The way to test how oils are working is through something like a Wearcheck oil analysis. You take samples of the oil at set intervals and send it off for analysis and they can tell you what is happening inside the engine.
You can set your service intervals based on science instead of a calendar.

I was thinking of doing it with my car but I'm not doing enough driving to warrant it.

Yeah, we do that for all our big engines. Oilcheck in Sydney do the laboratory tests to work out what is sitting in our sumps.

All you need to know is where a metal like copper, lead and tin (bearings) or nickel and iron might come from in your engine. And where a source of something like sodium might be (some kinds of coolant we use, indicating a type of coolant leak into oil). The quantities of all these indicate the level of concern. We perform the checks every three months, and graph the results over time.

We do the same for drinking water (So whaddya know about cadmium? )

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I am going to SC for rust inhibitor paint ( 500 litres!) I will ask if they can get it and how much. I will only buy it if they put a Clubby on the label! A black one!

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Black is the new Black

I sometimes think that people would buy dog poo if it had a nice photo of a Mini on the packet.

Where can I get said "mini poo"?

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Black is the new Black

Ahhhh Yep , i think you may be right .

Does anyone know how much it is Per/ 5 lit ?, any more than $ 40 and i'll stick to Castrol Edge thanks .

AutoPro in Campbelltown NSW has quoted $53 for 5 litres. I want to see if the oil pressure is any better than Castrol Edge gives;
there has been a slight drop in pressure since the last oil change using Edge. I used to use BP Corse Plus for many years, but when they stopped making it,
Castrol Edge suddenly made the gearbox work well again! Saved a rebuild!

Autobarn are doing 5 ltr of 20-50 classic oil on special for 9.99.
No picture of a mini on the label but the bottle is black!
Close enough!
Happy Xmas to everyone

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Black is the new Black

I can get the penrite "mini" oil for about $45-$50. But only if I get a box of 4.
I might consider giving it a try when my current stock of oil runs out.
If anyone is keen on splitting the cost of a 4 pack let me know.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

I wonder what the Penrite sales & marketing manager is thinking while he reads this thread.....

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I ordered some today...through Repco, they will deliver single units - $45 for 5L + $15 !!!and week and 1/2 delivery....

they're probably jumping on the computer to download some more classic car photos to stick on the labels of their other oil too.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Marketing = the art of bullsh!tting to get you to part with yer $$$...

I sincerely doubt this stuff is 5x better than ye olde Valvoline XLD Classic 20W/50 for $10 a pop.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I love that oil for my mini is cheap as chips - I can change it as often as I like.
XLD - $20 a bottle if you get caught full price, or buy a handful of bottles when it's $9.99!
The Penrite stuff is indeed a fantastic bit of marketing, and is probably not a bad oil.

My other vehicles run significantly dearer oils, so I feel compelled to run them out closer to specified intervals.
The manufacturer charges $110 a bottle for my diesel car, though I now get the Penrite equivalent at $50. Ouch!

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'68 Deluxe w/Metro engine

I agree about the Valvoline XLD Classic, last change did Wollongong to Canberra and Return, then Wollongong Eden Melbourne Then return to Wollongong via Hume Highway. Hot weather - 110kph freeway driving. Plus running around.

The oil is now due for a change but was still just a dark honey colour after the Melbourne trip.

Consistant pressure even after sustained high speed. 25 PSI idle - 70 PSI highway. Minimal top-ups.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)