25 replies to this topic

[Orange-Phantom]

Yes it is suitable for road use (it also states it on the bottle), mine is a fast road car and it's what I run. If in any doubt give Millers a shout. I found the amount of fluff on the sump plug reduced dramatically when I swapped to it. They now include the Nanodrive additive in their CTV oil which is really cutting edge stuff. The downside is it's not the cheapest. (I've found Opie oils to be the cheapest for it).
I'm sure the Vavoline VR1 is a very good oil and it's cheaper than the CTV, it's just that for me, a very highly regarded oil company has gone out of its way (and for profit) to design two oils just for the Mini and with Mini parts becoming more rare and expensive, I want to protect the engine and gearbox as best that I can.

Edited by Orange-Phantom, 27 August 2017 - 09:55 AM.

[smokeycockatiel]

I bought Shell X100 which has 2000 PPM of zddp.

 

Its not cheap though. but its supreme, even smells nice hahah

 

James

[Laurie]

I bought Shell X100 which has 2000 PPM of zddp.
 
Its not cheap though. but its supreme, even smells nice hahah
 
James

Where from? Amazon?

[Mrpeanut]

I bought Shell X100 which has 2000 PPM of zddp.
 
Its not cheap though. but its supreme, even smells nice hahah
 
James

Where from? Amazon?

Bargain...

http://www.premierlu...il-5-litre.html

[Orange-Phantom]

I bought Shell X100 which has 2000 PPM of zddp.

 

Its not cheap though. but its supreme, even smells nice hahah

 

James

I'm not too sure on this one.  A higher level of ZDDP is good for flat-tappet valve-train scuffing and wear, but it turns out that more is not better. Although break-in scuffing is reduced by using more ZDDP, longer-term wear increases when ZDDP rises above 0.14%. And, at about 0.20% the ZDDP starts attacking the grain boundaries in the iron, resulting in camshaft spalling.

 

Also it states that it's a low detergent, which may not be the greatest for road use.

 

It looks like it would be a great running in oil though.

[Cooperman]

I think I'll stick with my Valvoline VR1 which I've used for rally and road for many years.

[smokeycockatiel]

would it not benefit the gearbox better.

 

Im worried now. 

 

is Valvoline vr1 20 50 better ?

 

James

[Cooperman]

Don't worry. The classic Mini has been around for almost 60 years. It has been used in racing and rallying and the technology needed to run them is well established.

 

The only time oil has caused me a problem was in the very early days of synthetics I was given a load of Shell Gemini to try in a rally car. It damaged the bearings and syncro hubs and cost me a lot of money.

 

Sine then I have used first Kendall 20w50 mineral then, when that became hard to get in the UK I switched to Valvoline 20w50 and it has never been any issue, even in rally cars using high compression ratios and over 7000 rpm (up to 8000 rpm with a 970 'S' I briefly had).

 

I'm sure oil technology has moved on and that there are modern oils which will work well in the old A-Series engine/gearbox unit, I think I'll stick with the Valvoline VR-1 with which I've been happy for over 25 years.

[Orange-Phantom]

would it not benefit the gearbox better.

 

Im worried now. 

 

is Valvoline vr1 20 50 better ?

 

James

 

For probably the best in Mini Oils, Millers produce a Semi-Synthetic 20W50 oil that is specifically designed for the Mini and it's Shared Engine and Gearbox design.  It also has their Queens Award winning Nanodrive additive in it (which is proper cutting edge stuff) plus it protects the gearbox to GL4 levels which an engine oil won't.  It's not the cheapest though.

 

http://www.millersoi...-mini-20w50/224

 

They also produce a straight Mineral based oil for the Mini, again protecting the Gearbox to GL4 levels.

 

http://www.millersoi...i-oil-20w50/131

 

A lot of people have had good results with the Valvoline VR1.  Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil contains .13 percent zinc and .12 percent phosphorus so it's in the correct region.  It's also not a bad price so if the fund's don't stretch to the CTV Millers then this is still a very good choice.

[Mrpeanut]

would it not benefit the gearbox better.
 
Im worried now. 
 
is Valvoline vr1 20 50 better ?
 
James

You'll get different opinions and people have personal favourites and views. Just use a decent 20 50 and change it often. Valvoline Vr1 is decent, as are the millers oils, and various others.

[Cooperman]

 

would it not benefit the gearbox better.
 
Im worried now. 
 
is Valvoline vr1 20 50 better ?
 
James

You'll get different opinions and people have personal favourites and views. Just use a decent 20 50 and change it often. Valvoline Vr1 is decent, as are the millers oils, and various others.

 

Absolutely right.

 

The frequency of oil changes is just as important as the brand and so long as one of the well-known oils is chosen, with a good ZDDP level, it should be absolutely fine.