Technical What oil?

[whatoncewas]

A common question I guess...

My car is 15 years old and has done about 59k miles. What oil should I use for the next service?

I'm thinking either 15w-40/50 or 20w-50 ??

Also, what brand? I'm thinking that going for the cheaper stuff may not be a bad idea providing I do oil changes more often?

So far, for the past 6k miles (I bought it at 53k miles 6 months ago) I've been topping up a bit with Castrol 15w-50.

What the handbook says may not really be useful information anymore considering how old the car is - I've heard FIRE engines can be run well to at least 200k miles if looked after properly.

Advice please - Hoping to do the service very soon.
Thanks.

 

[smurfhead]

FIRE engines run well on 10W40. If it is not a FIRE engine, chuck some 15W40 in.

 

[whatoncewas]

It's a FIRE engine.

10w-40 you say? Not too thin for an engine that old?

 

[unosy22]

the oil you should be useing is 10w - 40 salena semi synthetic oil it may be alit more expensive but info from my freind who works for fiat swears by this oil even for old and new cars below 16v.

hope this helps

sy

 

[Chas Uno]

I was always taught the motto:

"Oil is cheap, engine rebuilds are expensive"!

Alway worth putting in a decent brand of oil, and always change the filter at the same time.

10w-40 is a good oil to use for the FIRE engine. If you can afford it, use fully synthetic. It may be more expensive, but apparently you can leave the changes for 20,000 miles so it works out cost effective in the long run.

If you do go for synthetic, make sure you get the engine really hot and let it drain for about 20 minutes to get all the old mineral based oil out.

Then again, it depends on how long you want to keep the car. If it's only for short term, then put whatever oil you want in it! If you want to keep it for a long time, I would recommend synthetic.

Chas

 

[Morty Mort]

I suggest 10W40. Numbers indicates thickness of the oil, and it´s ability to be thin in cold weather and thick when hot. The lowest and highest numbers are best - usually fully synthetic, as 5W50.

I´d not use a fully synthetic oil. I tried it and my FIRE engine started leaking everywhere. The block and top now looks like a mess. This is because it is much thinner. So stick with semi-synth 10W40.

As Chas says, make sure the engine is nice and hot before draining. Use gloves. Also change the filter. It is cheap and very easy to reach. Screw and unscrew with your hands.

 

[Chas Uno]

Hey Mort,

I use 10w-40 fully synthetic in my 1.0 FIRE with no leaks at all. Switched to fully synthetic two years ago without any problems!

My engine has only done 77,000 miles (since 1986!) so maybe that has something to do with it.

Chas

 

[Morty Mort]

Hey Mort,

I use 10w-40 fully synthetic in my 1.0 FIRE with no leaks at all. Switched to fully synthetic two years ago without any problems!

My engine has only done 77,000 miles (since 1986!) so maybe that has something to do with it.

Chas

That's incredible. My engine is propably much more worn. It consumes some oil as well. The engine has done 130.000 km now since 1994. That's (almost) exactly the same as yours.

Morten.

 

[oilman]

10w-40 is not too thin.

I would use a semi-synthetic 10w-40 cost option or Fully synthetic, quality option.

Cheers
Guy

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm

 

[whatoncewas]

Excellent - thanks very much guys.

I was going to also use silicon engine flush as part of the oil change service, but I don't think the previous owners ever did that. I was afraid all the gunk that may get cleaned out would then cause problems such as leaks etc.

It'll definately be 10W-40 now. Maybe semi-synthetic though - It will get frequent oil changes anyway.

Any thoughts on the engine flush concern above?

 

[oilman]

Do not use and engine flush, they can do more harm then good.

Most flushes are kerosene or paraffin mixes.

Cheers

Guy.

 

[smurfhead]

I use 10w40 in my FIRE engine. The monkeys at Perrys had put 15w40 in it when I first got it so I changed it quite early on. I see why they did though. Makes the engine look cleaner. I put 10w40 in and it pisses on the bottom back half of the engine on the odd occasion. Not much though. The level on the dipstick never seems to change. I stick with it because it is recommended for FIRE engines and it does run better.

 

[whatoncewas]

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/index.html
^^^ seems to recommend engine flush to clean out all the gunk?

 

[oilman]

He's welcome to his view - we don't recommend it.

Cheers
Guy

 

[whatoncewas]

OK, thanks. I won't use engine flush on the Uno. I know my Alfa/Fiat specialist mechanic uses it when we send cars there for a service.

How do you recommened I clean any gunk and crap deposits? I assume there will be lots as its old and low mileage.

 

[smurfhead]

He does say not a good idea on old engines though due to the sealing and fusing properties of the gung on old parts.

He's welcome to his view - we don't recommend it.

Cheers
Guy

 

[whatoncewas]

OK, sure thing. I won't use engine flush!

Just gotta order the filters and oil now.

 

[whatoncewas]

Thanks very much guys!

 

[Chas Uno]

The problem of using engine flush in old engines was that it could dislodge all manner of gunk and muck that would then block up oilways. This would only occur if cheap oil had been used in the past along with infrequent oil changes.

It's better to use a good quality oil with detergents in it, which in itself would help keep the inside of the engine clean and stop sludge and deposits forming. A good oil will also help the gunk to stay liquified so that it will drain from the sump at an oil change.

It's always best to use a decent brand of oil for this reason, as the cheap unbranded oils often don't have the same detergents.

Chas

 

[oilman]

Well put Chas.

Cheap oil is false economy.

Cheers

Guy.