Spectate me an Oil Change

Kingy

Kingy

Kingy

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Leicester
I'm about to service my car, and last time I changed the oil I used Castrol Magnatec GTX 10W/40 (that 10W/40 bit was reccomended in the manual, I've got no idea what it means) because I thought it was the best oil available that was 'compatible' with my car.

I've seen a couple of things recently suggesting that Mobil1 is supposed to be better, but I could only find that in 0W/40. I was chatting to my old man and he said that he knew someone who had run an old cav SRI on synthetic oil (whatever the hell that means) and that it'd been hardly worn inside when it'd been stripped down.

I'm not entirely sure what the above mean, but I think it's getting to the fact that synthetic oil is better than the stuff I've been using?

I'm only running a 98 216 SLi, but I prefer to spend a bit extra on these things if it's going to make things a bit better.

So if:-

Petrol = Optimax
Tyres = Eagle F1's
Lights = Phillips Vision Plus
Brakes = EBC Greenstuff
Oil = ?
 
Kingy said:
I'm about to service my car, and last time I changed the oil I used Castrol Magnatec GTX 10W/40 (that 10W/40 bit was reccomended in the manual, I've got no idea what it means) because I thought it was the best oil available that was 'compatible' with my car.

I've seen a couple of things recently suggesting that Mobil1 is supposed to be better, but I could only find that in 0W/40. I was chatting to my old man and he said that he knew someone who had run an old cav SRI on synthetic oil (whatever the hell that means) and that it'd been hardly worn inside when it'd been stripped down.

I'm not entirely sure what the above mean, but I think it's getting to the fact that synthetic oil is better than the stuff I've been using?

I'm only running a 98 216 SLi, but I prefer to spend a bit extra on these things if it's going to make things a bit better.

So if:-

Petrol = Optimax
Tyres = Eagle F1's
Lights = Phillips Vision Plus
Brakes = EBC Greenstuff
Oil = ?
Click to expand...

I think 0/40 will be too thin when cold, stick with a good quality semi-synth 10w/40. I use GM (Vauxhall) 10w/40 semi-synth in my car. It's very cheap from local motor-factors and is apparently of very good quality.
 
Well, According to Valvoline's tech data it should be 10w/40 so personally I'd just stick some of the GM stuff in it. Its semi synthetic and cheap as chips. Also GM 10w/40 comes in 5 litre cans so you'll have enough to do the change and should still have half a litre to top-up with.
 
Mobil 1 will be over kill in a 216sli
GM or halfords semi synthetic oil will do just fine(thats what i used in my 216GTI)
also the 216sli doesnt have a knock sensor so Optimax is a waste of money
 
I noticed better economy (no actual savings, just a longer range) and smooter pickup using optimax.

I don't do a lot of mileage, so I'd be kicking myself if something went wrong that could be attributed to cutting corners to save a couple of quid...

Someone has also mentioned that as I'm doing a lot of short journeys at present, that synthetic oil may offer extra protection?

I'm far from flush with cash, but spending a tenner extra for oil over a year, isn't a massive issue to be honest.

People argue that Optimax is overkill, and are right as far as greater performance goes, but it's more the wear and tear side of things I'm interested in. Using Optimax is supposed to make for a cleaner engine, without damaging it, is synthetic oil the Optimax of oil?
 
James_N said:
I use Silkolene for my CTR but thats probably overkill.
Click to expand...

What's Silkolene? I know it's a brand, but is it better than Mobil1? Synthetic? (I'm assuming synthetic is actually good?) What's the rating (10W/40 etc)?
 
Kingy said:
What's Silkolene? I know it's a brand, but is it better than Mobil1? Synthetic? (I'm assuming synthetic is actually good?) What's the rating (10W/40 etc)?
Click to expand...

This is a good site

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/performance_lubricants/silkolene.aspx

gives you a price indication, and a brief description of different oil types (Silkolene as well as other brands).

I dont think it is a competitor :confused:
 
Kingy said:
What's Silkolene? I know it's a brand, but is it better than Mobil1? Synthetic? (I'm assuming synthetic is actually good?) What's the rating (10W/40 etc)?
Click to expand...

Fully Synthetic 5w/40 I used.

/edit: i also got it from the site above :)
 
I've got 5L of the Pro S stuff going in on Friday.

Also brainwashed by oilman :o :)

Probably OTT but they have plenty of other stuff.

They'll even sell it by the barrel if you have an RX-8 :p
 
for a standard engine in a low state of tune like the 216 semi synthetic oil
will look after the engine just fine, it really isnt worth spending the extra on full synthetic.
just change it and the filter when the manual says and all will be ok
 
Changing the oil more often would give you more benefit than using an expensive oil .
Better to change it every 5k miles with cheapish oil than 15k with expensive oil . And with the price difference you could do 2-3 cheap changes to one expensive change .

Persil
 
Persil said:
Changing the oil more often would give you more benefit than using an expensive oil .
Better to change it every 5k miles with cheapish oil than 15k with expensive oil . And with the price difference you could do 2-3 cheap changes to one expensive change .

Persil
Click to expand...

Or, even better use an expensive oil and change it regularly. 300v only lasts 3-4k at best anyway.
 
Spectate you an oil change? :p
What sort of english is that lol

I use nothing but Silkolene FULLY Synthetic oils in my cars, not the 'fully synthetic' oil you get down halfords.

Costs quite a bit but it lasts longer and makes my engine purr,
 
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