|
Author |
Message |
Millie Vanillie
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Chichester, West Sussex
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: Next silly question |
|
|
Hello,
I have put out quite a few posts these last few days and it seems I have an awful lot to learn about everything
My next question is about oil.
What specification oil would you recommend for my 1955 Austin A30 ? The bloke down the local garage seems to think 'straight 30' oil should be ok, but also suggested the more common 20/50.
I welcome your advice as always , thanks again . |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
a decent quality 20/50 from a leading brand should do very nicely. Forget the cheapo stuff for sale in the supermarket, try finding Duckhams or even Halfords' own classic motor oil. There are alternative 'classic' oils, although they may be mail order rather than off-the-shelf locally.
Don't forget the filter too, a removable canister if I remember right on the A30. You might consider converting it to a later spin-on canister, which incorporates a non-drain valve in it - not a bad modification if you plan to use it regularly, especially as the old style filters aren't that plentiful.
rgds, Rick _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop |
|
Back to top |
|
|
peppiB
Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 686 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have to confess to using supermarket 20/50 in both the Minor and the landcrab and have not had any problems in the 5 years I have been doing it. Even on long journeys it hardly uses any - did a trip from Newcastle to Ludlow and back at the weekend in the Minor and it didn't use a drop. The cars do 2 - 3 thousand miles a year and oil and filter are changed each spring. Both mine are still the cartridge element, and as long as there are no leaks to warrant it, I don't change the top rubber seal either |
|
Back to top |
|
|
SV8Predator
Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 136 Location: Further up the creek
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Castrol have recently been sending out information to the clubs about their 'Classic Oil' range. I found it interesting reading and discovered that modern oils do not have the anti-wear additive ZDDP, because this can be detrimental to catalytic converters and other emission equipment. Modern engines have the latest surface hardening technology and very close tolerances and need a different specification of oil than that which is suitable for one of our 'older cars'. These modern oils do not offer as much protection in these older cars.
More details at:
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/subsection.do?categoryId=9014105&contentId=7027417 _________________ 2000 Jaguar XJ8 4.0 LWB
1974 Jensen Interceptor Mk III
1969 Jensen Interceptor Mk I |
|
Back to top |
|
|
buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire
|
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi
The main issue with modern supermarket oils is the detergents in them, they don't allways help!
I use straight 30 and would recomend you doing so too. Morris do a straight 30 oil and I trust morris lubricants. They are also very helpful, knowing one of the owners, they have old vehicles and steam engines.
http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/scripts/default.asp
I use decent 20 50 in minis though.
Cheers
Dave |
|
Back to top |
|
|
PAUL BEAUMONT
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks
|
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi, as Buzzy says Morris' of Shrewsbury are probably the oldest people specialising in classic motor oils, but you might also like to check out www.penrite.co.uk & www.millersoils.net. Both sites are a useful reference for anyone new to old motors. You will often find one or the others products at the bigger shows etc. Personally I use Millers because they are just up the road, but for no other reason
Good luck with the motor and dont worry about asking the questions.
Paul |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4105 Location: South Cheshire
|
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
I treat all my cars to Morrisons best; £2.99 for 4.5L which included a Vauxhall Omega a few years ago that covered 150,000 miles of which 140,000 was on the Morrisons stuff and the engine ran perfectly when I sold it, the only thing that used to fail were cam and crank sensors, hardly oil related
I did change the oil every 10,000 miles so this may of helped ? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bob2
Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1727 Location: Malta
|
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ohh Dave every 10,000 is a bit too often dont you think?
On my everyday modernish I change it every 4000 kms and on the minis once a year (one may cover about 500mls and the other barely does 200mls per year). I do use Delphi 20/50 on my minis though!!
However now for the first time I have an oldish car with rear wheel drive and with a gearbox that needs separate oil (not like minis) so I'd also like to know what to use for the differential and gearbox?
The car in question is a 1970 Hillman Hunter.
