Hi All,

I have recently purchased a 1996 Ducato 19TD motorhome and want to change the engine oil and filter, but I keep getting conflicting answers on parts websites so can anyone tell me if I should use:
1 Mineral
2. Semi-Synthetic
3. Fully Synthetic
Also what grade would be best.

Regards,
Del

Comes down to climate, usage and cost.
In cold climates, a synthetic oil can achieve low cold viscosities. Mineral oil struggles to get under 10W.
Mineral is cheaper but doesn't last as long.
If you want to change your oil yearly, mineral is fine. If you want to extend to 2 years, then go synthetic.

Hi Oigle, thanks for taking the time to reply, so fully synthetic is okay to use in a vehicle as old as mine? Eurocar Parts said I couldn't use it and it needed to be semi-synthetic, they also told me if it had mineral oil in I would need to flush the engine out before using semi-synthetic and I have no idea what's in it since this will be my first oil change. That's what I meant by conflicting and confusing info from car parts people and their websites! Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
Del

Alwaysared said:

Hi Oigle, thanks for taking the time to reply, so fully synthetic is okay to use in a vehicle as old as mine? Eurocar Parts said I couldn't use it and it needed to be semi-synthetic, they also told me if it had mineral oil in I would need to flush the engine out before using semi-synthetic and I have no idea what's in it since this will be my first oil change. That's what I meant by conflicting and confusing info from car parts people and their websites! Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
Del

Click to expand...

Hi,
the "advice" from ECP is rubbish. All 3 oil types can be freely mixed (if viscosity is within limits) without flushing or other issues. You do loose some of the synthetic benefits if you add mineral oil, but no harm. Older engines are fine with synthetics s long as viscosity, especially lower number, is correct. They don't like zero weight oils as the clearance cause them to burn it. Flushing is not recommended unless you have reason to think the engine oil is really old.

Robert G8RPI.

Hi Robert,
That's what I thought. I know the previous owner would have taken it to a garage for oil changes (probably once yearly) so I have no reason to believe that the oil is really old. Being a motorhome I'll be doing the oil on time rather than miles. I think it should 10W40 oil, can anyone confirm that?

Regards,
Del

Looking around the internet it would appear that 10W40 is only available in semi-synthetic as all the fully-synthetic is listed as 5W40 unless it's Ester Synthetic competition oil then it's available as 10W40 but I think that that would be a bit of an overkill lol

Regards,
Del

Be aware that 'semi-synthetic' usually means that the oil may have very little synthetic content. In Australia they can get away with the title because there are no percentages of what's what and that situation would be world wide, I suspect.
Either way, as long as you use a 'quality' oil and adhere to regular servicing, you will not have any issues. Some companies try to convince us that a better oil will extend oil change intervals. This is not untrue, but is not very good advice if the engine has some age on it.
As you stated, you will be servicing at time intervals rather than mileage, so you will not have any issues with the grade of oil you use as long as it meets the vehicle manufacturer's recommended grade with regard to temperatures that the vehicle will be working under.
Oigle and G8rpi nailed it pretty well I reckon.

with regards to age and type of engine 10/40 semi synthetic every time for me some of the modern fully synthetics where not even around twenty year ago.

I wouldn't worry about fully synthetic. A modern semi synthetic A3/B4 will have much better performance e.g. lower piston deposits, soot thickening, wear etc. than anything that would have been around when the engine was designed.

Another what oil. On a '96 engine any damage will already have been done, if any. 10/40 will be fine. If you can find out that the vehicle has had regular oil changes, that will be fine as well. If you are still concerned/unsure about the oil use a diesel compatible oil & get into the habit of frequent changes.

Just to add, I certainly would not extend oil life for more than a year, no matter what oil especially on a diesel. Some may not agree, but my time in the trade others do agree.

1999 1.9TD Ducato, semi synthetic changed every year. Not worth messing about for the cost, also changing oil regularly is good for the turbo....

Mineral or semi synthetic.
But DO NOT go thinner than 10/40. If it was me I'd use 15/40.
The oil seals will start to leak if you use thinner oil than they were designed for....I've seen quite with that problem as the result of using very thin oil - and it then can contaminate the clutch.

Hi all, okay I've got my oil and filter, can anyone tell me the torque setting for the sump plug please?

Regards,
Del

I've never torqued a sump plug, I use my judgement. Obviously don't over tighten. Nip up tight, then a little more. You'll soon know if it's not tight enough...drip,drip..

That's what I usually do but I thought I'd get technical lol

Regards,
Del