Hi all,

Apologies for the first post being a question...

Information on the 4x4 variant of the Panda seems to be a little thin on the ground when searching. My girlfriend's car needs another oil change, and I'm just wondering what to buy. I was going to get 10W40 (which I use in my car), but searching on Google made me wonder if I should be looking at 5W40 instead.

What does the holy book / general consensus say? It's one of these she's got:



Thank you


My rides as a quick intro to me as it's my first post:

My car:

An MG ZS 120+ hatchback, which I've had since early 2008. Bought with 39k miles, and will hit 120k miles this weekend. Maintained by myself since purchase.

My bikes:

A Suzuki TL-R (hence the username). Also owned since 2008, bought with 3,800 miles and now on about 40,000. It only goes into garages for MOTs and nothing else


A Honda CB450-dx. Owned since 2010, the "trigger's broom" of the motorcycle world...

More likely personal choice in the grand scheme of things. The handbook will suggest something no doubt.


In our 100hp I've used 5W30 fully synthetic. Logic being that the ambient temperature in the UK is more often at 5C or below than 30C or above and thus between 5c and 10C my oil is slightly less viscous than 10W.


Expect more science to follow though.

I've just been through the same thing, having bought a 4x4 a few weeks ago. I fully expected to put 10W40 semi synth in, but all the recommendations from various motor factors (real ones and online) came back 5W40 fully synth. The handbook seems to say either of those so mine ended up with the 5W40.

I'll report back on any issues - the car's just about to have a long trip up to Yorkshire plus a bit of offroading, so will see if the 110k engine starts using much!

I bought this, but a few quid more from Eurocarparts - if it's fine, this price is just silly & I'll buy a couple for spares!!

http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l...bc6969722b4cd1e5ab239f2b56ae5a107fea44&000398

Thank you both for your feedback

That is a very good price! Not really in a position to wait though, so will likely just pick up some from Halfords on the way home (I do at least have a trade card though).

5W-40 fully-synth seems the way to go then, unless it's ridiculously priced in which case it can make do with 10W40 semi, which is what it had last time.

Incidentally how often do you check plugs on this car? I replaced them about 10k miles ago. Usually I'd expect them to last a lot longer than that, but when I changed them last time I remember thinking how tiny they were, like motorcycle plugs, and generally on bikes they need a gap check every 7,500 or so.

TLR Junkie said:

Thank you both for your feedback

That is a very good price! Not really in a position to wait though, so will likely just pick up some from Halfords on the way home (I do at least have a trade card though).

5W-40 fully-synth seems the way to go then, unless it's ridiculously priced in which case it can make do with 10W40 semi, which is what it had last time.

Incidentally how often do you check plugs on this car? I replaced them about 10k miles ago. Usually I'd expect them to last a lot longer than that, but when I changed them last time I remember thinking how tiny they were, like motorcycle plugs, and generally on bikes they need a gap check every 7,500 or so.

Click to expand...

The handbook says 40000k which I think is about 25000 miles?

I tend to ignore spark plugs until they cause issues (big believer in regular oil changes though)! I'd expect to leave them in at least 3 years before needing attention (assuming the engine's healthy of course). Other Fiats I've had recommend changing every 3 years, so I haven't completely made it up.