ASDA 20W50

[bmcecosse]

I notice ASDA have the 20W50 oil back on the shelves - but it's £16 for the plastic 'can'.......

[chickenjohn]

For that price may as well spend a couple of quid more and get some oil that has an API rating!

[lambrettalad]

but asda be perfect

[minor65]

Just bought Fuchs Silkolube 20/50 api sf, 5 litres for £10 inc vat and delivery, from fuchs main supplier, why buy cheap supermarket rubbish !!

[bmcecosse]

That's a GOOD deal - point us to the link? Can't see it on Fuchs website........

[chickenjohn]

Just bought Fuchs Silkolube 20/50 api sf, 5 litres for £10 inc vat and delivery, from fuchs main supplier, why buy cheap supermarket rubbish !!

Yes, very good for a proper API rated oil SF I think is OK for the Minor. Please post a link,
cheers
John

[lambrettalad]

I too could not find it on the Fuchs site and am awaiting an email reply

[minor65]

Sorry didn't purchase online, phoned the local fuchs supplier here in northern ireland

http://lubecare-ltd.co.uk/

[lambrettalad]

got an email back today from Fuchs oil, and it seems that many motorcycle dealers keep it in stock

[bmcecosse]

Can they provide a list of stockists?? The Fuchs oils on ebay are all MUCH more expensive than you suggest........

[lambrettalad]

bmc

I emailed from the Fuchs site and let them have my post code they sent me back a list of local stockist near to me ,lots in Brum ,but i guess not so many in central Scotland

[bmcecosse]

Ok -can try that - 'minor65' originally said including delivery - did they - or did you collect from Dealer?

[lambrettalad]

not me bmc

[bmcecosse]

Sorry - yes - it was 'minor65'...... silly me....

[minor65]

No I didn't collect, they delivered it to the vw dealer where I work.

[millerman]

No I didn't collect, they delivered it to the vw dealer where I work.

Working in the 'trade' does help with getting discount which is why, I suspect, you had a good deal

[MarkyB]

Went to Wilkinsons today and they had 20w/50 for less than 10 quid, if it had an API rating it was in the small print.

[les]

No I didn't collect, they delivered it to the vw dealer where I work.

----and the boss said, oh give us a tenner.

[rayofleamington]

API ratings ...
what rating you need as a minimum depends on use case.

If you're in uk (not northern canada / equator etc..) & if the engine is standard, and you change the oil annually & do less less than 6000 miles then API of SE and above is fine. That covers the vast majority of Minor owners needs.

Running a very highly tuned A series leads to chasing a high spec oil to get better engine life. Mostly this is due to the increased stresses on the engine but also because you might want your very expensive engine to last as long as possible (generally assumed to be much less life than a a standard engine anyway).

Before automotive companies moved their engines on to thinner oils (more efficient, but engine needs to be designed with this in mind) it was commonplace to see 20/50 readily available with higher ratings (~10 years ago). I remember being able to get SJ rated 20/50 from local parts retailer less than 10 years ago, but that's long gone now.
Many of the well-known lubricant (brand named) firms have down graded their 20/50 as there's much less call for it. A lower rated oil is easier to produce and easier to test/certify as well.

Further to that if you have to worry about regular >45°C summers or less than -25°C winters then there will be other blends on the shelf for old cars.

[chickenjohn]

The importance of an API rating is that the oil has actually been tested.

I'm worried that the super cheap 20W50 could be just filtered oil taken from the recycling tank at the council tip! So your oil could be diluted with brake fluid paint thinners and even antifreeze!