M Formula' or 'European Car Formula' sold in the states. The first link I gave is a US site and talks about Porsche A40, Mercedes etc etc.

However, if you go to sales, the Porsche reference drops out of the picture! If you chase the 0W-40 formulation, you see the Mercedes alongside the Porsche spec. Strange!...

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, I would tell the mechanic not to do it again and use 0W-40 or else... I can see an indie servicing Mercedes, Porsche and exotics buying 5W-40 by the 55 gallon drum and using it indiscriminately, and I wouldn't bellyache too much. Just see whether they may have a 55 gallon drum of 0W-40...

But... I live in Houston!... 0W?

Good find on the 5w40 A40 spec. Makes sense they don’t offer it here since it would just be redundant to the 0w40 offered which covers all the major German brands.

And I agree I wouldn’t worry too much about the 5w40 Mercedes spec, it is one of the best specs out there as far as I have read. But all things being equal, I would go with an A40 oil next time.

Reactions: 1

reiver

· #15 · Nov 30, 2021

Had this discussion with a very respected Porsche only Indy shop that has been around for 40 years. He rec. 0w-40 even in our Az heat....why I asked, the oil passages, he said, require a low viscosity base.

Reactions: 2

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