Engine oil

[Ruairidh Dunford]

The same oil that you use in the engine Erich.

[Tony Press]

Look for oils with high ZDDP.Seven engines are not cheap to rebuild properly so use decent oil not based on brand or cost,but what it contains.

Sadly, brand and cost usually determine what quality of additives and the amount used. Oil is a cheap part of your car so don't scrimp here.

Cheers, Tony.

[Erich]

Ruairidh, if I'm using detergent oil in the engine, wouldn't that be inappropriate for the gearbox? The reason I had asked about the Castrol GP 40 in this thread, was that we used it in Velos, both engine and gearbox. Some oils, (Delo 400 30w) note that it is detergent with anti foaming additives and high ZDDP levels.

[Charles P]

I'm in the middle of a full rebuild after my engine destruction in the summer. Post rebuild I'm going to run it on Millers 20/50 competition oil, after a little running in on cheaper oil. A fully synthetic 20/50 with high ZDDP

https://www.millersoils-shop.co.uk/class...engine-oil

Expensive but since I'm revisiting quite how expensive and time consuming an engine build is, in that context, it's trivial.

Charles

---

Dave, isn't there also a supplier who makes sump plugs with the magnet fitted?

Buy some of these and araldite one into a sump plug. Works well and you have enough magnets spare to be generous to your friends.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Neodymium-Super...0876414513


Charles

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Buy some of these and araldite one into a sump plug. Works well and you have enough magnets spare to be generous to your friends.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Neodymium-Super...0876414513

Thanks for that link Charles - up until now I have been buying these from Maplins, at a considerably higher price!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Ruairidh, if I'm using detergent oil in the engine, wouldn't that be inappropriate for the gearbox?

In my experience, you can use exactly the same oil that you use in the engine Erich.

[RG8890]

Correct! I did that to my grandpa old Mk1

[JonE]

Someone posted a link somewhere to 20 or 25L 20/50 oil at a stupidly low bulk price a while back.
Anyone find that it IS worth buying in bulk? I note that people like Smith Allan https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20w-50-Minera...SwOj5cwsl0 do such things (wouldnt be looking if hadn't been able to get my normal 5L from Morrisons).

[Chris KC]

I did a bulk buy on Duckhams a good few years ago Jon and it's surprising how much I still have left! Technically it's all now long exceeded its shelf life, it's not meant to be stored more than a year or two. Just something to keep in mind, though I can't say I've noticed any issues so far.

[spannerman]

I've worked with car engines since
The mid 60s and was told by a oil
Expert if it's got an in line oil filter then
Use a multigrade oil if it's not got an
oil Filter use straight oil ! Is explanation
Was multigrade oil holds the dirt so the
Inline oil filter can remove it the straight
Oil drops it to the bottom of sump thats
Why old engines have a lot of sludge in
Forgot to say he worked in the labs at castor oils
Then?