Shock thread topic..oil!! Halfords classic 20W/50

[Johnny G-Pipe]

Hello, a question about oil. Yes, oil! Not many posts about oil on car forums, are there?
...Well I thought I'd buck the trend, glean the cube, lick the envelope, and jolly well ask an oil question:

So I have recently taken over responsibility for a '65 356 Porsche, with the 'damen' 75 hp engine. As far as I can tell, it has 70k miles on the original engine. All is well, apart from oilsmoke after stopping at traffic lights etc. The previous owner had Valvoline 'synthetic blend' 10W/30 in her, and I suspect that this is a little thin for the old lump.

Who was it that described synthetic oil as 'weasel piss'? Anyway, I fancy some proper thick stuff, so that the 42 year-old piston rings have a fighting chance.

Halfords 20W/50 seems a good bet, although it is green, which is off-putting. Is it lawnmower fodder, or actually worth a bash?

(By the way, having never visited until today, I always thought the 'yesterdays heroes' forum was about racing drivers who had snuffed it. It seems its actually about classic cars! Ding dong!)

Edited by Johnny G-Pipe on Friday 15th June 19:18

[crankedup]

Assume you have a stock engine so I would certainly use the 20/50 oil, Halfords stuff will be fine or I think the Mobil 20/50 is slightly less expensive and is stocked by Halfords.

[72EuropaTC]

For normal servicing I use Millers.

Otherwise I have a can of Halfords in the garage for "emergency" top-up. For some reason its the fact that its an old fashioned tin can that appeals to me more than anything else ;-)

[Huntsman]

I think the halfords classic 20/50 is supplied by castrol, tins look similar at least!

I used it in my Healey and its fine.

[roadrunner440]

Valvoline do a cracking 20/50 called 20/50 racing, used it in all sorts of engines that require thicker oil, good stuff for sure.

[Johnny G-Pipe]

Thanks! I have been snooping about t'internet, and there are stories that it is bought-up stocks of Duckhams, or made by comma. Either way it'll need a couple of changes to get all the old weasel piss out, so I'll put the Half's in for a little while, and maybe look at something a bit classier for the longer terms.

Only thing is, I'm slightly concerned by the 'seal expanding' additives they talk about on the tin. Hmm.

Edited by Johnny G-Pipe on Saturday 16th June 22:10

[tr3a]

The engine was probably made for 20W50 (mineral even), so it's only logical to put that in.

The previous owner must have been a right pillock to fill it with synthetic 10W30. What other horrible things did he do to the car?

[Johnny G-Pipe]

The po was a pretty keen vw guy as far as I can tell. These motors can take synthetic oil if freshly rebuilt. I guess I was kind of hoping that this one was tight enough to take the thin stuff. Wishful thinking as it turns out!

..waiting for new valve cover gaskets and then I'll stick the green gloop in. I report back if it smokes less.

[tog]

roadrunner440 said:

Valvoline do a cracking 20/50 called 20/50 racing, used it in all sorts of engines that require thicker oil, good stuff for sure.

Ditto. I'm never sure quite how you compare lubricants, but the chap who services my Bristol compared various different oils a while back and decided that Valvoline Racing was best, so their 20/50 is what the Chrysler V8 in the 410's run on for the last 40,000+ miles.

[215cu]

tog said:

roadrunner440 said:

Valvoline do a cracking 20/50 called 20/50 racing, used it in all sorts of engines that require thicker oil, good stuff for sure.

Ditto. I'm never sure quite how you compare lubricants, but the chap who services my Bristol compared various different oils a while back and decided that Valvoline Racing was best, so their 20/50 is what the Chrysler V8 in the 410's run on for the last 40,000+ miles.

Seconded, put some Valvoline Racing in. Recommended for older engines. I know lots of Rover P6's owners who swear by it.

I run my Rover V8 on Castrol 10W/40 "for older engines" only because of the extensive top-end rebuilt some years ago and it's a semi-syth. I'm switching to Valvoline though at my next change though as I find the tappets are noisy on start and I like the idea of something more substantial giving them a bath at startup.

[coetzeeh]

you could also ask the opinion of either Simon or Guy from Opie Oils - they are very knowlegeable.

Look in the TVR stuff and gossip forum - there is a thread on the first page named Oil advice and recommendations. They will give you feedback/advice on your specific engine.

[fourwheelsteer]

I thought multi-grade oil was a bad idea for aircooled engines and straight 30 grade oil was the stuff to use. Might only apply to aircooled VWs and not other types.

[aeropilot]

215cu said:

tog said:

roadrunner440 said:

Valvoline do a cracking 20/50 called 20/50 racing, used it in all sorts of engines that require thicker oil, good stuff for sure.

Ditto. I'm never sure quite how you compare lubricants, but the chap who services my Bristol compared various different oils a while back and decided that Valvoline Racing was best, so their 20/50 is what the Chrysler V8 in the 410's run on for the last 40,000+ miles.

Seconded, put some Valvoline Racing in. Recommended for older engines. I know lots of Rover P6's owners who swear by it.

Yup, ditto again.

Used to use it in my Sunbeam-Lotus, best mineral oil out there.
Not always easy to get hold though, but definately worth it.

[Johnny G-Pipe]

fourwheelsteer said:

I thought multi-grade oil was a bad idea for aircooled engines and straight 30 grade oil was the stuff to use. Might only apply to aircooled VWs and not other types.

Just asked opie man, doesn't see any advantage of a monograde over a multigrade. Grubby old vee-dubbers may like it for sentimental reasons, I suspect...!

Shame he doesn't sell Valvoline! But I found an internet supplier very easily via Google. Thanks for the reccomendations, all. Still waiting for some spare time to get the valve covers back on and get her going again! Kids, eh?

Edited by Johnny G-Pipe on Thursday 21st June 16:54

[lowdrag]

roadrunner440 said:

Valvoline do a cracking 20/50 called 20/50 racing, used it in all sorts of engines that require thicker oil, good stuff for sure.

I try and use Valvoline semi synthetic all the time but the problem is it isn't available here in France so I buy stocks when I am in the UK. At one litre/1000 miles it pays to keep stocks up! It is the oil recommended by many specialist Jaguar racing people.