Engine Oil

Task 1: Lubricates

Forms a permanent lubricant film between the moving surfaces in the engine. Cylinders and pistons, in particular, must be adequately lubricated in order to prevent piston seizure. Lubrication provides protection against wear, thereby extending the engine's life, and reducing friction also saves fuel.

Task 2: Cleans

Keeps the engine clean. Special additives protect hot, moving engine parts from any contamination that may arise during the combustion process (or from use of biofuels such as biodiesel). The additives absorb impurities in the oil, preventing harmful deposits in the engine.

Task 3: Neutralizes

Neutralizes acids formed by combustion gases and unburnt fuel in the oil, thereby preventing corrosion – especially in the bearings.

Task 4: Cools

Dissipates heat. Oil cools many parts of the engine not reached by the coolant.

Types of engine oil

The differences explained

There are basically three different classes of engine oil, each with different properties. Mineral oils are the most widely-used base oils. They can be manufactured relatively easily and cheaply by distilling and refining crude oil. Semi-synthetic engine oils are considerably better quality, especially regarding their aging resistance and thermal properties. Their production is a complex process.

Synthetic oils are manufactured by chemical synthesis and can be given very specific quality-enhancing properties. Their optimum performance makes these oils particularly suitable for high-performance engines such as the engine in your Porsche.

Single or multi-grade?

Multi-grade oils are the engine oils commonly used today. They are based on low-viscosity base oils and mixed with special additives (e.g. polymers such as polyester and polyisobutylene), so that their viscosity is only slightly reduced at higher temperatures.

With temperature having little effect on their viscosity, multi-grade oils are better suited than single-grade oils to covering a wider temperature range. They can maintain an optimal supply of oil to the engine in both hot and cold conditions. This results in greater lubrication when starting the engine from cold, reduced strain on the starter motor at low temperatures, and adequate lubrication at higher ambient and engine temperatures.

SAE classes and their meaning

The numbers above the oil application range define its SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) class. For multi-grade oils, this covers two grades e.g. 0W-40. These specify the operating temperature range for which the oil is best suited. The number before the “W” (Winter) indicates how viscous the oil is at low temperatures: the lower the number, the better the oil’s fluidity. “0W” therefore denotes extremely low-viscosity oil, for use at low temperatures.

The second part of the viscosity grade (the number after the “W”) indicates how viscous the oil is at high temperatures: the higher the number, the thicker the oil film. 10 would therefore represent very low-viscosity oil which is specifically designed for cold regions. In extremely hot areas, even an oil classed as “60” can be used, as it is highly viscous in its normal state. In the 0W-40 example, “40” signifies average viscosity, which guarantees optimum performance even at high temperatures.

Porsche Classic Motoroil

The elixir of life for your classic car.

The experts at Porsche Classic developed these motoroils with the help of engineers at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach and a German oil supplier, formulating them especially for the requirements of flat engines in 356 and 911 models (including the type 996), all four-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines, such as those in the 924, 928, 944 and 968, as well as the Porsche Boxster type 986. During development, the oil was subject to extensive laboratory and field tests designed to check its running performance and lubrication properties. Porsche Classic Motoroil is available in four different variants: 20W-50, 10W-60, 10W-50 and 5W-50.

The engine is the heart of any Porsche. Even air-cooled flat engines pose specific challenges for lubricants. In short: Not every motoroil is suitable for the older flat engines. The process of developing a motoroil for classic air-cooled flat engines is therefore a balancing act between tradition and innovation: The oil must be as advanced as possible yet as traditional as necessary. Modern oils may be better from a technical perspective, but not always best suited to classic air-cooled flat engines.

Achieving the best lubricating and protective properties was a key consideration for the development of new motoroils for the water-cooled four-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines in Porsche transaxle models and the water-cooled six-cylinder engines in the 911 type 996 and the Porsche Boxster type 986. Given that not every classic car is used for everyday travel, these vehicles are often stationary for long periods and used only sporadically for short trips, making it more likely that engine components – particularly metals and sealing materials – may be damaged when they do interact. The special formulation of Porsche Classic Motoroils offers your classic car the ideal level of protection, even when the vehicle is not used for long periods.

Mobil 1 – The engine oil for your Porsche

The elixir of life for your classic car.

Throughout our motorsport history, we’ve tested a great many engine oils on the race track. That’s how we know Mobil 1 is the optimum oil for Porsche engines, on the track and on the road. As Porsche’s global oil co-operation partner, Mobil 1 provides the oil for our racing engines and our standard models. All Porsche vehicles are now filled with Mobil 1 high-performance engine oil in the factory. Our partnership guarantees you maximum performance and a high-octane driving experience.