What oil should put put in my minor?

[MortisMinor]

Hey. Wondering im gonna try start run my minor for the first time and it need an oil change first. But i have no manual becouse it came as a mess. So i dont know whaty type. Its a 69 2 door not a traveler. Any ideas?.

[alex_holden]

20W50.

[MortisMinor]

Is that universal for all age minors?

[chickenjohn]

Yes, 20w50. Comma 20w50 is OK or for starting it up/flushing a cheap supermarket 20W50 will do, change to a better quality when the car is in use. Although some folk have had good experience using supermarket 20W50 all the time.

[nick69]

Its for all old cars really. See if you buy Lucas 20w50 its some of the best.

[dalebrignall]

halfords or duckhams 20/50 is fine

[alex_holden]

Its for all old cars really. See if you buy Lucas 20w50 its some of the best.

I didn't know Lucas made oil. I tend to use either Castrol or Duckhams 'classic' oil. Though in the originial poster's case I would be tempted to put some cheap oil in and change it again for the more expensive stuff after about an hour's running to flush out any old gunge. Don't forget to change the filter too, and make sure the filter housing still has the spring and dished plate inside (sometimes they get accidentally thrown away with the old filter cartridge).

[Kevin]

See if you buy Lucas 20w50 its some of the best.

Not heard of it before so did a quick search and its an American spec oil that seems to be more for high performance cars but surprisingly it doesnt say what API it is.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0167088827
I also came across 20w50 by Silkolene

[nick69]

Yeah thats the stuff, you can buy it over here but they use it in there old style racers.
Its fantastic stuff.

[jojax64]

Reminds me of my first Moggie experience, when I went to Carparts and asked for SAE 30 oil.
Got some funny looks from the counter staff....ah well, we all have to learn.
Incidentally, folks...my son has found a "J" reg Mini 1000. What oil should he put into that? I've suggested 20/50, but he reckons a modern, thinner multigrade (or semi-synthetic) is better.

[Kevin]

but he reckons a modern, thinner multigrade (or semi-synthetic) is better.

Yes he is quite right.
It will dramatically improve the oil leaks to slick status
The mini is the same as the Minor your 20/50 recommendation is correct

[moggydriver62]

Minors PUT PUT with any kind of oil.

[Kevin]

Minors PUT PUT with any kind of oil.

Sorry have to disagree but 20w50 is the correct oil.

[MortisMinor]

Okay i went out looking for some 20w50 oil in a shop i know which had loads of oil. But no 20w50 . SO i cane back and read its mostly used in classic cars :p. Does any one know any shops that will sell i like quick fix or hallford. Some one stated hallford do do it but what is the qualiy of it?

[alex_holden]

I think the Halfords stuff is supposed to be OK. Check for a performance rating; S and another letter like J or L. The higher the letter the better. If it doesn't show a performance rating anywhere on the can I would tend to assume it is poor quality, and possibly recycled from waste oil. You can get the cheap stuff in big supermarkets like Morrisons.

[LouiseM]

I've used the Halfords oil and it's fine - it's quite thick in consistency and the same colour as Duckhams. As Alex has pointed out you can also get 20/50 in Tesco, Asda and Morrisons supermarkets.

[MortisMinor]

Ive never been to a supermarket and seen oil :S. Are you sure you can get it in morrisons. Unfortunatly im not neer a morrisions. Ill check halfords website.

[alex_holden]

I bought a can in Morrisons last week. It's with the other car accessories. It's only cheap stuff though - I've just rebuilt an engine and I'm going to run it for the first 500 miles with this in it before changing to the expensive stuff (Castrol Classic).

[Judge]

You're intending doing 500 miles before the LEO

[dalebrignall]

halfords does have a rating some cans dont i think its duckhams anyway