colin smith
PCGB Member
I need to top up my oil for the first time, and I was wondering on what oil to use.
what oil to use?
- Thread starter colin smith
- Start date
Nick,
Out of curiosity does it cause a problem if you mix the two ? Can' t remember what was put into mine last service, but I' ve been topping up with Shell Helix Plus (fully synthetic I think ?) I' m aware of the general argument re synthetic v mineral ie. suggested that in an older engine that has used mineral oil, changing to synthetic oil can end up disolving the built up layers of goo thus possibly leading to a greater chance of oil leaks from old seals etc.
Out of curiosity does it cause a problem if you mix the two ? Can' t remember what was put into mine last service, but I' ve been topping up with Shell Helix Plus (fully synthetic I think ?) I' m aware of the general argument re synthetic v mineral ie. suggested that in an older engine that has used mineral oil, changing to synthetic oil can end up disolving the built up layers of goo thus possibly leading to a greater chance of oil leaks from old seals etc.
Guest
New member
A lot of the specialists recommend using a top quality semi-synthetic like Castrol Magnatec and advise that a full synthetic is not required. The fully synthetic oils tend to be a bit thin for older engines and this exascerbates the problem that Jamie mentions. However, there are bound to be people who swear by say Mobil 1 and will not let anything else touch their engines and have never had a leak. YMMV.
Best insurance is, to my mind, regular oil changes. Saving a few £££ by not buying full synthetic should allow you to change more frequently[
]
Certainly adding a quart of any semi-decent oil, regardless of what is in there already, will do no harm and will be better than running at a low oil level.
Richard
Best insurance is, to my mind, regular oil changes. Saving a few £££ by not buying full synthetic should allow you to change more frequently[
]Certainly adding a quart of any semi-decent oil, regardless of what is in there already, will do no harm and will be better than running at a low oil level.
Richard
Thanks Richard,
Much as I had suspected ! It just struck me that there might be some possible issue of synthetic and non synthetic not mixing properly due to their different composition leading to some obscure unimaginable problem !
Either way I think my motor could do with a drop more ahead of tomorrow' s thrashing at Bedford (taking care not to overfill !!!!!!)
Much as I had suspected ! It just struck me that there might be some possible issue of synthetic and non synthetic not mixing properly due to their different composition leading to some obscure unimaginable problem !
Either way I think my motor could do with a drop more ahead of tomorrow' s thrashing at Bedford (taking care not to overfill !!!!!!)
Guest
New member
Agreed Jamie.
The experts say to keep the oil level near the lower mark for track days. At my last oil change my mechanics overfilled the oil and not having a chance to do anything about it I left it as is and just thrashed it round the track. No harm done, so maybe not something to be overly concerned about.
R
The experts say to keep the oil level near the lower mark for track days. At my last oil change my mechanics overfilled the oil and not having a chance to do anything about it I left it as is and just thrashed it round the track. No harm done, so maybe not something to be overly concerned about.
R
From the Mobil 1 website
Can different synthetic motor oils be mixed together?
Mobil 1 with SuperSynâ„¢ is fully compatible with conventional motor oils, semi-synthetic motor oils and other synthetic motor oils, should it be necessary to mix them. But the superior performance of Mobil 1 with SuperSynâ„¢ will be reduced by diluting it.
Can different synthetic motor oils be mixed together?
Mobil 1 with SuperSynâ„¢ is fully compatible with conventional motor oils, semi-synthetic motor oils and other synthetic motor oils, should it be necessary to mix them. But the superior performance of Mobil 1 with SuperSynâ„¢ will be reduced by diluting it.
" Re Unimaginable problems" if you were to mix different mineral oils with incompatible additive packages, a lower performance in seal swell characteristic could be one of the effects....leading to leaks from both rotating and standing seals, so best to always use the same make.
Not such a problem with synthetics as Nic found out, due to less additives in these oils & a more ideal molecular profile.
Incidently, in a can of mineral oil how much do you think is additive?
Answer ......around 25%......the oil' s only being used as a carrier for the additive package since the advent of North Sea oil for lubes! [8|]
Not such a problem with synthetics as Nic found out, due to less additives in these oils & a more ideal molecular profile.
Incidently, in a can of mineral oil how much do you think is additive?
Answer ......around 25%......the oil' s only being used as a carrier for the additive package since the advent of North Sea oil for lubes! [8|]
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