semi synthetic V mineral oil ...

[Adrian]

You're buying your oil at the wrong place, then.

[Huge]

The Ford 'Essex' is a dark ages technology engine, and I'm amazed anyone thinks it needs synthetic oil.

I'd use up the dead dinos. If it bothers you, change the oil every 3000 miles or every 3 months or soething similar.

[Huge]

S'what I'd do.

[Jim at the Common Riding]

Yes I'm still in the good old dark ages......will use it up ...

[Adrian]

The Canadian Essex is totally unrelated to the European Essex...

There's "needs" and there's "will benefit". Ain't such a thing as an engine that won't benefit from better quality oil.

[Chris Hogg]

Yes, certainly. 5W is less viscous in cold weather than 10W. The W stands for Winter BTW. A 5W-30 oil stays more fluid at low temperatures than a 10W-40 oil, but the latter retains viscosity better at high temperatures than the former. Good low-temperature performance is important for starting in ice-cold winter weather if the car's been outside overnight, and for the first mile or so thereafter while the engine warms up. Retaining viscosity at high temperatures would be important if you were planning to drive across the Sahara in summer, for example.

I can't really see that you'd be troubled by using the 10W-40, unless Glasgow is hit by an extraordinarily cold winter in 8 months time.

And don't call me Shirley

[Jim at the Common Riding]

OK Chris.......wondered what the W stood for ... I will only be using the convertible April to September so fine I was just really worried about seals swelling ..... etc

[Jim at the Common Riding]

bring back Castrol 20/50 for all cars ...

[Jonno]

Adrian scribbled

Doh, I was thinking of veg oil. The smell of racing - as was.

[charles]

Castrol-R

You know hw the name Castrol originated?

CASToR OiL

[Scott M]

5w-30 became the recommended for *all* Ford & subsidiary (Jag/LR etc) engines in the 90s in the wake of sticky lifters (or something) on the Zetec engines. As you say I bet the 3.8 was designed for mineral/semi-synth 10w-40 rather than fully synth anyway. Certainly can't see it being phased by it.

[Scott M]

Meant to add: irrespective of what the engines had used previously.

[Jim at the Common Riding]

very reassuring...thanks...yes it has two camshafts in the block...none of this modern stuff .....no rubber cam belts...tee hee

[Jim at the Common Riding]

worth reading....says what most of you are saying ......

[Jonno]

charles scribbled

Poseurs used to add it to their petrol. I believe chip oil will do the job too.

Yes.

[Adrian]

[Adrian]

Only in two-strokes, where not adding oil (of whatever flavour) to the petrol rapidly led to disaster.

[CB]

No. In four stokes also (bit like adding a shot of RedeX). Only problem was that it never gave the proper racing smell unless the engine was really thrashed hard. (High speed and high load - just revving it in the car park never worked)

[J1MBO/m]

I see they are now advertising REDX on motorway gantries..THE REDX IS MANDATORY ...tee hee

[Adrian]

You ever tried adding oil to a four-stroke's tank? Even just a bit of left-over two-smoke mix...?

It _really_ doesn't work very well AT ALL.