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20w/50

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  • 19-05-2008 2:01pm
    #1
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭


    What would you buy and from where? The only stuff I've seen is in Halfords....own brand <shudder>

    Could I go with 15W40 GTX High Mileage instead? Would this be acceptable?

    It's for the '81 Range Rover V8.


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    #2
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    Hmmmm. Autodata says she'll take 10W/40 in moderate climates....or 20W/50. Think I'll go with the 15W/40 GTX. 6 Litres of the stuff. Then I'll have to do the diffs & gearbox too....

    Bloody hell. Should have bought a mini :D


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    #3
    8~)
    Registered Users Posts: 586 ✭✭✭8~)


    Forget about the brand and the advertising on the front of the tub and look at the specs on the back.

    I generally buy 25l drums of tetroseal/carplan oil for my old cars.


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    #4
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Gil_Dub wrote: »
    Could I go with 15W40 GTX High Mileage instead? Would this be acceptable?
    I use this in my old merc V8, which reminds me I think I've none left... :)


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    #5
    kona
    Registered Users Posts: 7,525 ✭✭✭kona


    halfords 20w50 is made by comma, its used by ALOT of the mini owners.
    or you could buy duckhams.

    whats the point in not buying the right spec due to brand snobbery, you will pay for it in the long run


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    #6
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    kona wrote: »
    halfords 20w50 is made by comma, its used by ALOT of the mini owners.
    or you could buy duckhams.

    whats the point in not buying the right spec due to brand snobbery, you will pay for it in the long run

    Brand snobbery doesn't come into it. Reputation does....

    The 20W/50 can says Halfords. It doesn't say Comma. I've absolutely no indication that it's anything other than a can of cheap mineral oil that meets the 20W/50 viscosity grade. It could be recycled just like Finoil, or some other similar budget blend. It has ZERO reputation as far as I'm concerned. 100% Fact.

    On the other hand, Castrol GTX has a solid reputation as a quality product range. The high mileage variety contains a seal conditioner additive, the only attractive quality that the 20W/50 Halfords oil also lists.

    So, you're down to just one thing - the grade. In a 3.5-3.9 rover V8, you'll get away with using a broad range of engine lubrication products. 20W/50 was simply the original specification for the oil to use in these V8's - as it was largely the most common grade in car type use at the time. Now, 3+ years later, the list for the same engine of the same vintage also includes:

    5W/20
    10W/40
    20W/50

    and wait for it.....

    15W/40

    So, what exactly is your point?

    I suppose I should add that I was informed by the shaven headed gob****e that manned the parts desk in the Halfords branch I visited yesterday that the oil was made by Shell. Wrong answer I'm almost certain, but why should I believe yours to be true when a fellow employee from Halfords was adament he was right?

    With respect Kona (and I mean that), you're a Halfords employee, with a rather special love/hate relationship with your employers products and staff. I've absolutely no reason to believe anything you write to be the product of your formal automotive education or your burgeoning experience as an enthusiast. You've only switched to 4 wheels from the 2 pedal powered ones in the last year, so you've yet to earn your stripes as it were.

    Gil


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    #7
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    ^^ It seems a battle has spilled over into this quiet town! ^^

    04konggojira2_thumb.jpg


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    #8
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    Not a battle at all Dades,

    Most of those who'd nurse an older car into her golden years would know better that to think you can only fill her to the gills with the original spec fluids. They'd appreciate that decades of wear provide a real requirement for a heavier oil at times. They're the folks who's input I'm searching out.

    That's not to say Kona doesn't know a bit, but it's not the bit I'm working on. When I need someone to advise me on which colour windscreen washer fluid I should buy, I'll ask him first. ;) Just kidding with you man. You're a good sod I know.

    No hard feelings and let's not go off topic now ;)

    Anyone else have a contribution about where I might buy good quality 20W50 as an alternative to my chosen auto-elixer?

    Gil


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    #9
    rotorhead
    Registered Users Posts: 124 ✭✭rotorhead


    Link about oil a good read

    http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html


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    #10
    kona
    Registered Users Posts: 7,525 ✭✭✭kona


    Gil_Dub wrote: »
    Not a battle at all Dades,

    Most of those who'd nurse an older car into her golden years would know better that to think you can only fill her to the gills with the original spec fluids. They'd appreciate that decades of wear provide a real requirement for a heavier oil at times. They're the folks who's input I'm searching out.

    That's not to say Kona doesn't know a bit, but it's not the bit I'm working on. When I need someone to advise me on which colour windscreen washer fluid I should buy, I'll ask him first. ;) Just kidding with you man. You're a good sod I know.

    No hard feelings and let's not go off topic now ;)

    Anyone else have a contribution about where I might buy good quality 20W50 as an alternative to my chosen auto-elixer?

    Gil

    pink washer fluid, would suit yer barge.

    FACT, halfords oil IS produced by comma. 100% FACT, 0% Bull****.

    its a good oil, you said you shudder with a halfords brand, this is brand snobbery as in your next post you basically admitted to not knowing anything about halfords oil.

    you can get duckhams 20w40 in a motorfactors off the quays(forget the name)

    you can also order it online.

    on your line about the engine being specced for 20w50 and then later down the line 3 different grades.

