Engine Oils

[TheTaipan]

With my service booked in, I was considering using my own oil. Which type would you guys recommend, if price is not an issue, but performance and longevity are... or would you stick with the FordMoCo stuff? I'm also interested in the stuff that Russell Ingall uses in his V8 Supercar - are they still using an "off the shelf" oil in that engine, or have they changed oils more recently? I kinda figure if a commercially available oil can handle that sorta punishment without additives, then it'd probably cope with my driving OK... Havoline I think it was called?

Any opinions and explainations why would be appreciated!

Simon.

[tab]

I think the same question has been asked once or maybe twice before, have a squiz at this link and if you're hungry for more try doing a search - that'll keep you occupied for a couple of weeks!

Trent.

[aiboart]

I can save you the trouble, I have read them all.

What is not is dispute, and you should always check you operating manual.

Ford specifies a SJ and CF standard oil - it must be SJ AND CF.

Ford recommends a 15W40 weight oil.

Everyone agrees that frequent oil changes are a good thing.

Now the fun begins.

It seems, that the important bit is the Ford specification SJ and CF stuff. The viscosity grade is something that there is a lot of discussion but little agreement about.

Ford Dealers in fact use the required SJ AND CF specified oils - in all types of viscosity grades. 10W30 seems to be pretty common and that is in fact what Ford put in my car last week.

There are many suggestions that these cars prefer higher viscosity oils. There are some reports of cars rattling with low viscosity oils (the 0Wx's and the 5Wx's) whilst the tappet adjusters are pumping up. There are also many reports of cars working perfectly with these oils.

The same low viscosity which is claimed to cause start-up rattles in some cars is also claimed to help protect you car on start-up as it circulates more quickly around your engine than a thicker oil. There are also counter claims that this same low viscosity does not afford sufficient protection to your engine due to the large operating clearances and pressures in these engines. Then there is another claim that the low viscosity designation is essentially meaningless as it is measure of performance it at something like -39C, not the sort of start-up temperatures we find in this country. These oils vary their viscosity as a function of temperature and therefore what the actual viscosity is in our cold start operating temperatures is anyone's guess.

Having fun so far?

Now for the synthetic debate.

Everyone agreed that you should allow your car to 'bed' in with mineral oil before using a synthetic. The estimates of how many kms the translates to range form 3000 to 12000km: so take your pick here. Hey, I don't know about you, but I suspect that some people on this forum could wear out a car in 3000km, let alone wear it in!

Everyone agrees that synthetics are more stable and cleaner operating in extreme heat and load environments, like big jets. Big jets also operate at constant speed and constant load (all rotating stuff here) for hours on end.There is no common agreement if the turbo benefits from a synthetic oil, except perhaps in racing, despite a turbo itself being essentially a the first and last stage of a very small jet.

There are claims that some oil formulations cling to the engine providing startup protection even before oil is flowing.

Forum members working in the lubrication industry have invited other members to ask them questions on the topic, providing, we refrain from asking for specific product recommendations. You may care to seek these chaps out and ask then some questions.

Enjoy the posts.

Regards

aa

[phantomchic]

"OILS AIN'T OILS"

(oops just having a moment)

errmm whatever the Ford Dealer puts in ... their warranty clauses .. their oils!

[Grass]

I can save you the trouble, I have read them all.

What is not is dispute, and you should always check you operating manual.

Ford specifies a SJ and CF standard oil - it must be SJ AND CF.

Ford recommends a 15W40 weight oil.

Everyone agrees that frequent oil changes are a good thing.

Now the fun begins.

It seems, that the important bit is the Ford specification SJ and CF stuff. The viscosity grade is something that there is a lot of discussion but little agreement about.

Ford Dealers in fact use the required SJ AND CF specified oils - in all types of viscosity grades. 10W30 seems to be pretty common and that is in fact what Ford put in my car last week.

There are many suggestions that these cars prefer higher viscosity oils. There are some reports of cars rattling with low viscosity oils (the 0Wx's and the 5Wx's) whilst the tappet adjusters are pumping up. There are also many reports of cars working perfectly with these oils.

The same low viscosity which is claimed to cause start-up rattles in some cars is also claimed to help protect you car on start-up as it circulates more quickly around your engine than a thicker oil. There are also counter claims that this same low viscosity does not afford sufficient protection to your engine due to the large operating clearances and pressures in these engines. Then there is another claim that the low viscosity designation is essentially meaningless as it is measure of performance it at something like -39C, not the sort of start-up temperatures we find in this country. These oils vary their viscosity as a function of temperature and therefore what the actual viscosity is in our cold start operating temperatures is anyone's guess.

Having fun so far?

Now for the synthetic debate.

Everyone agreed that you should allow your car to 'bed' in with mineral oil before using a synthetic. The estimates of how many kms the translates to range form 3000 to 12000km: so take your pick here. Hey, I don't know about you, but I suspect that some people on this forum could wear out a car in 3000km, let alone wear it in!

Everyone agrees that synthetics are more stable and cleaner operating in extreme heat and load environments, like big jets. Big jets also operate at constant speed and constant load (all rotating stuff here) for hours on end.There is no common agreement if the turbo benefits from a synthetic oil, except perhaps in racing, despite a turbo itself being essentially a the first and last stage of a very small jet.

There are claims that some oil formulations cling to the engine providing startup protection even before oil is flowing.

Forum members working in the lubrication industry have invited other members to ask them questions on the topic, providing, we refrain from asking for specific product recommendations. You may care to seek these chaps out and ask then some questions.

Enjoy the posts.

Regards

aa

Last response I had from Penzoil Oil Guys was to make sure you have at least a 40 weight.. (ie xw/40) as the Turbo's run hotter and need a thicker oil.

The 10w/30 is what is recommended for the XR6 N/A because the don't run a turbo nad it appears lots of people are not noticing the fact that there are XR6Turbos and XR6's

Edited 25/04/05 10:13 AM by Grass

[aiboart]

I called the dealership about five times about the oil that was changed into my car last week, the 10W30, and then read all the related posts.

One thing I am sure of is that there are a lot of people working from opinions that they have obtained the same way as I have, from hearsay.

To be blunt, I don't think the dealership knew anymore than I did, but they did certainly try to help so full points to those guys.

This is a deeply technical area that requires long term monitoring to be able to say what is what and even then the results are likely to be highly influenced by local variations such as the way you drive your car, how many starts, how cool is your motor when you start, etc.

Anyway, just for my own satisfaction I am having the oil changed again to something more in line with the Ford recommendations (I.e. 15W40) At the moment this it looks like it will be a synthetic 5W40, but then again.... perhaps a synthetic 15W50....

This is probably gross overkill, but at least I have the oil company's marketing team assurance that depending on which brand I buy, I will either drive for a Formula 1 team or captain an Australian cricket squad.

Regards,

aa