SAE 20

[Arthurdaily]

I am trying to work out what different oil numbers mean, Is SAE simply very 'thin' or 'light' oil? A little like 3 in 1, I'm presuming it is as people say use 3 in 1 in your carb dash pot, and the morris book says use SAE 20, is it the same stuff?

And is THIS it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Golden-Film-SAE-2 ... 19c347d507

Thanks!

[chrisryder]

i use this stuff:

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=37250

the nozzle is handy for aiming it into the dashpot! and not too pricey really.

[bmcecosse]

SAE = Society of Automotive Engineers It's a scale used to compare the viscosity rating of Automotive oils. SAE 20 is very thin - it's the grade originally recommended for Dampers and Dash-pots - it's far too 'thin' to be used in an A series engine. However - SAE 20W50 is very suitable. When cold it acts like SAE 20 oil, but when hot at engine working temperature, it acts like SAE50 oil. If used in damper or carb it will still be like SAE 20 since it won't get hot! I find carb works best with 3 in 1 oil - which is probably ~ SAE 5, and of course the dampers work very much better with SAE 40 oil - which is NOT SAE 10W40.........

[Arthurdaily]

Thanks BMCECOSSE, yes you told me to use 3 in 1 in the dashpot before, and I have - indeed under your recomendation I have filled my can with it for all the general oiling, but was just interested in the original specs, and that has enlightened me - thank you! BMC book recomends sae20 in the dashpot, much thicker then than the 2 in 1?

This is complicated, but strangely fascinating for me as it is so new... Going to go to a motor factors today for some oil-window-shopping ha ha

[Arthurdaily]

So you CAN use 20/50 in a dashpot then?

[bmcecosse]

You can use whatever you wish!

[Matt]

I use 20w50 in the dashpot...

[bmcecosse]

The Works rally Minis used EP 90......

[morrisminorbzh]

While we are on the subject of oil - found some 20w50 for sale here in my local supermarket (Intermarché) here in France.
Unknown make to me marked in French and I translate
Engine Oil
20w50
Mineral
For diesels

Sold in a 5 litre plastic bottle for 10,99€.
Stupid question, is there any reason why I shouldn't put it in may standard 1098 engine ?


Be grateful for your comments
Michael

[bmcecosse]

It will be fine - diesel spec oil is better than petrol spec. It may even 'clean up' the engine internally.

[morrisminorbzh]

It will be fine - diesel spec oil is better than petrol spec. It may even 'clean up' the engine internally.

Many thanks bmcecosse for the information - probably buy 10 litres, useful to have in stock. The engine certainly needs an internal 'clean-up'. How does the price (considering that it's a supermarket brand) compare with the UK ?
regards
Michael

[chrisd87]

Sounds about the same as the UK to be honest. £10 for 5 litres is about as cheap as it gets these days (although some have found it fractionally cheaper).

On the subject of dashpot oil, I normally use cheap ASDA 20w/50. It seems curiously thinner than the syrupy Comma classic 20w/50 I use in the engine, so seems to be about right.