Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[kevin2306]

Just after general opinion here.
I am, and always have been a big believer that regular oil chages are a lot cheaper than a new engine.
My classics always get a full service in the springtime and another prior to the mot at the end of autumn, this always includes oil and filter change. they get fettled inbetween of these services as well.
I have an early mazda mk1 1.6 which is due to come out of hibernation next week. Ordered the service kit from the usual source last night (I only use origional mazda service items on this car)
I tend to buy the oil locally to save the excess postal charge.
The oil recomended is mobile 1 10w40 semi synth but with an upgrade of spec available to mobile 1 new life 0w40 fully synth.

it occurs to me that to use the fully synthetic would be a total waste due to the twice yearly oil changes, but, regardless of the cost involved, is the oil actually better?

Ta

Kev

[Greeney in France]

I think you have probably answered your own question the full synths are made for longer oil changes the 0W are very thin too and some of the older cars just do not like it. The oil pressure is never as good and it can 'seep' through gaskets etc.
Personally I stick with Millers classic base oils, they have higher ZDDP contents too.
Good quality oils at the correct viscosity range for your temperature of driving..
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[gresham flyer]

My modern Vauxhall Vivaro van is 18,000 miles between oil changes.

It uses a 10/30 oil.

Some classic car owners I know would need to keep this in their cars for 9 years.

I use Comma 20/50 at about £12.00 for 4.5ltr trade price. I have been using this for over 20 years with no problem at all.
It has the correct spec for classic cars.


I change the oil once a year.

G.F
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Morris Minors.
Jaguars.
Rootes Cars.
MG.
Etc.



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[Phil - Nottingham]

[Ashley]

Fully synthetic oils virtually eliminate wear for the following reasons.

1. When an engine is stood for a long time, the oil sticks to all surfaces better than conventional and so protects it better on start up.

2. Because it's thinner when it's cold it gets everywhere more quickly and reduces the chances of wear on start up.

3. Because it is thicker hot it actually increases oil pressure.

4. Because it withstands higher temperature and pressures, it is more effective at stopping wear of cam lobes and top piston rings.

5. Because it doesn't easily dissolve in petrol, it's not washed away by excessive petrol if the engine is choked or flooding.

It does not make engines more leak prone and it is recommended for all engines. Rolls-Royce recommended it for all theirs and P&A Wood the World Heritage R-R dealers even use it in their First World War Fighter plane with a Rotary engine because it cured certain problems.

Several manufacturers make fully synthetic oils for old cars and I use Mobil 1 10/60 in my Healey 3000 and cheap 0/40 in my Bentley.

If you're interested in the facts and not the usual old wives tales, Google Mobil 1 for old engines on YouTube. You'll find one video where they dismantled a Merc engine with 600,000 miles on it and the big ends were so perfect you could sell them as new. There are a few good Mobil videos and a few from idiots contradicting them. That's the internet for you.

It's expensive and you may not do many miles, so it probably doesn't matter if you don't use it, but it is a hell of a lot better at protecting engines than conventional oils.

[kevin2306]

[Rick]

On the first V12 BMW I had (750iL), it never used any oil at all until I put fully synth in it, and it burnt it off in no time (although I never noticed any smoke). The engine wasn't worn or particularly high in mileage either. I reverted to mineral oil and never had the level on the dipstick drop again. I now use it in 'erindoors' V6 Suzuki, as I found some on offer, and the level doesn't budge.

RJ
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[baconsdozen]

I think you use what suits you and the engine,nothing works for every single possible permutation.
I use Penrite 20/50 or Morris Golden film in all my vehicles and change it regularily (and then use it on the underneath.
Have done for years and have never had any problem.
_________________
Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[P3steve]

[emmerson]

[COMMAD]

I use Caltex 30 Delo oil (a oil for diesel engines ) recently when I did a head gasket change on my Commer pick-up, I found the interior of engine to be extremely clean, no buildup of sludge any where. Change oil and filter yearly....

[Minxy]

Purely a personal thing but I see nothing to gain in using a fully synthetic oil in an older car at all, in fact I would say on a non turbo car the cons out-weigh the pro's. Neither would I change it twice a year unless I did more than 10k.

As for Mobil 1 I wouldn't use that either, again personal choice to some extent but also based on time spent in Motorsport where Mobil was avoided where possible on high performance engines in favour of Shell.

[Ashley]

As I previously said, it probably doesn't matter if you don't use fully synthetic oil, but it is a mistake not to have the facts right.

1. Fully Synthetic Oil, regardless of make, virtually eliminates wear. Mobil make a special version for old vehicles.

2. Older engines are more highly stressed because they have longer strokes, higher piston speeds, worse cam and tappet designs, lower overall gearing and crappy fuelling systems. Older engines gain the most.

When Mobil 1 was announced BMW tested a 325 for one million miles and found that it was still in spec after strip down.

On YouTube you'll find various informational videos explaining the benefits and dismissing some of the old wives tales that surround everything, fully synthetic oils included.

Rolls-Royce actually said that if Esso Ultron was used after one of their engines had been rebuilt, it would never need doing again.

Given the distance old cars travel, it's probably neither here nor there, but my son has customers that buy very old cars and drive them flat out across Continents mid summer. In July one is doing Sicily in a 1947 Bentley. He's having fully synthetic oil because it'll probably prevent a seizure if it overheats. It will because he drives like Tiff Needell!

[colwyn500]

I think Ashley puts forward a very convincing argument. I will be looking into that stuff...I bet it's expensive....Doh!

[kevin2306]