What oil for MX5 1.8iS?

mark66

mark66

mark66

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Hi,

I know there are quite a few MX5 owners on here so hopefully someone can help...

My mk2 1.8iS is being serviced next weekend and I would like to treat her to some better oil that the usual standard stuff my mechanic has a large barrel of...probably mineral oil? I have been looking around and it appears there are 3 types; mineral oil, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic. Then there is the viscosity...

I have checked the manual and it states 10W-30. However on checking MX5 Parts they sell 10W-40 and 0W-40?

I asked the question on mx5nutz and got two replies saying no problems with 10W-40, so will probably go with that unless anyone else thinks different?

As for brand, I have been looking at 4L of Castrol Magnatec which I think is Semi-Synth and can be had for £24.89 from Argos(!). Are there cheaper places to get this or other decent alternatives people can recommend?

Cheers :)
 
The way I understand it is that the first number is the your winter grading (the lower the better) and your second number the summer grading - the higher the better.

Hence 10W-30 pretty cheap and 0W-40 better and more expensive.

EDIT> but someone should definitely confirm this first!! But I just know if you can't find the right oil to match the manual to go lower on the first and higher on the second.
 
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I use 10w-50 fully synth but it's getting supped quite swiftly. I suspect it may be due to a leaky CAS O-Ring but I'll just put that out there. Mines a 1.8iS (Mk1).

The book aparently reccomends 10w-40 but there are others. 10w-40 is the most common.
 
taximike said:
The way I understand it is that the first number is the your winter grading (the lower the better) and your second number the summer grading - the higher the better.

Hence 10W-30 pretty cheap and 0W-40 better and more expensive.

EDIT> but someone should definitely confirm this first!! But I just know if you can't find the right oil to match the manual to go lower on the first and higher on the second.
Click to expand...

That's sort of.... wrong. The grading is based on viscosity when running cold (i.e. engine first started) vs running hot (i.e. engine warmed up). It's a shame Oilman from OpieOils got banned from here, he's very good at doing write-ups!
 
taximike said:
The way I understand it is that the first number is the your winter grading (the lower the better) and your second number the summer grading - the higher the better.

Hence 10W-30 pretty cheap and 0W-40 better and more expensive.

EDIT> but someone should definitely confirm this first!! But I just know if you can't find the right oil to match the manual to go lower on the first and higher on the second.
Click to expand...

No



ci_newman said:
That's sort of.... wrong. The grading is based on viscosity when running cold (i.e. engine first started) vs running hot (i.e. engine warmed up). It's a shame Oilman from OpieOils got banned from here, he's very good at doing write-ups!
Click to expand...


Yes



:)
 
in taximike's post, the term better is used very loosly. better for one engine may not be better for another etc

i wasnt that keen on oilman's write ups as they just came across as sales pitches
 
So it looks like we are split between 5W-30 and 10W-40!

Chris1712 said:
FYI, Halfords currently have 20% off Magnatec atm. Grabbed 4l of 5W30 for my T-Sport for £23.99.
Click to expand...
Cheers for that. Popped down there earlier and grabbed 4l of Magnatec 10W-40 for £21.49.

Thanks all :)
 
I just topped up my MK1 with 10W-40, Mobil Super S. It was £20 for 5 litres from Halfords I think, sounds and goes great!
 
I tried a few different types of oil over the time I had the car and can recommend Halfords Trackday 5w50 oil. Blag a trade card and you're laughing.

Cheap as chips good quality oil and stops HLA chatter (in my experience).
 
Based on 4 different oils on 2 different engines. How it sounded mainly. How else would anyone be able to recommend them? I doubt anyone could comment on engine longevity.

Also I had HLA noise from my first engine and the trackday oil 'cured it', as did Mobil1 fully synth 10w40
 
I'm sure pouring in "thick as treacle" oil into a car will stop a lot of noise - but I wouldn't expect it to do most engines any good.

Your manual will tell you what oil to use along with any standards it needs to conform to.
If not, give you're dealer a call they'll tell you.
 
ci_newman said:
That's sort of.... wrong. The grading is based on viscosity when running cold (i.e. engine first started) vs running hot (i.e. engine warmed up). It's a shame Oilman from OpieOils got banned from here, he's very good at doing write-ups!
Click to expand...

Copy and pasting you mean?
 
mk1_salami said:
I tried a few different types of oil over the time I had the car and can recommend Halfords Trackday 5w50 oil. Blag a trade card and you're laughing.

Cheap as chips good quality oil and stops HLA chatter (in my experience).
Click to expand...

How much does this stuff come to with the trade card?
 
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