    -this could depend on climate as to which oil.
    -this coud be just bollix(rover specced 15w40 in the A+-series in the minifrom 1990 on, the oil in the minis engine also lubes the gearbox, rover had a huge increase in premature gearbox wear as a result and alot of units replaced under warranty. this engine was the same as the engines produced from 84-89 which specced 20w50 and very similar to the A-series predecessor which specced 20w50)

    blah blah blah you know so much, you appreciate heavier grade oils are needed in older engines, why are you trying to convince yourself to use 15w40???

    halfords 20w50 is as good as duckhams 20w50.



    btw, i own a classic, im also studying mechanical engineering so i know what it entails and i understand the importance of oil and proper parts, no need to be so patronising


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    #11
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    buy cheap, change often...(oh and 20w/50 all the way for an old engine ...unlesds you dont mind having the outside of the engine lubricated too..)


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    #12
    MercMad
    Registered Users Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭MercMad


    Just to add to this, once you select the grade of oil you then look for the API classification written in small print on the rear of the can, something like API SJ/F XXX or whatever. If your "cheap oil" and your "premium" have the same letters it means the contents are exactly the same !

    And I mean exactly the same. Its the standard so additives etc. are all taken into consideration. Look for the highest letter after the letter "S".........as in "SJ", "SL" etc....

    Personally I use either Castrol GTX or Duckhams in 15W40 form. Also avoid synthetics or semi synths !


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    #13
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    Thanks also for the pointers on the API stuff and that great read about oils posted by rotorhead.

    Useful information indeed. Right so - Two mentions of 15W/40 by two 'respectable' old merc nuts is good enough for me. 15W/40 GTX all the way then.

    All the best (until next time)

    Gil


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    #14
    Esel
    Registered Users Posts: 22,206 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    Some very good oil information here http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/cmm/YaBB.pl?num=1202386435

    Not your ornery onager



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    #15
    Eric318
    Closed Accounts Posts: 446 ✭✭Eric318


    I used semi synth, Igol Premier 15w40 on my Jag very successfully. Low noise, good pressure, better mpg, but more expensive nectar. Engine was new and all gaskets and seals were in excellent shape so no leaks.

    Since I arrived in Ireland I have used Halfords Classic 20W50 on both Jag and MG (not the normal Halfords 20W50) and I have stopped worrying, life is too short. I had read good things about it and that did it for me.

    On a worn engine, I believe it is better to use a thicker grade and mineral. On a new reconditioned engine, I believe it is better to use a modern oil (semi synth) 15W40.


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    #16
    Kevin_Herron
    Registered Users Posts: 813 ✭✭✭Kevin_Herron


    I use the Castrol GTX 15W40 High Mileage. Liquid Engineering :)


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    #17
    ianobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 2,755 ✭✭✭ianobrien


    I use Castrol Edge Sport (formerly Castrol RS) 10W60 in the Escort.

    I was told use it by the engine builder. To be fair, I do use the engine, with it reving to 6K to 7k regularly.

    Before you start, the engine was built to take it, with ARP bolts used throughout, toughened crank & rods, uprated cam, steel rocker posts & gear, etc....

    Oh, according to the engine builder, I don't rev it enough!


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    #18
    MercMad
    Registered Users Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭MercMad


    ianobrien wrote: »
    I use Castrol Edge Sport (formerly Castrol RS) 10W60 in the Escort.

    I was told use it by the engine builder. To be fair, I do use the engine, with it reving to 6K to 7k regularly.

    Before you start, the engine was built to take it, with ARP bolts used throughout, toughened crank & rods, uprated cam, steel rocker posts & gear, etc....

    Oh, according to the engine builder, I don't rev it enough!

    ........Mmmmmmmm you cant beat the smell of Castrol "R"...................does the "RS" smeel the same ??


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    #19
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    MercMad wrote: »
    Just to add to this, once you select the grade of oil you then look for the API classification written in small print on the rear of the can, something like API SJ/F XXX or whatever. If your "cheap oil" and your "premium" have the same letters it means the contents are exactly the same !
    I was up in Halfords at the weekend and compared the classification on the Castrol and the own-brand 15W40 stuff... exactly the same numbers from what I could see!

    Think there was a €2 price difference. The wife still made me buy the Castrol stuff - wimmin! ;)


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    #20
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    Dades wrote: »
    I was up in Halfords at the weekend and compared the classification on the Castrol and the own-brand 15W40 stuff... exactly the same numbers from what I could see!

    Think there was a €2 price difference. The wife still made me buy the Castrol stuff - wimmin! ;)

    Do you know what the gas thing is? I have a trade card for Halfords and I can get the Castrol stuff for 19.99 (24.99 less discount), but their own brand 15/40 stuff would work out at €22 with discount. Bonkers.


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    #21
    ianobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 2,755 ✭✭✭ianobrien


    MercMad wrote: »
    ........Mmmmmmmm you cant beat the smell of Castrol "R"...................does the "RS" smeel the same ??

    I don't think it's the same smell as Castrol "R", but it does smell nice when hot........


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