11 replies to this topic

[profmatt]

I'm sure I read somewhere that you have to be careful with oil on a Mini (mine's a 1986 Mayfair automatic).

 

And the antifreeze says I shouldn't mix it with whatever's currently in my radiator. But I think it's lying.

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[Alex_B]

The Oil is wrong and the antifreeze should be fine provided its the blue glucol stuff you have in there currently but worth doing a complete flush and using fresh antifreeze and water mix suitable for the upcoming winter, 


You should be using 20w50 mineral oil for it by the way :) 

[Tamworthbay]

Do a search on here, there are hundreds of what oil threads. The antifreeze needs to be the old blue type not the new OAT which is usually orange. The two are not mixable. That is really bad for old engines and shouldn't be used in a mini.

[Tamworthbay]

The Oil is wrong and the antifreeze should be fine provided its the blue glucol stuff you have in there currently but worth doing a complete flush and using fresh antifreeze and water mix suitable for the upcoming winter, 
You should be using 20w50 mineral oil for it by the way :)

Its an auto, there is a lot of debate about 10w40 or 20w50. The majority seem in favour of 10w40 for the auto.

[profmatt]

the antifreeze should be fine provided its the blue glucol stuff

 

Oh good. The small print says "Blue -- Pure concentrated ethylene glycol."

[Alex_B]

 

The Oil is wrong and the antifreeze should be fine provided its the blue glucol stuff you have in there currently but worth doing a complete flush and using fresh antifreeze and water mix suitable for the upcoming winter, 
You should be using 20w50 mineral oil for it by the way :)

Its an auto, there is a lot of debate about 10w40 or 20w50. The majority seem in favour of 10w40 for the auto.

 

Ahh that is true, but both are recommended by austin / rover

The old debate  
 

[jaydee]

That IS the correct oil for your Automatic Mini.

If you dont know the answer, dont post.

[Alex_B]

That IS the correct oil for your Automatic Mini.

If you dont know the answer, dont post.

Early autos were run on 20w50 from austin though were they not? 

[Tamworthbay]

The Oil is wrong and the antifreeze should be fine provided its the blue glucol stuff you have in there currently but worth doing a complete flush and using fresh antifreeze and water mix suitable for the upcoming winter, 
You should be using 20w50 mineral oil for it by the way :)

Its an auto, there is a lot of debate about 10w40 or 20w50. The majority seem in favour of 10w40 for the auto.

Ahh that is true, but both are recommended by austin / rover
The old debate

Indeed! Is there a week that goes by without a what oil debate? General consensus seems to be 20w50 for manual and 10w40 for autos but there will always be people who swear by something different.

[jaydee]

 

That IS the correct oil for your Automatic Mini.

If you dont know the answer, dont post.

Early autos were run on 20w50 from austin though were they not? 

 

 

Early were filled up with a straight oil, so possibly EP80 for the auto, but thats a guess, certainly they didnt come out the factory with 20w50 in it.

[profmatt]

Something weird happened when I put the antifreeze in. It came out blue, but looked orange in the radiator. I've given more detail here: http://www.theminifo...ow-bad-is-this/

[MiniMonty]

Something weird happened when I put the antifreeze in. It came out blue, but looked orange in the radiator. I've given more detail here: http://www.theminifo...ow-bad-is-this/

 

 

Sounds like you have rust in the cooling system (probably radiator) or some old orange antifreeze.

Empty and flush the cooling system (an easy job - just check the manual and get your rubbish clothes on).

Then refill it with the blue stuff.

 

Re oil: Go for Castrol 15/w40 - it splits the opinions of the nerds and experts, I use it in mine and I've run the car about 30 miles every day for five years with no problems.