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Triumph TR6 - Does anyone use 10W-40?


Was just wondering if anyone here uses a 10W-40 grade oil in their TR. I always used 20W-50 in my '75 but this '76 which I recently acquired has had 10W-40 in it for a long long time (holds great oil pressure). At my shop we use 10W-40 in bulk and I am debating on whether or not to continue using it in the TR or switch to 20W-50. I seem to remember the owner's handbook from my old '75 saying that 10W-40 or 50 was the recommended viscosity (at least back then).

Also, has anyone installed a blower motor in their car? I've got one on order and am so far not looking forward to putting it in as it looks like quite a daunting task.

Rgds,
Aaron
Aaron

I've used 10-40 Castrol,20-50 multigrade Valvoline, and currently use 30w castrol with a qt of Lucas oil additive tossed in
along with it. (I always add Lucas to my oil) Lucas is the only constant when I change oil I don't think oil weight matters as much as keeping it clean and if the pressure is good go with it.
Regards,
Keith
Keith Dixon

I use Redline 10W-40 and am very pleased with it. There's really no advantage to extra high oil pressure - the pump is positive displacement, so as long as you have 40-50 psi at crusing speed, oil's going to go where it belongs.
Brent B

I am about to change to 20/40. My oil pressure is way high and as has been discussed here, some modern cars run at a few psi but high volume. 70/80 psi hot says there is too much resistance in the system and I want the oil to move better. My engine has 3k on it from complete rebuild. My 2 cents Peter
Peter Gooch

Keith--I too used to put a quart of Lucas in my crankcase, but after reading further tests on the product here http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm, I stopped using it.

BTW--I don't use WD-40 on critical applications because it is has a vegetable oil base and will get gummy over time.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Oh, the thread was "10W-40". Forget the WD-40 comment.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Good question. My 71 has 20W-50, because that is what it seemed everyone recommended when I got it 3 months ago or so. But the oil pressure when cold is close to 100 and the car runs very cool, most of the time. Even after 30 minutes or so of highway speed, pressure is still in the 50 range. Maybe I should switch!

And as to the WD-40, I didn't know that! I spray everything with WD-40-latches, hinges, etc. What would be better?
JL Bryan

I'm like Rick. I too read the title as WD-40. sigh. old age and all.

WD-40 does have one VERY spectacular use. Removal of road tar (if you are forced to drive over a freshly resurfaced road) is one of WD-40s oustanding uses. It works dandy.

It does attract dirt, yes. If you're afraid of dirt attraction then use graphite powder.

Every tool in it's place.

Btw, WD-40 is a great hand cleaner.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

JL--For light duty applications, I use silicone spray (it's great for all rubber components too). Look for the yellow Prestone can in Wal-Mart. For heavier uses, I've been using a synthetic teflon gel lube spray I found at the dollar store.

Rick O.
Rick Orthen

Aaron,

I started another thread for your heater question.

Have fun,

Charlie
EC Smith

Rick O, Thanks for that tag it seems that from the looks of it that would definetly scare me away from using it in my gear box but with the big pieces in the engine I think it is okay I've been using it faithfully for about 10k miles. Maybe others have input as well.
Regards,
Keith
Keith Dixon

WD40 has very little lubricating properties. It actually strips away the grease and oil as it mainly composed of kerosene. It stops squeeks because it dilutes the existing grease and oil in the hinge and for a brief time it seems to work.

I stay away from that stuff as it has very little use
Steven

Vegetable oil and kerosene.

Heck, I can mix that up myself.

Silicone spray works dandy on the rollers on your garage door.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

"Motor oil is motor oil", remember the commercial?
Well it's true to a point. All top grade, trade name motor oils are held to a strict standard by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE). They can't put out trash and sell it as quality. The "W" in the viscosity standards means weather, not weight. 20% of each quart is made up of additives. For those that don't do percentages, one of those 5 quarts you put in the engine is actually not oil. It is detergents, emulsifiers, anti foaming agents, anti corrosion agents, and stabilizers. Andy Granitelli made a fortune selling additives to top up the oil and replace the additives. The additives break down, the oil only gets dirty and thats what the filter is for. The question was, will 10W40 be satisfactory, and the truest answer is, the engine was designed using 20W50 and that is probably what you should run in it.
70 degrees, blue sky, top down, golf clubs wedged in the boot, thinking of you up north and realizing why I moved south.
Joe Justice
J Justice

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2003 and 16/10/2003

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