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MG MG Y Type - Oil discussion

The T Series TD-TF section has an interesting thread on possible dangers from modern oils to XPAG valvetrains.
Have a look at "New oils bad for our cars". Maybe our XPAG experts have a word to say there, too.
Remo Peter

I read the TD/TF thread and the links but I'm not much wiser as it was over my head.
I know that the XPAG does not like the more modern oils (this must be true because Neil Cairns said so !)but how do I know which oils have the zinc/phosphorus additive?
Millers say that their Classic 20/50 has it but at £18 for 5 litres it is a bit expensive.I think I recall Neil also saying that cheapo supermarket 20/50 is fine and I like the sound of this.
Can someone please give some positive recommendations and name names.
j m nicholson

Neil is right - fundamentally it is the weight of the old that is critical, and provided it is 20/50 you dont need all the modern additives so cheap is cheerful in my book - Castrol GTX (if they still do it in 20/50) would be my first branded target though.
Paul
Paul Barrow

The thread on the TD/TF board is now up to 47 comments, some of them very erudite indeed! I like this link, though:

http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

I would personally be very careful about using GTX in an XPAG, if GTX has been reformulated for catalyst-equipped engines with a lower zinc content.

My father always declared that "oil is cheaper than engines", and in that spirit I've stuck to the Penrite HPR 40 oil (which confusingly is a 20/60). Despite its cost, the additional expense is only a few pounds a year over a parts-shop cheap oil... and I'm certainly not aware of any wear problems in the last 16000 miles.
Tim Griggs

I just use the standard NAPA 20/50 here in the US. It is sensibly priced so my guess is that it wont be high tech!

PAul
Paul Barrow

NAPA oil = Valvoline, according to my nearby NAPA guys.
If so, a very good choice. I like the Valvoline Dura-Blend which is about 20% PAO synthetic mixed with MO, but I use 10W-30, not 20W-50. Higher viscocity oil has drawbacks. The shearing of heavy oil (by the action of the mechanical components in an engine) causes an increase in temperature and a decrease in efficiency. BMW reccommends against the latest spec. oil because of the lack of Zinc additves. The very low viscocity oils for new cars are to meet the EPA mileage requirements, and the removal of metallic elements helps with emissions.
Scott Barrow

A mineral multi grade lets say uses a 20 weight oil and visc improvers to make a 20W50 and in 1500miles this is a 20W40. With a 10 weight oil add visc improvers for a 10W30 in 1500 miles its a 10W20.

Take a full ester based oil like RL 20W50 no vis improvers in 1500 miles still 20W50
A bit old
http://www.eaa49.av.org/techart/str_oil.htm

As oil is thicker than required up to operating temp, and if only running short journeys, the oil is slow to flow and wastes energy.

Old SAE paper determined a minimum 3.5 HTHS (visc at 150c) should be used to prevent wear. M1 0W40 HTHS 3.6 and shears very little even over 15,000 miles.

If a SM 10W30 then this will be a reduced ZDDP oil.
Paul Wiley

Aviation and different type of oil and engine

http://www.exxonelite.com/Lubes/Exxon/elite/pdfs/wear.pdf

The PAO in a semi usually used to reduce pour point but should also help to build a better oil.
Paul Wiley

Hi,
I'm wondering about the best oil to use in my YB. Most people seemed to think a bog standard 20/50 was fine back in 2006 when this thread started. Have things changed since then or is that still what most people use?
Pete
P Willows

Pete,

Comma straight 30 in my YB, not had any problems in use, in mixture of cooler and warmer temperatures.

Richard
R E Knight

In all my old cars for the last 35 years, I've used Castrol GTX 20/50. For the last 20 years, I've added ZDDP (https://zddplus.com/) for the Zinc. Never had any engine problem.
Gilles Bachand

Many thanks. I might try Halfords Classic 20/50 on the assumption it won't have anything too aggressive in it.
Pete
P Willows

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2006 and 17/06/2018

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