Best Viscosity 20w50 or lower?

[Admin/Founder 2]

Im a little confused tonight as Ive always believed that 10w40 isn't good for our beloved Automatics

However after reading another thread on another Forum i come back to the great debate again is it best to use an Oil with a viscosity of 20w50 or lower?

In the thread in question it was suggested that 10w40 was recommended in later models and can be beneficial in the colder winter months

Im not for 1 moment suggesting 20w50 is bad for our engines but starting from cold we all appear to experience a lack of response from our transmissions until the oil has reached temperature

So what I'm beginning to wonder is there a more suited viscosity of oil that will give results from cold without leaking because its too thin?

Ive often wondered if there was such a thing as 15w45?
I know there is 15w50

www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=48

Many of our members highly recommend Morris Oil so could this 15w50 mineral Oil help our transmission in colder weather or is it just better sticking to 20w50 and running the car to temperature before driving?

Any thoughts?

Huggz
Jodie

[bnicho]

One of my mates who is into Autos and is sadly not on this forum was discussing this very subject with me a few weeks ago. He swears by Penrite HPR10 10W50 for GAS (ie: LPG) engines. He reckons the 10W50 is kinder on the Auto in winter, and the lack of additives for GAS engine oils means no issues with clutches and bands.

I've always used GTX as I work for BP who owns Castrol, but I'm tempted to give the Penrite a try over winter....

[mra-minis]

This whole oils business will always find some one who likes such and such oil....... however a lot of the time it depends on so many other factors........

a) Driving style
b) Ambient temperature
c) Age and or mileage of unit
d) condition of unit

Which means that any oil you use or recomend could only be a compronise

[Admin/Founder 2]

i guess its best to find what suits the needs of your particular unit then

I think Quality Counts and its always best to use a quality brand i know its tempting sometimes when we see supermarkets selling oil for a little Over £5 for 5 litres

Ive seen this "Brand New" supermarket oil though and its colour and feel is very similar to the oil that i drain out rarther than new Oil

;D ;D ;D

I think Boris is quite Happy on a quality 20w50,id say allow a little longer initial warm up time from cold during these bitterly cold winter months before driving off

[morris1100]

We have a supermarket oil in Australia that is actually a very good oil made by one of the major oil companies. It is about half the price of regular oils.

[Admin/Founder 2]

Dec 12, 2009 10:32:17 GMT morris1100 said:

We have a supermarket oil in Australia that is actually a very good oil made by one of the major oil companies. It is about half the price of regular oils.

Oops
No Offense intended
In that instance id say yes if its good quality use it

Just the supermarket stuff here in the uk tends to be very cheap and often re cycled oil

You have brought up a very interesting point though,sometimes an economy brand marketed as a discount brand can sometimes turn out to be manufactured by one of the big Oil Manufacturers so always worth reading that small print on the side of the can

[gretzky38]

I think the clue is in the packaging!

Both Halfords & Miller's classic motor oils are 20w50 and they don't differentiate between manuals and autos. I know from my own experience using both 20w50 and 10w40 that I would go for the former any time. I can understand the thinking around winter use, but in light of the fact that the gearbox needs the oil to make it work right, and not purely to lubricate it, then I would always use 20w50 as I found that gear changes were smoother in all conditions. I was grateful for this driving down to IMM as there were occasions where we were crawling on the M6 & M5 & the car got hot and I genuinely believe the 'thicker' oil was invaluable in that situation.

Slightly off topic, I see in MiniWorld this issue someone boasting about doing 600 miles in their 998cc manual cars on a recent holiday. Olly, my 30 auto (also 998cc) can top them and some! He did the Lake District and the Highlands in June, a cool 1057 miles in 9 days. Also, as stated on another thread, he did the IMM in August and passed a few 1275s on the motorways and never missed a beat on any of the 2 trips. Proof once more that autos can hack it with the manuals on ANY stage!!

[jockduck]

Yes I agree the oil you use is a compromise, I believe that the gearbox works better with something a little less viscous than a 20/50 but I feel that auto engines are worked a bit harder than manual engines and thats why I stick to 20/50 because I believe that the engine protection when hot is more important than the auto fluffing a few changes while it warms up.
The rocker box on Annes car has a Castrol(Australia) sticker which recommends Castrolite 10/30, I would hate to think how well that would lubricate on a 45deg day!

[ceejam]

I am firmly of the belief that ALL A series should use a 50 weight oil (20W50 / 15W50 / 5W50)!!
10W40 was recommended later in the Mini's life, BUT I think that was purely because that's what every other Rover used, and they decided to "economise".

As for oil being a compromise - that's exactly what a "multigrade" oil is - Before Duckhams brought out 20W50 (some rumours say specifically for the Mini) you got "straight" 20 for the winter, and straight 50 for the summer.

Personally, I use Valvoline Racing 20W50 in tuned cars, and Comma 15W50 in most run of the mill cars. I've run autos on 15W50 & 20W50 and not noticed a differnce between them.

Jamie
www.McDonald-Minis.co.uk

[kiwihcn]

Hi
I use Castrol Magnatec 10 w 40 as it suits the local climate and always looks cleaner when I change it

[julian0987]

when i first got mine i put morrisons 10w40 but that was only because i was taking the engine out about a month later and oil was p***ing out of it hehe but i haven't bought any since i let the local mini centre service my car but will probable get castrol gtx or halfords classic. any particular one any of you recommend?

[(minisniper)]

I use Halfords Classic and I have no problems with it and the gear change is nice and smooth etc but I think it's down to personal choice at the end of the day.

[Admin/Founder 2]

They Use Cooking Oil in Cuba if they cant get Proper Oil
They Put Crisp n Dry or Something in Che Guevara,s Chevy to get it Running for The BBC

They Also Make their Own Brake Fluid out of Shampoo,Vodka,and Sugar ;D

Nice

Yeh Stick to 20w50 i say

Just don't use Chip Fat ;D

[jockduck]

Just to be picky, I always believed that the original green Duckhams 20/50 was designed for motorcycle engines but that makes it good for manual minis at least.
I thought Castrol Magetic??? was a semi synthetic!!!!

Ian B

[kiwihcn]

Hi
Magnatec is not a real synthetic it is a modified mineral oil that can legally call its self synthetic. I get great results but in saying that I have not used anything else for years

[mra-minis]

Rover may have "economised" however the AP2 internals have evolved and since about mid 80's and later, using 20w50 will NOT help the reliability one bit 10w40 allows for much sweeter changes with higher repeatability, ie more consistent changes.