Dear fellow users

Could anyone please tell me the best oil to use for my 1997 Fiat Ducato 1.9TD motorhome. Bought it a few months back and want to change the Engine Oil and Filter but not sure which to go for 15W-40 or 10W-40 Semi Synthetic.
I read somewhere that if you use Semi Synthetic then put regular mineral oil in afterwards it can damage your engine. Not sure how true this is.

Problem is I don't know which oil the previous owner used.

Also can anyone tell if its very difficult to change the cam belt on the Ducato, done a few on cars now but never on a van.

Cheers
Paul

A 1997 motor? I don't think it will make any difference what oil you use as any damage through the years will have been done as you do not know what oil has been put in it all these years and expensive oil now will not rectify this

Fiat Ducato Motorhome said:

Dear fellow users

I read somewhere that if you use Semi Synthetic then put regular mineral oil in afterwards it can damage your engine. Not sure how true this is.

Paul

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Not true, if you use quality oil, you can change from mineral to semi synthetic to full synthetic and vice versa without any problems.

Have a look here for the correct oil:
www.castrol.co.uk "Oil selector"


www.mister-auto.co.uk for an oilfilter.

Hi Paul, I run a 1996 1.9td and I use Wilko Motosaves own brand 10w40 semi-synthetic oil. Last 5ltr bottle cost £11.99. Why pay more for designer oil? In old engines they all do the same job anyway. As for timing belt, haven't got a clue. Let us know how you get on because mine's overdue a change, I think. I don't suppose you have anything like a workshop manual for yours? If they do exist they are as rare as rocking horse s--t. All the Best, Ian.

Hi Paul, Forgot to say, if you are changing the oil, it shouldn't matter what has been used before as you are not mixing them. Cheers, Ian.

clifford59 said:

In old engines they all do the same job anyway. All the Best, Ian.

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Again, absolutely not true !!!
A motorhome engine has a hard life, no matter it's age.
It's not in use for long times, and than all in a sudden it has to deliver maximum torque and power.
All this is putting a lot of stress on the oil, and only the very best quality oil can handle it in the long run...

If it was my car, I'd use a full synthetic oil, like Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel 5W40, and change it at least once, maybe twice a year with oilfilter...

And a timingbelt that is overdue is a ticking timebomb, it can ruin your engine in a split second any time...specialy at night, and far from home...

Hi

I just wanted to thank you all for your comments regarding which engine oil and you just confirmed when I suspected anyway.

Much appreciated

Many thanks
Paul

Hi All, Has anyone seen a definitive, scientific, comparison between so called quality oils and cheaper, shops own, brands or is it all down to clever advertising. I, for one, have never seen such a comparison therefore I tend to look after the pounds and not take much notice of so called experts. If my van runs and sounds smooth, and I don't find lumps of metel in the old oil, then I'll stick to using whatever oil I think is suitable. All the Best, Ian.

Hi if you want to use cheap oil in your vehicle then carry on but if your vehicle is under warranty then you will have to use decent oil that is specified for the engine or the warranty is null and void so there must be some difference in the oils

Hi Paul. We have a 1996 2.5TDI (Elnagh Motorhome). Quoting from the Owner Handbook:
SAE 15W/40 grade mineral Multigrade Oil that exceeds the API-CD, CCMC - PD2 specifications.
Recommended VS Max Diesel.
Hope that helps.
The mechanic we use advised us not to use synthetic oil in this motor. Something about the old seals not being made to cope with synthetic oil. After we bought the vehicle, I was topping up the oil a little every 1000 kms or so. Maybe it had synthetic in it by the previous owner as since I changed to Mineral Oil it hardly needs a top up between changes. (I do my own filter and oil changes).
I had the cambelt changed by a mechanic just after we bought it about 3 years ago. Cant find the invoice but I think from memory he charged about 4 hours labour. So not a biggie. By the way, the cambelt looked okay but when he tensioned it, a pulley exploded. Looked like it had a hairline fracture and was an accident waiting to happen. Luckily he sourced a replacement the same day.

Synthetic oil acts like a preservation oil during long stand stills, and won't attack seals or anything, unless it's a pre war engine that has run on non detergent oil for a long time.......