Best oil to use?

[hawker182]

Engine oil light just starting to flicker, out of experience whats the best type of oil to use? is it worth doing a complete oil change?

Cheers Adam

[Thud]

There is lots of debate about this but if you want to be safe use 10w30 or 20w50 NON-SYNTHETIC (mineral) oil. I would also reccomend you change you filter (only about £7).

The yanks talk about using Synthetic oils to gain a little power and reduce the oil change frequency. However to do this you need really good quality synthetic oil which are harder to get in the UK. Standard syntheic like you will buy in Halfords will have a higher ash content when it burns and leave deposits in your engine which over time can make it go pop.

So, in this country stick to mineral oil - you will have to change it after 3000mile but hey, it\'s cheap!

[banned advertiser]

There are lots of synthetic oils out there that are not up to scratch, but there is one in the uk that is more than up to the job, and thats why I became a distributor for it, Royal Purple is used by lots of RX7\'s in USA and is now starting to get regonition over here. John Helps in the UK has been using it for 2 years and now several people are using it on this forum for the first time, so Im sure late once tested they will be able to post thier experiences. Yes it can help help with small hp gain, cooling, but most of all it protects that much better than mineral and you will find that the guys in USA tend to change every 5000 or 6000 miles, making it quite cost effective.

Will have a lot more info on it next week, Royal Purple can be found here.

http://www.rotarytarts.com/acatalog/Fuels___lubricants.html

[jetpilot]

Hi Gary
Sorry to thread hijack, but i filled out the requested info on your site for the oil test, but have had no word, what should i do.
Cheers

[hawker182]

Excellent cheers guys

[Brett]

Just a quick bit of advice....never let the oil get low enough for the warning lamp to flicker.  Low oil=Low engine life expectancy!

[Thud]

Originally posted by rotarytarts.com
thats why I became a distributor for it

Cool!! This is the first time I\'ve seen it in the UK. I also see you sell synthetic rear diff oil which can also be a pain to get hold of in standard UK outlets.

Top Job! I shall be remebering you for the future.

Thud

[oilman]

If you\'re going to use a synthetic oil then you need to understand what it means.

Most synthetics available to day are not actually synthetics, they are heavily modified (know as hydrocracked) petroleum oils which would cause no problems at all.

The seals problem is caused mainly by shrinkage which is caused by poly alpha olefins (pao) used in many of the better quality synthetics like Mobil 1.

What you in fact need is an ester/pao blend proper synthetic which burns cleanly.

There are a few available that are worth considering if you decide to go this route.

Silkolene PRO S 5w-40, 10w-50 or PRO R 15w-50
Motul 300V 5w-40, 10w-40 or 15w-50

I\'ve posted all this before and it\'s worth taking the time to read it, I also run an RX8 myself and have researched this topic thoroughly. It\'s also my business!

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm

Cheers
Simon