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EmmaK
Member
| Joined: | Sunday March 23rd, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 02:03 pm |
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I've been advised that I should buy 10/40 semi synthetic oil for my 97 (70,000 miles) mini cooper but have been reading some of the posts here which recommend 20 / 50. Can someone please tell me what these numbers mean? And, which oil will be the best for my engine?
thanks
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oz
Moderator
| Joined: | Wednesday January 31st, 2007 |
| Location: | Livingston |
| Posts: | 67 |
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 05:25 pm |
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Hiya EmmaK,
I'd totally disgregard using 10w/40 oil in yer Cooper, because the A/A+ series engine share oil with the gearbox.
Personally, I'm currently using 15w/50 oil in my Cooper.
The two sets of numbers on oil show that it's a multigrade oil. The first number, which should have a "w" (which stands for winter) after it denotes viscosity at low temperature (15w oil is tested at -20°F), the second number is for viscosity at operating temperature.
I'd suggest using 20w/50.
Hope this helps.
Oz
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hawaiianblue
Member
| Joined: | Saturday June 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 214 |
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 07:29 pm |
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Viscocity means thickness of the fluid, just to clarify.
So the higher the number the thicker the oil.
I think i've already said my opinion in this post somewhere, but essentially anything between 10w40 and 20w50 should be fine.
Steer clear of Castrol GTX in the white cans though as it tends to turn to mayonaise more than other oils.
The oils around the 0w40, 5w40 mark are generally Fully synthetic and expensive. On modern cars that dont need an oil change for 40'000miles at a time then £50 a time for oil is fine, but on a mini at 6-12'000miles the cost probably out weighs the benefits.
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hawaiianblue
Member
| Joined: | Saturday June 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 214 |
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 07:32 pm |
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oz wrote:
the A/A+ series engine share oil with the gearbox.
Oz
Well to be precise the Mini, Metro, Alegro, 1100, 1300 A series units share their oil, but the A series in the Morris 1000, Marina, Spridget's, Maestro etc dont.
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Andrew1967
MCR Member
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 07:49 pm |
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Have a look at this previous thread on the great oil debate
http://mcr.mywowbb.com/forum35/855.html
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oz
Moderator
| Joined: | Wednesday January 31st, 2007 |
| Location: | Livingston |
| Posts: | 67 |
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 09:07 pm |
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hawaiianblue wrote: Well to be precise the Mini, Metro, Alegro, 1100, 1300 A series units share their oil, but the A series in the Morris 1000, Marina, Spridget's, Maestro etc dont.
Good point. I've always been told I should be more precise. 
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Monday March 24th, 2008 09:47 pm |
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If you want more information on the old engine/modern oils discussion try this article:
http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html
It's particularly aimed at the problems of air cooled Porsches but sums up most of the points to be considered.
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