ausmini
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/

Oils aint oils....or are they??
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56922		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  jubblies [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Oils aint oils....or are they??
Hi all,

Only new around these parts so sorry if this is a question answered previously.

What oil should I use in my 1100 clubman. :?:
Some say standard 20w50 as a multi-grade is the way to go and some say straight 30 as it is better for the gearbox. Who is right?? :?

I understand oils have come a long way since the 60s & 70s but I am not sure which is best.

The car is not a daily driver however I have got a 'hard driver' (http://www.minisport.com.au/prod1272.htm) filter for her as only the best will do!!

Your thoughts........? (type/brand, etc)
Author:  Leighton [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
GR uses kmart KMX...

guess what i use :wink:
Author:  drmini in aust [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
20W/50 is recommended.

Straight 30 will be too thin when hot. And thicker when cold.

I agree with GR, KMX 20W/50 is good stuff. It gives me the same oil pressure hot as Castrol Edge Sport 25/50 does, and it's 1/2 the price or less.

Stay away from synthetics....
Author:  jubblies [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Excellent, thankyou I shall get some 20w50.

anyone in particular??
Author:  Leighton [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
leighton wrote:
KMX
:wink:
Author:  Morris 1100 [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Motorpro KMX from K-Mart.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Rumour has it the KMX is repackaged Shell oil. It does look and smell like Shell...
Author:  Mick [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
In my personal experience (as a oil gauge watcher) I reckon it thins out a lot quicker than the other oil I use which is castrol edge, it shows in the way the gear changes feel once its heated up...so I'm pretty sure its not repackaged Castrol at least...
Author:  gafmo [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
Do not use "synthetic" or the Magnetic oils in a Mini Engine for to many reasons.
For the price and the experiance of people that us it, as I do KMX from Kmart is perfect for the daily drives and those that wish to rev it when they want to :wink:
Author:  1071 [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
"Stay away from synthetics...."

Crap. Synthetic oil is better than "normal" oil is pretty much any performance category - except cost...

At any given viscosity the film strength is greater and it will retain that viscosity with less additive - although I suppose you might argue that its all additive. And because it doesn't depend on long chain polymers it will live longer.

As I've said before, try the wear test. Run your engine on normal oil for ,say, 3k miles and measure (photograph?) the feather of debris on the magnetic plug. Refill with a suitable synthetic and rerun the test - I would suggest for double the mileage and compare the quantity of swarf on the plug.

Based on experience I would suggest you might be surprised. 15 years of daily use with the same rings, bearings, synchros suggests to me there's nothing wrong with synthetics.

It amy very well be overkill but it won't hurt.

Cheers, Ian
Author:  drmini in aust [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
You can expect accelerated cam and lifter wear in an A series with synthetics. So says Graham Russell and he would know, he grinds enough of em. :lol: He told me when selecting oil for a Mini, pick one with an SG rating or lower. Like KMX, Castrol Edge 25W/50, etc.
Flat faced followers/lifters in these old design engines (early V8s too) need zddp (a zinc phosphate) additive in the oil to prevent wear. Synthetics (and many modern mineral oils too) have precious little or none as it poisons cat converters.

Synthetics work great in modern engines, but they all have roller cam followers these days. <edit> or curved face lever followers.

There is a further argument that having the gears in the sump damages synthetics. This same argument is used in the motorcycle world- most bikes with a combined engine/gearbox oil system specify use of mineral oils.
Author:  Tombo [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oil is a nececary part for an engine.

You buy cheap parts, they don't last as good and can damage the parts around them.

Buy good parts and they last longer and perform better....
Author:  Super-mini [ Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:01 am ]
Post subject: 
this thread comes up ALOT, it is not hard to find info by using the search.

anyway..

if its a normal mini engine, any 20w50

if its something special use the best you can afford.

i use castrol edge because i can feel the difference over cheaper oils.
Author:  superSeven [ Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:04 am ]
Post subject: 
I use the KMX 20W50

as it's so cheap, I do a change once every 3 months, which at the moment is only every 1000kms, as I'm away for 2 of those 3 months!
Author:  DTrain [ Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:54 am ]
Post subject: 
seems strange that shell would be rebranded to a lesser known label. but stranger things have happened. could similar to what they do with crown lager and fosters.
Page 1 of 4 All times are UTC + 10 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/