Engine oil

[brad`]

Hey was just wodenrign whats the best oil to use ?
its a 2000 Monty wiht 128.000 on the clock, the handle booka nd everything say use 5w-30w, but a few mates of mine say use 10w-40w now since its done a few kays, you guys are alot smarter and knoalge able then most my car mates haha. any sugestions ? brands to go for or not go for ?

[Mr Hardware]

i use 15w40 semi-syth castrol in my AU2 with 637k on the clock...

[V8 EF Fairmont]

I have always used Caltex Magnatec in my XR8 with 75kms and in my V8 Fairmonts before that with 180-300,000kms on it.

[b2tf]

Urgh, Magnatec. May as well pee in the sump.

I'd go with a 10 or 15w oil, I use 10w50 Penrite in the XR8 at the moment and its great stuff. I dont believe all the crap about oil - I measure how well it performs by how black it goes and the time it takes to do it, and by fuel consumption. I found Shell Helix to be the best in mine but cant get it through work anymore, so Penrite is the next best thing.

[89.SVO]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

i use 15w40 semi-syth castrol in my AU2 with 637k on the clock...

wtf?! 15w-40 semi-synthetic. . i thought you'd be using at least 25w-60 with that many kms. or is it on it 4th motor?

[bodes-sh]

the first question is probably, how much do you want to spend? there are a lot of very good, but expensive oils available. for budget stuff, penrite probably isn't bad, although i tried it in mine a couple of times and it didn't really like it. had been using magnatec before that, but since being on lpg been using shell helix lpg oil, if you want oil to stay clean, go to lpg lol

[Mechan1k]

I replace oil once a month ... so i just chuck in Shell Helix 15W40 LPG.
It's cheap ... it works ... keeps the engine quiet ... and comes out clean.
For engine longevity ... replace the oil a little more often ... it really don't cost much to replace it. Especially when it starts to age and there's a few kays on the vehicle.

[Foggy]

When I had an AU sedan used to use Shell ECO 10 now in the tonner Im using Nulon 5w -30?? I change it evey 5k.

[DBourne]

with that many K's i'd suggest 15w40 (the 40 will remain thicker, resulting in better oil pressure, at higher temperatures)

[blueoval]

I know with my car, its done 113,000km, on LPG and Im going interstate next week.

I plan to buy a bottle of 15w/40 oil with me incase I need to top up. Im not worried if one bottle costs $10 more a bottle than another. If its recommended on here by the majority, its usually the one to go for.

Then again, personal trial is the best way to experience things, albeit the hard way.

From what I have seen, the brands to stick to are:

Pennzoil
Shell
Penrite
Mobil 1 full syn (if you have extra coin u wanna spend)

I have used all of those brands, and apart from the different viscosity you try, there isnt that much difference if your changing it regularly. The main thing is you will have peace of mind knowing a certain type will have added protection in the oil for this reason or that.

I have also used Valvoline & Castrol Magnatec. Personally speaking, I dont mind higher the higher range of Valvoline oils. But I would steer clear of Castrol Magnatec. I have seen it turn to mush in a mates car after less than 10,000km's. Some people here, might have had good dealing with it, but Im not a fan.

Good luck with your choice mate.

[DBourne]

also, to re-enforce what i wrote just above.
my engine has just ticked over 300,000. I was using castrol 15w-30 oil. and found that while the engine was cool, the oil pressure was good, as it got warmer it dropped and got to the point that when hot (city driving) i had to hold the accelerator down a wee bit to keep pressure up.

Changed to penrite 15w-60 and now the pressure is perfect all the time.

I'd say going to 60 is a bit of overkill and 40 would have been fine, but i couldnt be stuffed doing 3 oil changes in a week if i found that the 40 wasn't good enough.

[blueoval]

yes you make a good point sarge.

Time frame between oil changes could have a bearing on what oil you choose to use.

If i was doing big km's each week, I would probably go a decent cheaper brand out there due to the frequency of oil changes. On the other hand, if it was a weekend car, I would spend up and get top quality oil. But thats just me though.

[brad`]

so magantec 10w - 40w isnt any good ?

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by brad`

so magantec 10w - 40w isnt any good ?

well not from my experiences thats all Im saying. But no doubt you will have some people here tell u the opposite.

[DavesXr8]

Nulon 15/50 full synthetic is good for me and chris at bluepower recomended it so did woosha good enough for me!

[Whoosha]

Originally Posted by DavesXr8

Nulon 15/50 full synthetic is good for me and chris at bluepower recomended it so did woosha good enough for me!

