6 replies to this topic

[minisilverbullet]

Up for an oil change! have been using 10w40 without any problems, but have taken heed at advice on here and thought about getting 20w50. HOWEVER i can only find castrol classic in the halfords equivalent here in Sweden, which is about 60 quid for 5 litres worse than the prce of beer here (actually its about the same)!

After a chat with my friendlly local mechanic, he suggested 15w40 as a comprimise between 10w40 and 20w50. Now is this really good advice or?

cheers

[minidaves]

Up for an oil change! have been using 10w40 without any problems, but have taken heed at advice on here and thought about getting 20w50. HOWEVER i can only find castrol classic in the halfords equivalent here in Sweden, which is about 60 quid for 5 litres worse than the prce of beer here (actually its about the same)!

After a chat with my friendlly local mechanic, he suggested 15w40 as a comprimise between 10w40 and 20w50. Now is this really good advice or?

cheers

15 40 is better thsn 10 40, and a 15 50 would be better still but almost impossible to get hold off, at 60quid for 5 ltrs almost worth a flight to the uk by loads put in suitcase and take back home

dave

[Cooperman]

So long as it's a mineral oil, a 15w40 should be fine in view of the fact that Sweden is a colder country than the UK.

[minisilverbullet]

in particular her reccomended 15w40 castrol gtx the one for high mileage (its a mineral oil). Although the car only has 45,000 miles on the clock! But he has a couple of old 1960s volvos and ENORMOUS american things to i guess the old boy knows his stuff!

Funny thing is, i was in the uk with the mini during the summer, but opted to fill it with beer and whiskey rather than motor oil!

[ado15]

Funny thing is, i was in the uk with the mini during the summer, but opted to fill it with beer and whiskey rather than motor oil!

A far better choice!!

With a low mileage engine/gearbox, the 15W40 will be fine.

Picking up on the comments about mineral oils, we spoke with Castrol about the mineral/synthetic debate a few years ago. For your interest, we have reproduced their response on our web site:
http://www.dsnclassi...c-tech-oil.html

However, we tend to still recommend using mineral oil and change it frequently. Of course, many Mini's are on a constant oil change!

Hope this is of interest.

Edited by ado15, 01 October 2010 - 02:57 PM.

[minisilverbullet]

Thanks guys, i will go for it with the 15w 40! I am storing the car over the winter so not a big deal on the temp side of things although if its a "dry" day i will def be out in the mini. ( i am doing a chauffeuring a lesbian wedding in January, should be fun!)

But again great advice, I dont know what it is sometime with prices here!

I think I will get the local garage to do the oil change, as it works out roughly the same price anyway (maybe a little more), as you need to pay a environmental charge on spent oil here! And the local garage seem to like working on the mini, i guess its a change from a volvo 240!

oh yeah the constant oil change - I used 2.5l on my trip from sweden to edinburgh and back!

[bmcecosse]

Make sure they don't strip the drain plug......... For that reason alone I would always do my own oil changes.

Edited by bmcecosse, 01 October 2010 - 07:12 PM.