Porsche Cars North America, Inc. is launching its own engine oil for air-cooled flat-four and flat-six Porsche engines: Porsche Classic Motor Oil. In collaboration with the Porsche Development Center in Weissach, Germany, the new engine oil has been developed by the Porsche Classic engineers to meet the lubrication requirements of all Porsche air-cooled engines.

Porsche Classic Motor Oil comes in two different viscosity grades:
20W-50 for all 356, 914, and 911 models up to the 2.7-liter G-model
10W-60 for flat-six engines of 3.0 liters and larger.

The sports car manufacturer made the transition to liquid-cooled engines in the 911 model line in 1998.

Although modern oils are better from a technical point of view, this is not the case when it comes to classic air-cooled flat engines. For example, the low viscosity of a 0W-30 oil means optimum cold-start behaviour, low engine resistance and other benefits in modern engines. In a 356, however, an oil of this kind can result in leaks and increased oil consumption due to the engine's higher production tolerances and lower oil pressure during operation.

Modern oils also use highly efficient detergent/dispersant agents to thoroughly clean the engine and reliably remove dirt, which can be too much of a good thing for a classic Porsche engine. It is true that additional deposits should be prevented and oil-soluble contaminants such as soot, water and dust kept suspended until they are drained off through the oil filter or removed during the next oil change, but at the same time it is important that the deposits which have built up over decades are not suddenly dissolved and that seals are not corroded.

Since not every classic Porsche is in everyday use, the engine oil also had to meet other demands: classic vehicles are often left stationary for long periods of time and only moved intermittently and for short journeys, which means that condensation can form in the oil if the engine does not heat up fully. Aggressive combustion residues can cause acidification of the oil fill, resulting in the corrosion of engine components. The alloys, metals and sealing materials which were used at the time are at particular risk. Porsche therefore paid particular attention to this aspect when developing its Porsche Classic Motor Oil. The company stated that a special formulation incorporates a high alkaline reserve, which neutralizes any acids that may form. Additional corrosion inhibitors also protect vulnerable components, even during longer stationary periods.

Porsche Classic Motor Oil is available now exclusively through authorized Porsche dealers.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, including the Macan and Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera sports sedan. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 270 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 189 dealers.