OK so I’ve had a good look through the forums and apparently the question of engine oil is as clear as brick but I’m going to try any way, I am a mechanic my self but I have only ever worked on 3l+ diesel engines on heavy plant that would keep going if you filled them with a mix of lithium grease and wd40. As I understand little petrols can be a little more delicate so here I go.
I have seen most people going for fully synthetic but then saying they change their oil every 3 to 4k miles. I thought that the idea of fully synthetic over semi was that it has a longer useable life so is this just money down the drain pan?
How often would people recomend an oil change and is a flush worth doing every time also what are people’s opinions on hydraulic lifter additive? I know the rattley lifter fault can be pretty common. Mine doesn’t have it now and I’d like to avoid it.
And then the biggie is what grade and brand to use. Lots of people are saying 10w40 this is fairly standard but then people say to use mobil 1. I can’t find mobil1 10w40 fully synth I can only seem to find mobil1 0w40. Is this suitable? What do other people use?
To give you an idea of my usage I’ll be going about 20 miles each way in it every day and maby the odd jaunt to the shops or to see my friends.
I’d love a bit of help with this as it’s all a bit more in depth than im used to (Customer: it wont start. Me: because you have left the e stop in you dingle berry) and I’d like to get it right because if this thing blows up then my wife will make me buy a corsa or a fiesta and have no fun.
Any 10W/40 will do, do not even look on the pack whether it is synthetic or not just buy if it says 10W/40. Do not get hung up on make.
People talk about Mobil 1 Ow/40 as if it is a better oil, it is no better at lubricating an engine than any other oil.
It has a very aggressive cleaning additive package that some say is too aggressive and it can dislodge too much crap that may be in the engine and block oil ways.
I have no opinion either way but the reason for the tappet chatter that some MK1’s have is poor design that allows dirt to lodge in the hydraulic tappets that cannot get out and they become noisey.
In certain circumstance, that specific oil had been reported to have cleaned the tappets and no more chatter and in other cases it has not cleaned the crap out the hydraulic tappets.
The MK1 engine is very soft on oils and I have looked at many used oil analysis results for these engines and the wear metal count does not reduce over time with 4,000 mile, 6 month oil changes, compared to the Mazda 9,000 mile, one year change intervals.
Hi, yes I went through this a few months ago, as has been said, I stuck with the 10w/40 semi (shell helix in my case as euros at the time had a deal on!). Mines got over 205K km now and still as sweet as a nut!
I have used Costco 10W/40 Chevron oil for years - 20L containers for about £30 - not sure what it goes for now as its lasted a long time - meets all the manufacturers specs for older cars - I use it in the Mk1 Eunos and Mk1 Golf track day car.