what oil do you use?

gyppo

Just a thought that struck me the other day when I was looking for oil for my w123 - most oils now are either part or full synthetic - so what would you put in a 70's or 80's car?

Back in the day when I first started driving and servicing my own cars (1989/90 or thereabouts) I used Duckhams Hypergrade.
Now, as far as I can remember, this was 20w/50 oil. (though I could be wrong on this)

Anyhow, I went for 10w/40 mineral grade in the end.

What oil do you use in your classic?

kasper

i seem to remember reading modern coolant and oils are not suitable for some older engines , i was in halfords recently and they had a classic oil on the shelf but was in a bit of a rush and didnt check it any further

trad

Ah, memories of the Black Death.

Justjens

Halfords Classic Oil 20w/50, good mineral based oil for classics, €19.99.

Comma 20w/50, probably as good as was available back when our cars were built, available from your nearest http://www.team.ie/ affiliated motor factor, around the €25 mark. (And if you can find a reference to Comma 20/50 on that site you're a better man than I am Gungerdin!!)

alpina

10W40 Semi Syn. [1981 6 Series] Changed from enhanced mineral oil 10W40 last year & no issues, no seals leaking etc. May introduce 5W/40 full syn. over time, from research it really is honey to the engine...http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

It's long...:eek: but informative!

Seweryn

gyppo wrote: »

Just a thought that struck me the other day when I was looking for oil for my w123 - most oils now are either part or full synthetic - so what would you put in a 70's or 80's car?

Back in the day when I first started driving and servicing my own cars (1989/90 or thereabouts) I used Duckhams Hypergrade.
Now, as far as I can remember, this was 20w/50 oil. (though I could be wrong on this)

Anyhow, I went for 10w/40 mineral grade in the end.

What oil do you use in your classic?

I was driving a 123T Diesel for few years and I would never put any "Classic" grade oil into the engine. Factory requirements are 10W40 for this car and I used semi synthetic oils. 20W50 oils are for old tractors, not for a Mercedes. Sure, it would work, but what's the point?

Max_Damage

I still use what Ford recommends for my '82 Escort Mk3, 5w30.

Use 10w40 in the Micra K10.

Wheelnut

gyppo wrote: »

- so what would you put in a 70's or 80's car?

Anyhow, I went for 10w/40 mineral grade in the end.

Are you sure that 10w/40 is not semi-synthetic? When 10w40 oils originally appeared they were mineral oils but the chemical make-up of mineral oils was not good enough for the 10 - 40 grade span. This lead to the so called "black death" when the oil turned to a tarry goo under the stress of a hard working engine. 10w40 mineral oils disappeared and were replaced by 15w40 mineral oils. Later when we got synthetic and semi-synthetic technology the 10w40 grade reappeared but it was a semi-synthetic oil and we still have it today. If you want a pure mineral oil you should go for a 15w40 grade which is generally mineral in this market. (...of course there may be exceptions)

Silvera

I started working in the motor trade in 1989 and have used Duckhams oils since then. I recall stories of 'gunked up' engines where owners used Castrol oil.

I currently use Duckhams Semi-Synthetic 10w/40 in my '03 Astra...and the engine looks like new through the oil filler cap (at 81k miles).

shawnee

While I wouldn't recommend it myself "my friends Dad had a Vw Passat diesel about 15 years bag, he drove it for 120k miles and never changed an oil or a filter, he then traded it for another !! At the time I was lauding the Castrol engine oil that I used in my Golf diesel every 4k . Doctors differ and so on !!!:D:D

Henry Ford III

I use Halfords Classic Oil 20w/50 in the MkII Escort RS2000.

It is the correct spec. and is decent value too. An old fashioned mineral oil.

wildefalcon

I still use Duckhams 20w/50. Bought it from Deverells in Portarlington.

But that is in a landrover engine designed in the 1940's.

There are still mineral oils out there - use whatever is in the manual.

G.

SilverBell

I use various types of 15W40 on my M103 300CE, thats been fine.
I also used Motaquip 15W40 in the 450 SEL for its first service, the handbook shows it is acceptable, but I'm thinking on using 20W50 from the next change on due to advice from experienced owners. Some of them advocate a 20W60!!! But I'll not go that thick!
The engine has been around a while..used since 1969, long before thinner oils.

Henry Ford III

These older engines used much higher tolerances in manufacture so need thicker stuff to make them run well.

It's a mistake to ask them use thinner modern lubricants.

245

Alongside viscosity, the lack of zinc in modern high spec engine oils is a major issue for older engines. Zinc helps reduce camshaft & cam follower wear but pollutes modern catalytic converters and particulate filters and so low ash (and low zinc) oils are the result.

Fishtits

Anything pre 98/99 I use Duckhams semi synthetic 10W40, petrol or diesel.

I challenge anyone to tell me I'm wrong.

The Internet is alive with oil salesmen who will detail fractional differences etc, but they are usually ex carpet salesmen who have moved into oil as a result of the downturn....

2.8trooper

i used valvoline 20w50 in the lotus sunbeam i had as thats what they recomend from new and i used millers classic sport in the anglia 1650 and millers classic in the kaddet all 20w50 and never had a problem with loss of pressure or caking up of rocker cover always a dark brown oil change

spooky donkey

well i picked up a tin of Halfords Classic Oil 20w/50 and a new oil filter for my 80s classic yesterday for when I put the new engine in. But generally I use the thickest oil I could get for it.