The price of 'good' oil

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:50 pm

For those who know Bath I work in westgate just above a Halfords... so popped down at lunchtime to buy some 20W50 after noticing I was a bit low this morning on oil (*slaps wrists for not checking her oil levels for a while*)

...ANYWAY...

I ended up buying the el cheapo 'orrible 20W50 in the Blue can that Halfords does, figuring that as Hebe is just about due her 3k service I'm going to be changing the oil out pretty soon.

But it got me to noticing and wondering why, (and if it really is worth it) Halfords charge £12.99 for a 5 litre metal can of 20W50 of specially formulated (or so they claim) oil for classics. The only thing I could detect as being different was the fact that the more expensive oil had some sort of sealant protector in it that the cheaper, nastier blue 4.5 litre plastic bottle didn't. The oil I brought was £5.99...

With 20W50 getting harder to buy (or rather, it's getting harder to find 20W50 oil from half-decent refining companies) the question is this.

How much is too much?

For what it's worth, when I've finally found a job and have 'MeriKate working too I think 'PyoorKate and I shall have to club together and buy one of those huge oil drums of 20W50....

Post by **Cam** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:56 pm

or just buy the red or purple Halfords bottles of oil. 15W/40 is perfectly fine for the Moggy. I think they are about £8 ish?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:32 pm

If you want a good starter on why you need to look for API and ACEA numbers and what they mean then this site is a good starter:

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbible ... bible.html
(the ratings part is a page or 2 down)

If you're happy to take no notice about how to tell between one oil and another then don't worry as it may be a fairly long time before you can tell the effects anyway (unless you find the oil light coming on fairly soon after the oil change when using a cheap oil)

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:39 pm

Excellent link, BTW. The Halfrauds 20/50 doesn't have any rating at all, so presumably it's not up to much. You've talked about recycled oil. Is it just the stuff you put in the oil tank at the coup, filtered and re-packaged?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:45 pm

API SF or better is needed. That lets you know that the oil has the good additives that look after your engine and keep the oil good for longer.

If its only for a short time and your not going to thrash the engine- it doesn't matter too much as long as its fairly near to 20w 50 in the viscosity rating.

I knew a chemist who worked for the lubrication research labs at Shell some years ago and basically he said change your oil often.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:33 pm

ASDA 20w50 - rated as CC - and £2:74 for 4.5 litres. Just don't expect it to last for ever !

Post by **fsk658** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:35 pm

I buy my oil from a shop called Rock Bottom in Northampton Duckhams 20/50 Classic oil. Still the same green colour as I used to buy years ago £6.99 for 4.5 Ltr I normally buy 3 lots at a time as its not always in stock it keeps for years anyway. I dont know if these shops are all over the UK Best of luck in locating Rock Bottom. John

Post by **Onne** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:05 pm

I use either Comma 20w50 Oil, around £5 or Millers classic 20w50 priced at £8 approx.

Does Castrol make 20w50 btw? I have been looking around, but as yet haven't traced it

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:02 pm

As far as I can see - the ASDA 20W50 stuff is Comma !! Just half the price - in fact, ASDA price !

Post by **honda90** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:48 pm

I use comma XT2000 15w-40 Semi Synthetic oil, find its fine for my morris with 1098 engine, does not appear to use any more oil, although its a bit thinner than 20/50 but much better quality around £11 at motor factors

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:31 am

As far as I can see - the ASDA 20W50 stuff is Comma !!

The Comma 20/50 I've seen has an API rating of SE (IMO about the lowest rating you should consider if you want a cheap oil instead of a modern one that helps your engine last longer) therefore an oil without the API rating is not the same stuff.

A 'CC' rating means it was deemed suitable for Diesel engines by 1961 standards and therefore in comparison to a modern Diesel Oil it is 40 years behind the latest oil developments (And this has been a very technologically advanced 40 years)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:03 pm

Thank goodness I'm not running a diesel in my Traveller then !!

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:30 pm

Yes Onne, I do believe that Castrol do the huge oil drums of the stuff

Post by **Onne** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:53 pm

Must track some down then, halfrauds over here doesn't have it

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:01 pm

Its available in 25ltr drums
http://www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk/engine.htm
And by the way there is nothing wrong with the proper Comma oil as it exceeds the standards of all oils in the Moggies production days.