26 replies to this topic

[me madjoe 90]

i got my 1988 city E a few weeks back and im going to give it a service and was wondering what oil you people (pros with minis) recomend for my auto box as the haynes manual says to use "sae 20w/50, 10w/40 or 10w/30 also is there any advice on brands or am i ok using the big drums of unipart oil that are at my work....

thx for taking your time to help me sorry about my spelling grammer and punctuation no good at it .......

[jaydee]

a good 20w 50 will be fine, the most important thing is that you change it often, at least each 3k miles.

[me madjoe 90]

a good 20w 50 will be fine, the most important thing is that you change it often, at least each 3k miles.

so why 20w 50 over the 10w 40 ? just wondering why................ and im probly rebuilding my engine in next year or so so im probly just gona use unipart stuff as its free to me at my work....... + the car dosent get run that often any way

[Pauly]

Because unlike the k series engines which was the reason why rover changed all the oils to 10w 40 for minis so that they where all the same for all rovers, the a series shares the sump with the gearbox and you need the thicker oil for the gears.

Paul.

Edited by Pauly, 08 July 2009 - 07:33 PM.

[m1tch]

And thicker oil also leaks slower lol

[me madjoe 90]

Because unlike the k series engines which was the reason why rover changed all the oils to 10w 40 for minis so that they where all the same for all rovers, the a series shares the sump with the gearbox and you need the thicker oil for the gears.

Paul.

so you are saying they did it to make it easyer for them asin rover just standerd using 10w/40 in all there cars but the higher viscosity in the 20w/50 will be better for the gears in the minis A serise as the gear oil is used to lubricate the engine as well........ ?

[me madjoe 90]

And thicker oil also leaks slower lol

supose but as far as im aware i have the only mini that dosent loose oil..........

[me madjoe 90]

also dose any one know why smoke might be comeing from around my oil cap when engine has been running for a while i dont know if this is normal or wather its some thing bad could it just be left over oil residue on the rocker cover thats burning off ?

sorry for being abit off topic

Edited by me madjoe 90, 08 July 2009 - 07:45 PM.

[m1tch]

And thicker oil also leaks slower lol

supose but as far as im aware i have the only mini that dosent loose oil..........

Is that cause its all leaked out?

[L400RAS]

also dose any one know why smoke might be comeing from around my oil cap when engine has been running for a while i dont know if this is normal or wather its some thing bad could it just be left over oil residue on the rocker cover thats burning off ?

sorry for being abit off topic

Have you got breather pipes going to the carb? Indicates to me that these are blocked - they do get sludged up - and the engine is breathing through the (vented) rocker cap. Remove the one (or two) pipes and give them a blow down.

Ryan.

[jaydee]

And thicker oil also leaks slower lol

supose but as far as im aware i have the only mini that dosent loose oil..........

Give a better look at your rocker cover seal and grommets, at your gear selector seal, at the sump plug hole..LOL

[me madjoe 90]

also dose any one know why smoke might be comeing from around my oil cap when engine has been running for a while i dont know if this is normal or wather its some thing bad could it just be left over oil residue on the rocker cover thats burning off ?

sorry for being abit off topic

Have you got breather pipes going to the carb? Indicates to me that these are blocked - they do get sludged up - and the engine is breathing through the (vented) rocker cap. Remove the one (or two) pipes and give them a blow down.

Ryan.

thx for that ill have a try then i give it a service hopefully this week
ive also been told its pinking abit and that i should try advancing the dizzy. Is this the right thing to do aparently it started when ma dad filled her up for first time with unleadded. As its new we dident know what was in it befor or wether it needs adatives. im new to minis dont know much but keen to learn, im working in a garage as tire fitter and general if u get me and id like to have a learn on my mini and sort of teach my self as i dont get to learn much at work as its busy alot..... ive always liked minis now i got my own... to play with

[Guess-Works.com]

Don't put treacle ( oops 20/50 ) in an auto....

Use a decent 10/40 mineral and change regularily...

As for the so called 'change' to 10/40 because of the 'K' series, absolute snot....

The recommended oil for minis has not changed since it was first produced ( although multigrades were not so common then ), just as engines get older and more worn out, they generally need a more viscous oil to maintain compression, hence the use of 20/50 in old engines..

Please also note I say engines, and not gearboxes.

[me madjoe 90]

Don't put treacle ( oops 20/50 ) in an auto....

Use a decent 10/40 mineral and change regularily...

As for the so called 'change' to 10/40 because of the 'K' series, absolute snot....

The recommended oil for minis has not changed since it was first produced ( although multigrades were not so common then ), just as engines get older and more worn out, they generally need a more viscous oil to maintain compression, hence the use of 20/50 in old engines..

Please also note I say engines, and not gearboxes.

ok

so cheap unipart 10w/40 in my engine and i say engine to because it more engine than gearbox anyway gearbox is more part of it mine is a standerd worn out 20yearold engine tho dont think it had much done to it since new probly only got like 10hp in it

[Minisniper]

Hiya
I did a oil change some time ago on my mini which is an auto, I used Halfords Classic car oil 20/50w and she runs like a little gem and I have to say that she runs better now than she did before and I haven't had any problems.

Hope this helps!!!!