What OIL for a S2 803cc Minor!?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 12:10 pm

Hi and welcome to the site.

If it's a good 803 and you hope to keep it a long time then I'd suggest to use the best oil you can get. The 803 doesn't have a great reputation for long life and due to the limited power, many have been thrown away and replaced with a later engine + box.

Castrol classic oils are a bit pricey, however as GTX 15/40 is nearly £15 at Halfords then paying £17 for a castrol classic multigrade seems not too bad. Of course you just have to ignore that it's probably the bog standard 20/50 that you used to buy in the 80's and early 90's and now they sell it with a premium.
You can get the castrol oils directly (same as the lead substitute additives) from Castrol - Details are on their website.

http://www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk/

Post by **57traveller** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:24 pm

Not seen this Castrol "Merit" (just a slip of the fingers probably, "Catsrol")
Or have Castrol changed the name of their "Classic" 20W/50? How much is it damian and where did you see it? And welcome to the forum.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:36 pm

The link can be found on the main MMOC site if you follow the trail from unleaded fuel, in the additives section:
http://www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk/

it was suitable for older engines with high mileage.

Be wary - any oil I've seen that says that is usually rubbish. They say ''suitable for high mileage engines' however I think it means 'suitable for cars that wil be scrapped soon'. There are various gradings for oils (read the back of GTX - it has a list of codes) and if the other oil has the same list of codes it should be ok.

Post by **Cam** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:51 pm

20W/50 is fine, but it you can't get it then 15W/40 will be OK.

Post by **57traveller** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:08 pm

Interesting little tech. article at http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/TechArticles.htm
Vintage & veteran engines section.

Also mentions cylinder glazing Ray.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:28 pm

I used Morris oils for a while, however this was until Halfords undercut everyone by offering GTX at £9.99. It seemed to have worked as it moved a lot oof people away from the small shops who couldn't compete.
Now that GTX is only available at 15-40 for £14-95 at Halfords, I occasionally look around at the options, and even consider the Castrol classic 20/50 for a few quid more.
Has anyone Seen Morris Servol 15-50 anywhere? I didn't find stockists on their website.

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:42 pm

I still use 20w/50 Comma Oil as its available locally to me in a few places it has a good spec API SJ and is normally £9 - £10 and is mainly sold in the smaller outlets, I dont know why its not in the bigger shops but Bull Motif sell it as well.
http://www.commaoil.com/

Post by **Willie** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:29 pm

Castrol GTX 15/40 is under £10 at MAKROS.
DAMIAN, the original spec for the engine oil on a series two
was : grade 30W. this was a monograde oil,i.e. it got thinner
when it warmed up. during this period the multigrade 20-50W
became available and were quickly approved by the car makers.
Therefore any modern multigrade is a vastly improved oil for
your engine although,due to its age, the 20-50 is better able to
compensate for some of the wear.

Post by **winger300** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:08 pm

is Duckhams Classic 20/50W any good? i found it for £7 at Elliots in Coventry

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:52 pm

winger300,
The oil might be good - what code numbers does it have on the back?
and where on earth is Elliots?

Ray.

Post by **winger300** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:22 pm

London road, just off the ring road as you head towards PC World, they're pretty good for some things, including oil and jenolite... although i've noticed Wilkinson's now sell it, and also Comma EP90 oil. Im a little dubious about their 20/50W at £2.99 though

Post by **57traveller** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:35 am

Castrol developed 20W/50 multigrade to coincide with the introduction of the Jaguar E Type, 1961/62. That's what they told me anyway when I questioned SAE 30 being recommended in Minor 1000 handbook initially then later multigrades of various manufacture. This also coincided approximately with change to 1098cc engine which prompted my question to them.

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:04 am

Im a little dubious about their 20/50W at £2.99 though

Winger was that for the Comma oil with the SJ rating ? thats way less than I have ever seen it.

Post by **57traveller** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:15 am

I read it as another (maybe own) brand Kevin.
But if it is Comma then I'm off to Wilkinsons right now for a bulk purchase.
!!

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:33 am

If thats right 57 do Wilkinsons have a southern branch

Post by **57traveller** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:10 pm

Don't know what their store spread is across the country, maybe only north of Watford (as the saying goes) at present.

There is a Wilkinsons in Uttoxeter, 5 miles from me, so may check, but not 'til Monday.

Post by **winger300** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 1:00 pm

no, it was wilko's own brand 20/50W.