my petrol grande punto is using quite a bit of oil lately using the recommended 5w-40 synthetic oil, can i top up with a semi synthetic 10w-40 because i have a 5 ltr bottle of it, would it damage the engine

Try changing the brand of 5-40 synthetic oil. Some burn off faster than others. I’ve got 5-40 and a litre of 10-40 in my Panda without any issues.

red robins said:

my petrol grande punto is using quite a bit of oil lately using the recommended 5w-40 synthetic oil, can i top up with a semi synthetic 10w-40 because i have a 5 ltr bottle of it, would it damage the engine

Click to expand...

Some .. will be ok.

But why has it started using more?

Wants investigating really..

Fully synthetic CAN pass through joints and seals..and be lost

All part of its nature.. and added expense

Clearly increased oil consumption needs to be at least monitored (to get a consumption and mileage time line). It has not been unknown for car owners and engine periodic cycles to often raise interesting and often confusing oil consumption views on periodic "spot" observation.

With regards to mixing oils then manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that fundamentally mixing of engine oils will not cause a disastrous effect. They design/formulate and have to standards prove that their products are chemically mutually compatible. This does not mean that mixed products will meet all the individual product specifications.

So to put this in layman's terms. Stick with your manufacturer's specified oil. If you have to top up etc. and the ideal oil is not available then choose the next nearest match (mixing semi synth / fully synth / etc is not an issue) BUT once back home schedule an oil drain and replacement with the specified oil.

I'm *not* addressing here more advanced issues of permanently switching oil types, grades, etc. as a potential upgrade over and above the manufacturer's specified oil grade product.

If the chosen oil meets the engine manufacturer's specification then (synth or semi or whatever) it will be fine.


BTW our Pandas run on 10w40 semi synth and my 1200cc bike that makes 100bhp uses the exact same stuff.

If the chosen oil meets the engine manufacturer's specification then (synth or semi or whatever) it will be fine.

BTW our Pandas run on 10w40 semi synth and my 1200cc bike that makes 100bhp uses the exact same stuff.


Back in the days when 20w50 was top tech, a friend damaged his Ford Escort sump while on holiday. He got it mended and drove home with cooking oil in the engine. Who knows why he did not get engine oil.

He changed the vege oil when back home but said it still looked really clean. The engine was fine.