what should oil pressure reading be?

[timward]

First impressions of my new baby? the 968 (compared to my old 944 2.7) is a completely different beast. the ride is very much firmer, almost too firm, but the handling, Oh my goodness, the handling! acceleration is so much quicker that its almost a non-event - by the time I get to appreciate it, its time to slacken off or risk 3 points and a fine. The engine note is far more refined, and the feel is much more modern. It looks a million dollars and no one else in my neck of the woods seems to have one, so I'm very very happy

Okay so I'm still in the euphoria phase, but starting to enter the paranoid phase where I worry (probably unnecessarily) that all those litle niggly differences between the old car and the new represent faults. (since everything in the old car was sorted, it represents the benchmark)

A few tiny niggles - there's a raspy catch just at the end of starting so I think the starter motor cog may be catching. the new clutch has minimal travel before biting, causing the odd embarrasing stall. the boot release doesnt work on the key. the radio is a complete arse cos the instruction manual is missing and all the little labels have rubbed off with wear.

All minor

Two points of concern. One, the bulb illuminating the speedo has blown (though the rev is still lit up, so I presume its bulb not relay). Trivial enough, but I have a suspicion this is going to be a real pain to get at? But what Im really interested in is the oil pressure. When warm, the idle is at just over 2 bar, much less than my 944. Is this normal? still goes up to 4-5bar as soon as I'm in gear, and anything over 3000rpm its right up on 5bar. But is it usual to have such a low idling pressure?

comments gratefully received on any of the above....

 

[John H]

Oil pressures sound just fine. About 2 to 2.5 at idle and 4.5 to 5 at anything else seems to be the norm. The forum at 968UK did a survey, and this was what everyone reported, so you have nothing to worry about. Concensus is that 10/40 grade oil, a good semi synth, is best for these cars.

If the clutch is new, I understand they bed in after a little use, or it may need some fine adjustment. I'd run it for 1,000 miles first before you do anything, to see how it goes.

The boot relase issue may actually be that the hatch gas struts need replaced, as they are what supply the initial push to open the latch, although if the key isn't working, it is probably an electrical fault at the lock.

JH

 

[Sir Rocco]

Pleased to hear you like your new cab.[]

The key operation is electrical, been there, and had a temporary fix by cleaning micro switch. Did'nt last long but new micro switch proved lasting repair.

If your car has 17" wheel the ride will be poor, most advise 16" on cab. No doubt you have checked the tyre pressures, I run mine about 2psi below porsche recomended pressures, unless I'm going for a real blast. Never go over 70 of course.[]

 

[timward]

ORIGINAL: John H

Concensus is that 10/40 grade oil, a good semi synth, is best for these cars.
JH

an oil man at pistonheads recommended silkolene Pro S 5/40 for the 968. he had a long complicated explanation for why this was so, didnt understand it but it seemed plausible. the OPC used Esso Ultra which bears out what youre saying

despite the oft quoted factoid (mainly from Porsche) that the 968 was "80% new" compared to the 944, its funny how the same old problems I had in the 944 are apparent on the new one i.e tardy electric window motors that dont go to the top, boot release problems etc. Still, if the 968 proves to be as bombproof mechanically as the 944 was, I will have no complaints

 

[John H]

On all the car and bike forum I've been on, nothing generates more discussion (sadly more heat than light!) than the subject of oil.

I had a long e-mail discussion with someone at Mobil, as I wanted the definitive word on using Mobil 1 in my Harley, and I finally learned the basic truth, that modern thin oils work best in modern engines with narrow oilways. Older engines tend to have broader oilways, and work best with thicker oils (This paragraph is an attempt to precis months of debate!)

So, given that the bottom end of the 968 engine derives from the 2.5 944 block of eons ago, it rather predates the introduction of thin fully synth oil. More to the point perhaps, Barry Hart of Hartech (944 and 968 guru) had also looked into this in depth and concluded that 10/40 Castrol Magnatec was the best choice for the 968, so that's what is in mine. Nuff said []

The other 968 forums have got endless oil debates, if you need to fill a few long cold boring evenings [&:]

John H

 

[timward]

You are of course entirely right, this is one of those tedious questions where the average joe punter (i.e me) simply wants someone who knows best just to bl**dy well say what is right so we can all get on with our lives.

on the other hand, having spent the best part of 18months finding my 968, and in the sure knowledge that when it eventually gives up the ghost I will have not one comparable modern car to move on to that is a worthy successor and offers so much performance and daily practicality, I want to keep the little minx going forever if I can, and that mmeans looking after her

at the risk of being a completely retentive bore, would you object if I copied your comments to opieoilman on pistonheads to see what he says? Ive dealt with Hartech in the past and have no reason do doubt their total expertise. However, in searching for a definitive answer I now have 3 recopmmendations:
esso ultra (OPC)
silkolene Pro S 5/40 (opieoilman, pistonheads)
magnatec 10/40 (you and Hartech)

or perhaps they are all as good as each other.....?

 

[John H]

or perhaps they are all as good as each other.....?

I think you've just answered your own question []

Feel free to copy my opinions wherever you like. I think the truth is that we all secretly like obsessing over details like these, it's part of the whole ownership experience, but we probably all know that most decent oils these days are much of a muchness.

have fun though [8D]

John H

 

[944Turbo]

But hartech make money from rebuilding engines and most oil experts sell oil, its not easy is it?

My 1990 944 manual does mention a thin (5w40 possibly from memory) oil, but the thicker ones seem to stay in better.

Tony

 

[Mr968]

I think OPIEoilman is on 968uk and has already answered this question at great length and it would seem with some skill,
Which Oil Is Best