Any hints? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
PAUL BEAUMONT
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks
|
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Check the Penrite link in my previous entry. It gives you all you need to know. Don't necessarily need to buy their oils, but the spec of what you need is there
PAUL |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Keith D
Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 1129 Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia
|
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
For the record, Penrite oils were developed for veteran,vintage and classic cars and motorcycles from the word go.
The company CEO was John Dymond, a petroleum engineer in Melbourne, Australia who was an old car enthusiast himself. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago. He travelled all over Australia visiting old car clubs to give technical talks on oils and unleaded petrol when it first came out. He was a mine of information who gave freely of his knowledge. He personally gave me a lot of help when it came to getting my 1928 Morris Cowley to run on the rubbish we were sold when unleaded petrol first came out over here.
I have used only Penrite oils in all my seven vehicles (moderns as well as vintage and classic) for the last twenty or so years and have NEVER had any lubrication problems.
Keith |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Millie Vanillie
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Chichester, West Sussex
|
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well thanks (again) for all the advice !
I went ahead and bought the straight 30 oil recommended by Buzzy Bee and also the Penrite website and my little Austin is now purring like a kitten bless her !
Also cheers to Paul (Beaumont) for saying I shouldn't worry about the questions...I have to say that it's quite overwhelming the amount of knowledge that is out there and I don't want to offend anyone by asking something that's just downright stupid, but on the other hand I don't want to damage my Austin either just cos I am too proud to ask.
Anyway, give me a few hours and I am sure I will come up with something else I need to know |
|
Back to top |
|
|
exbmc
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Derby East Midlands
|
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: oil |
|
|
Millie, years ago when your A30 was new, and multi-grade oils were not yet common. It would have had 3000 mile changes, and if it was late in the year SAE 20 would have been used, or if it was spring SAE 30 ready for summer. The coming of multi-grade did away with that eventually, but when I started work in the lube bay as a 15 year old, the 20 or 30 depending on the time of the year was still going strong. (1962) There was BP visco static in use, but only in the newest cars.
One for bob2, you probably have the info by now, on the Hunter?
If not, I have an old Pearsons handbook for it, and they recommend Shell Super 20/50 in the engine and gearbox. For the rear axle, it's Shell hypoid SAE 90. Excuse me restarting a 3 month old thread, but I have only just joined, so will just add on where I can. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bob2
Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1727 Location: Malta
|
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
thanks exbmc, do you mean I should put engine oil in the gearbox?
I have the factory manual but have not taken a look at it yet!!
Was too busy renovaitng the house lately!!
I have bought some BP 20/50 for the engine for now!! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
exbmc
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Derby East Midlands
|
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: oil |
|
|
Hello bob2, Yes, it's engine oil in the gearbox. I was quoting direct from the old manual, so it's the 20w-50 bit that matters. The Shell Super is no longer on the market. Plenty of good alternatives though, the BP will be fine.
I had a couple of Avengers, and my late dad had a 1500 minx, (Arrow series, so Hunter shaped). We actually used the Shell Super in them, as we ran a filling station then. Some people no doubt use SAE 90 to quieten one that is getting a bit noisy in the gearbox, though the shift may be poor?
Also ATF may be used in some manual boxes, I don't know if it is common on these old Hillmans though. I always stuck to the engine oil myself. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Nic Jarman
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1031 Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk
|
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I used ATF in my Midget gearbox. It leaked a small amount but it did clean the internals, and then I replaced it with EP 80. I have been very reliably informed that if you have a cartridge filter then use a detergent spec oil. If you have an older type engine then use a low detergent or non-spec oil and change it regularly, about every 1 to 2 thousand miles. I use Slick 50 as an engine rebuild for the Talbot is around 6K.
Back to the Midget, I use 10/40 semi in the engine and it works just fine, much to the annoyance of the purists.
Buy your oil in 25 ltrs, it is much cheaper.
API provide all the specs you will need (and More). _________________ 1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|