Engine Oils : What rating? Which brand? For which Engine?

Bjorn · Post by **Bjorn** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 6:32 pm

An old favourite, which do you use and why?

MGTurbo · Post by **MGTurbo** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 9:56 pm

Always use full synthetic, because my engine is an older design and now above 100k i make sure it's at least a 50 weight, have been using Mobil One 15w 50, now trying out Castrol Syntec 5w 50 (special import), cant really tell the difference but a good quality oil none the less.

Gareth

metro_mike · Post by **metro_mike** » Fri Apr 11, 2003 9:09 am

run all my cars on valvoline 10/40
seems to suit the k series quite nicely

keeps me running smooth, an doesnt break the bank to much

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Apr 11, 2003 1:34 pm

have been using millers cfs 10w 60 for some time now along with castrol rs 10w 60, wouldn't use anything different

Si · Post by Si » Fri Apr 11, 2003 4:35 pm

chris wrote:have been using millers cfs 10w 60 for some time now along with castrol rs 10w 60, wouldn't use anything different

10/60 seems the best to me aswell.

Andy uses in his Maestro too. He kept blowing crank bearings as 10/40 was getting too thin.

Only problem is getting hold of the stuff

Si

Raistlin · Post by **Raistlin** » Fri Apr 11, 2003 5:31 pm

Only problem is getting hold of the stuff

Good point Si, where DO you get Millers from?

Can't seem to find it locally (Wolverhampton)

Grant620 · Post by **Grant620** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 10:19 pm

Millers - Think I can get it fairly cheap, but I believe 200+ members get a discount?

I use 10W40 Magnatec, as I've had great results.
Interesting that the 10W40 was blowing out crank seals...
Does that mean it was damaging them, or just blowing by?

Neill · Post by **Neill** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:32 pm

I can get millers now from a shop 5 miles away from me. Currently running 5W-50 in mine after the H/G change and full oil flush. Seems to run really smooth and doesn't tap in the slightest even when cold.

My millers cost me Â£24.75 for 5 litres.

Neill

Chris220SDi · Post by **Chris220SDi** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:34 pm

I use Castrol GTD Magnatec (10w40) on my little L series, works a treat, I tend to do an oil change about every 5k rather than the specified 6k, and you can tell as soon as you change it, the engine is much smoother.

From a noise perspective too, you all know how noisey a diesel engine is, and imp the L series is one of the quietist even compared to the modern VAG common rail ones (lets forget BMW and Merc for the moment tho - different league), and after 5k, it only gets slightly noisier, but its stil quieter than next doors Passat TDi.

Me likes Castrol and I'm sure if I was a petrol user I'd be just as happy

wheelerch · Post by **wheelerch** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 2:13 pm

I use the cheap stuff from the local car parts place - Â£6.99 for 5 litres of 10/40, cant complain... I've tryed GTX magnatec etc and it dosent seem that much better...

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 3:41 pm

wheelerch wrote:I use the cheap stuff from the local car parts place - Â£6.99 for 5 litres of 10/40, cant complain... I've tryed GTX magnatec etc and it dosent seem that much better...

Do you have a perspex engine

Only joking mate, but seriously how would you know Magantec is not much better without stripping the engine down after a years worth of driving?

SCOOTERMAN · Post by **SCOOTERMAN** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:05 pm

Any API-SJ rated 10w/40 semi-synthetic does me - currently running local petrol station's stuff (Total Quartz IIRC). It's cheap, and the engine hasn't melted yet so it must be working...

wheelerch · Post by **wheelerch** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:11 pm

Gary - Fair comment, I wouldnt have a clue about what its doing to the internals of the engine, I was just saying I dont notice a difference whilst driving the car, and I dont plan to keep the car for years and years anyway as its only a '92 plate 214...

Chris220SDi · Post by **Chris220SDi** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 8:01 pm

Gary wrote:
wheelerch wrote:I use the cheap stuff from the local car parts place - Â£6.99 for 5 litres of 10/40, cant complain... I've tryed GTX magnatec etc and it dosent seem that much better...

