10 replies to this topic

[minisilverbullet]

Hi what oil should i be using in my standard 96 spi

Thanks

[L400RAS]

I use good quality 20W50 MINERAL oil - not synthetic. Do a search, and you will find the great oil debate...

Ryan

[Sprocket]

why just mineral oil and NOT synthetic?

[Guess-Works.com]

why treacle...?

Yes, everyone has their own opinions, and at the end of the day it's your engine & gearbox.... quite simply I've given up trying to advise people one what oil to use as most of the time they will ignore you...

Therefore, use what ever oil you like, just remember to change it regularly

[dsgoody]

Yes, there are many debates on this. Here's where I stand:
I use only Mineral oil due to the gearbox and diff, they break down the oil. Although, these oils are probably better for the engine.

In traditional Carb Mini's I use 20w50 as it seems to be the most popular choice for your average Mini however in Injection Mini's I use 15w40 use due to the Oxygen sensor and Cat in the exhaust as I'm told that thicker oil's designed for classics will damage these. Again, along as you don't use something daft it should be fine, I know people who run 10w40, 15w40 and 20w50 all with no problems.

Guessworks, I've never heard what oil you recommend for the gearbox. What do you recommend (obviously given your treacle comment it's not 20w50)?

Dave.

Edited by dsgoody, 21 December 2009 - 10:25 AM.

[jaydee]

Use quality 10W40 if you dont wnat to use classic 20W50 oil.
15w40 is the lowest quality oil you can use on a mini, i would never reccomend it!
And you can use synthetic oil, either 10W40 or 20W50, what you dont want is semi-sythetic oil. I've tried all kind of oils, even the synth 0W60 and 10W40 and they're great.

Edited by jaydee, 21 December 2009 - 11:37 AM.

[dsgoody]

Use quality 10W40 if you dont wnat to use classic 20W50 oil.
15w40 is the lowest quality oil you can use on a mini, i would never reccomend it!

Other then viscosity, how does say the same brand of 15w40 oil differ from 10w40? Like I say, I'm no expert so I'm open to other peoples ideas.

[minisilverbullet]

ok great advice

ive been using 10w40 synthetic, thinks that what was recomended in the haynes manual.

is that fine to continue to use!

[jaydee]

Use quality 10W40 if you dont wnat to use classic 20W50 oil.
15w40 is the lowest quality oil you can use on a mini, i would never reccomend it!

Other then viscosity, how does say the same brand of 15w40 oil differ from 10w40? Like I say, I'm no expert so I'm open to other peoples ideas.

Im not that technically minded about oil bases and addictives, only thing i know is that 15W40 is lower quality than a 10W40 or a 20W50 from the same brand, for what technically changes in the blend, worth asking to the oil experts on here.
To throw a spanner in a different direction, during the winter you'll need a thinner oil because 20W50 will need a lot of time to warm up, in this direction the use of fully synthetic 10W40 or a 15W50 will help a lot.

Edited by jaydee, 21 December 2009 - 02:23 PM.

[R1minimagic]

Lol more nonsense talk about oil, nobody seems to know what they are talking about, since when does the viscosity rating of an oil tell you anything about quality!!

Like Guessworks says, might as well just use treacle with a 10W-40 rating.

[Guess-Works.com]

Guessworks, I've never heard what oil you recommend for the gearbox. What do you recommend (obviously given your treacle comment it's not 20w50)?

It's all down to personal preference...

Personally, I use either 10/40 or 15/40, but if someone wants to use 20/50 then that's their choice..

Bottom line, change it regularly, whatever oil you use...

However, one thing I have noticed, which ever of the synthetics is a blue/purple sort of colour, synchromesh gearbox don't seem to like that, or rather the friction surfaces on the gears doesn't... but then again that may also be down to poor maintenance or just harsh treatment.