Being a Porsche Specialist we know that using a good oil makes a big difference to how well your engine is maintained.

Ultimately the engine oils job is to reduce friction when engine components are moving. In particular the cylinders and pistons to avoid the so called ‘piston seizure’. It also helps to reduce fuel use.

It also helps keep the engine clean. Special additives protect hot, moving parts from contamination that may arise during the combustion process. These additives absorb impurities in the oil preventing harmful deposits building up in the engine.

They also neutralise acids preventing corrosion, especially prevalent in the bearings.

Finally good quality oil helps to dissipate heat from the engine not reached by the coolant.

The better the quality of the oil the better your engine will perform and less likely to suffer from mechanical faults mentioned above.

The two key pieces of information are the SAE viscosity rating and the API/ACEA code. As long these two are being satisfied then yes, you could buy a cheaper oil.... but why would you?

You have invested in a beautiful sports machine, designed to go fast and pushed hard. Spend the extra 20-50% on your oil to ensure you are putting the best in your machine.

We recommend Castrol or Mobil as they are made of better compounds, last longer and allow your engine to operate more efficiently. (If you press on either of these good oil brands you will be taken to their oil selector page working out which oil is best for your vehicle.)

Steer clear of Quantum and Comma and supermarket own brands.

Take Castrol GTX SAE 20W50 as an example, which simply meant that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) classified it as a ‘20’ thickness in the winter when it was cold (yes, ‘W’ stands for winter) and a ‘50’ thickness in the summer when it was hot. Being a Porsche specialist we will always ensure that we recommend and use the best.

This is important because oil needs to be thin enough to allow the engine to start when the oil is heavy and treacle-like in the depths of winter, while remaining thick enough to lubricate the engine properly when it is very hot after running for hours in a traffic jam at the height of summer.

Modern engines run much closer tolerances than older engines so need thinner oil. So whereas a 20W50 was common back in the 1960s and 1970s, you are now more likely to need a 0W30, or a 5W40. As ever, check your car’s handbook for details.