Do you have a perspex engine

Only joking mate, but seriously how would you know Magantec is not much better without stripping the engine down after a years worth of driving?

I suppose you could flush the engine and some how weigh the amount of worn metal fragments in the oil

Nah, but Gary as a good point and tbh I feel safer with magnatec, especially as the one I use is fully synthetic.

Post by **MarkCoupe** » Wed May 14, 2003 8:46 am

What do you guys thinks best for a 220 nasp,at the mo i change the oil every 2 months (is that ok?) and use magnatec 15w /40 or 10w/40

MGTurbo · Post by **MGTurbo** » Wed May 14, 2003 9:42 am

10w 40, your engine is low mileage and in good health, a thicker oil will only increase friction.

Gareth

Damian_Bailey · Post by **Damian_Bailey** » Wed May 28, 2003 11:20 pm

I have a 1.4 16v MPI K-Series. The engine loves to rev and I'm happy to oblige all the way to the redline.

The best I've found so far is Castrol RS fully synthetic 10w40 - keeps it nice and smooth even at the top end of the scale. Gives me peace of mind too.

I always use engine flush and change at least every 6 months or when I notice the oil getting dirty.

P.S. I always keep it under 3,000 revs untils it's warmed up. Bit of a pain as it limits me to 60mph.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Wed May 28, 2003 11:33 pm

I use Vauxhalls own 10/40 semi synth and change it every 3000 miles, it meets or exceeds most specs and I can get it nice and cheap

No probs so far - and the engine has come apart a couple of times to be checked out and headgaskets replaced

- after the last one I checked the bottom end to renew bearings if there waany sign of wear - but there wasnt

Looks like new in there despite boost hitting 19psi on quite a few occasions!

Mark

Ross9 · Post by **Ross9** » Thu May 29, 2003 7:34 pm

Turbo is due its first oil change, I take it 10/40 seems to be the way to go then? Sure I've seen the Vaux stuff going in the Pulsars at my m8's garage actually.

Got RaceWars track day in just over a week so looking to get it all serviced for then.

andy_notts · Post by **andy_notts** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:43 am

i use 10w 40 magnatec in my 620 turbo,no prolems yet,,my car has only covered 40k

rover400turbo · Post by **rover400turbo** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 10:27 am

10/60W oil is a 'high stress' oil, it will ensure the bearings last as long as possible, but as was said it is over kill on a non-turbo'ed car and 'normal' boost.

Also it is very expensive and being that bit thicker when cold, it requires more changes to help small oil ways from clocking up.

Demon Tweeks can supply, but about Â£40 a gallon !!

I found that the K series has excessive tappet noise on cold start up, using Magetex 10/40W solved that one.

Grant620 · Post by **Grant620** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 11:26 pm

I've used 10w40 Magnatec in mine for a long time now - it is the DBs

Ross9 · Post by **Ross9** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 7:33 pm

Used Valvoline (Max life?? ) stuff 10w/40 for my oil change at the weekend, did wonders, used to sound almost diesel like on a cold start up, much quieter now. Apparently worked wonders on FTO's with tappet noise as well, so we used it. Along with all the other mini-service stuff the car feels noticably better, should have done this the week I bought the car really. Witnesses say the small puffs on flat out change ups arent as prominent now either, turbo air seals leaking a bit no doubt. That said, I have no idea what oil was in it to start with. The fact the oil filter it had on wasnt the fatter one for the Turbo wasn't a good sign though I guess, lol.

So, I reckon I'll be using the valvoline for a while by the look of it. As was said 10w/40 should be fien for a low(ish) mileage engine (57,000) and only 12-13Psi boost, I hope, lol.

WayneH · Post by **WayneH** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:42 pm

Does anyone use Mobil 1 0W 40? - I have had this recommended to me.

rover400turbo · Post by **rover400turbo** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:44 pm

I used to use Mobil 1 Motorsport, never had a problem.

Just loud tappets on start up.