Thats the go your cheques in the mail
have a read of this very interesting
http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...article&id=333

[GK]

Originally Posted by Whoosha

Thats the go your cheques in the mail
have a read of this very interesting
http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...article&id=333

Well it certainly looks like the next lot I'll be trying is the Valvoline! LOL!

Great link Whoosha!

Cheers,

GK

[GK]

Originally Posted by blueoval

well not from my experiences thats all Im saying. But no doubt you will have some people here tell u the opposite.

I've found that the Magnatec made my car run quite 'rattly'. Also when it came out after 10,000 kays, it was just like water.

I've used shell 15w/50 which was good, and Penrite HPR 10 Gas 10w/50 which was also good, but this time around I'm trying Penzoil 10w/40 for both AUs (on gas) for the Winter period.

So far the SR sedan 120,000 kays is running well and quiet. I've yet to do the oil change in the wagon, which has done 175,000 kays. That's still running the shell oil. It's still about 5,000 kays to the next change, but I think I'll do it pretty soon for the cooler weather is upon us here in Melbourne! LOL!

GK

[poolkeeper]

My I6 has done 200k+ and I use Castrol Edge 5w 30, no problems with it, replace it every 5k though.

[blueoval]

Good work GK.

Do you reckon its safe to run say, a gas 15w/40 oil on a regular basis?

[GK]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Good work GK.

Do you reckon its safe to run say, a gas 15w/40 oil on a regular basis?

The 40 would be fine all year round I'd reckon, but it's the 15 that may be too thin in Winter. Remember that Ford specify a 5 weight oil, so a 15 weight may be too thin when it gets really cold. I don't think it'd do any harm though, just not offer as quick protection as a thinner oil at startup.

That's why I've gone the 10/40 for these colder months. I expect that I'll go back to the 15w/40-50 when it heats up again, but I think I'll want to try the Penzoil 10w/40 again this Summer to make a proper comparison.

Hope that helps!

GK

[Cooper69S]

Originally Posted by GK

The 40 would be fine all year round I'd reckon, but it's the 15 that may be too thin in Winter. Remember that Ford specify a 5 weight oil, so a 15 weight may be too thin when it gets really cold

I think you've got it the wrong way around there... the 5w-?? oil will be thinner when cold than a 15w-?? oil. In any case its almost irrelevant in most parts of australia - we don't have many places that get so cold that even a 20w is too thick when cold, so the winter grade doesn't matter much.

Originally Posted by brad`

Hey was just wodenrign whats the best oil to use ?
its a 2000 Monty wiht 128.000 on the clock, the handle booka nd everything say use 5w-30w, but a few mates of mine say use 10w-40w now since its done a few kays, you guys are alot smarter and knoalge able then most my car mates haha. any sugestions ? brands to go for or not go for ?

if the book says 5w-30, then use a 5w-30 (or 0w-30 or 10w-30 doesn't make much difference). If you car is rattly and/or consumes the oil too quickly then by all means go for a thicker (40 or 50) oil, but unless your car is showing signs of wear, then stick with the 30 oil. Thinner oil creates less friction, so less wear, and promotes better fuel consumption.

As for which brand, you can go for the best, ie redline or royal purple or the like, but they're up around $180 for 5L. They are proven to be good for 40000km between changes though so can still be economical.
otherwise I usually use a good synthetic oil like shell helix ultra, mobil 1 or similar.

[GK]

Originally Posted by Cooper69S

I think you've got it the wrong way around there... the 5w-?? oil will be thinner when cold than a 15w-?? oil. In any case its almost irrelevant in most parts of australia - we don't have many places that get so cold that even a 20w is too thick when cold, so the winter grade doesn't matter much.

You are correct.

It was a typo on my part, I meant that the 15 might be too thick in Winter.

Cheers,

GK

[blueoval]

I have heard royal purple is worth trying. It sounds the goods and my mate uses it in his S15 and swears by it. I just cant justify spending $180 though. Thats just me.

Today I bought Shell Gas oil 15w/40 for my trip interstate this week. I hope it should do the job sufficiently.

[89.SVO]

i use Pennzoil 20w-50 in mine. had a ticky lifter when i bought it due to the last owner servicing it at Ford and them using the original weight oil which was 15w-40

[blueoval]

my lifters seem ok, but you can hear them a little on start up. But still chose to get a gas oil to be safe.

[blueoval]

I reckon when I get to SA from QLD, I'll do another oil change and put in 10w/40. I think Penrite had a special for that.