For the same price i can get 10/60W, so noe using that.

Nom620TI · Post by **Nom620TI** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:51 pm

WayneH wrote:Does anyone use Mobil 1 0W 40? - I have had this recommended to me.

It's very thin - not really recommended.

WayneH · Post by **WayneH** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:58 pm

I have heard a few people say that you should only use fully synthetic oils with turbo engines. Does this not apply with the T series then?

BTW - I am using GTX Magnatec 10W 40 at the moment.

Wayne

Nom620TI · Post by **Nom620TI** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:10 pm

WayneH wrote:I have heard a few people say that you should only use fully synthetic oils with turbo engines. Does this not apply with the T series then?

By all means, use a fully synthetic if you don't mind paying the extra for it. But Mobil 1 0/40 is too thin.

WayneH wrote:BTW - I am using GTX Magnatec 10W 40 at the moment.

My local garage changes my oil with 10/40 SemiSynth (Or Mineral if I pay less, or Fully-Synth if I pay more

) - can't remember what brand. I keep a bottle of 10/40 Magnatec in the garage for topping-up, but my TI's not used a single drop in the 8 months I've owned it

WayneH · Post by **WayneH** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:12 pm

What is the best fully synthetic to use in a T series turbo then?

Nom620TI · Post by **Nom620TI** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:20 pm

WayneH wrote:What is the best fully synthetic to use in a T series turbo then?

IMO, it's not worth the extra cash. SemiSynth is plenty good enough - stick to your current Magnatec.

xr4x4 · Post by **xr4x4** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 12:20 am

Why is mobil 1 too thin?

Surely the 0 means that it doesnt change it viscosity when cold.

I.E ideal for cold starts.

Or am i talking shite..?

Paul,

Nom620TI · Post by **Nom620TI** » Sat Jun 21, 2003 11:48 am

xr4x4 wrote:Why is mobil 1 too thin?
Surely the 0 means that it doesnt change it viscosity when cold.
I.E ideal for cold starts.

Yes, but it also means it's just as thin when cold, as when hot. On anything other than a brand new engine, you can sometimes find that it slowly seeps through various seals and stuff, when you leave it overnight. You don't have this problem with a 10/40 because it thickens slightly when it cools down. Basically, the 0/40 is thin enough when cold, that it can get to places it shouldn't. IIRC, this is something to do with the effectiveness of the cold seals - don't they seal better as they warm up ?
The more worn your engine is, the bigger the problem. If you get a 100,000 mile engine, that's been run on 10/40 all it's life, and then suddenly you switch it to 0/40, you're likely to have oil running out eveywhere

Hopefully someone else can post a more detailed explanation - it's ages since I've read about this stuff :lol:

Studio Kid · Post by **Studio Kid** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:03 am

hi all
i use the old 10/40 magnatec.
not had many problem with the engine untill recently but i have hammerd it hard lately.
Studio Kid
(i like the idea that it suposedly works from the moment u turn the key)hehehe

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:16 pm

I've got a 120K M-series NASP -

Have always used 15-40......

What do people think - stay using it, or would it be better to use the 10-40?

What will be the difference between the 2 in amounts of wear - on the assumption I wait at least 10 mins driving every day before ragging it....?

Dom
(who knows nothing about oils)

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:05 pm

I recently started using Unipart Premium 10-40 Fully Synthetic in my O and T series Turbos. Get it from my local MG-R dealership. Very pleased with the results considering I get 5 litres of this stuff for approximately half the price for 4 litres of Mobil 1 from Halfords.

With the Unipart Premium fully synthetic, I REALLY noticed an immediate difference in both my turbo engine types running from both performance and noise viewpoints. Such a markedly noticeable difference in my experience with cars is rare!! Usually I can't detect any difference. So I'll continue to use the stuff. I did get it at a little discount but the latest batch they have in has gone up in price. Still only about 60% of the price for Mobil 1 though.

I know that at least two of the contributors on this BBS also use and have recommended the Unipart Synthetic Oils for there ARG and Rover Turbos.....