Which oil?

[chakka35]

My wife owns a Citreon Xsara 1.4i and, for some time now, we have been topping up her engine oil from odd gallon cans we've had around the place. Nothing special - just oil.

Having run out of supplies my wife called in at Sainsbury's garage to buy some more but was totally bewildered by the choice of oils she was offered. So was I when I went to look. There was mineral oil at 19.99 for four litres, semi-synthesised oil and fully-synthesised oil at 9.99 per litre. Acording to the table in the shop my wife's car requires the latter. She will ring her servicing garage on Monday to ask which oil she needs, but I am mystified.

What is all this? What happened to good old straightforward engine oil?

[cathfromsaron]

doesn't the hand book say?

it's a mystery sorry!

[SlackAlice]

Try here, might make it easier for you

http://www.castrol.co...084&contentId=7073092

Obviously they are only quoting for Castrol oils, but you only need the type and viscosity, then you can shop around.

[Graham-W]

Most modern engines work to such high tolerances that they need either semi-synthetic or full-synthetic to provide proper lubrication and cooling to stressed areas of the engine. Use of the old 20w-50 mineral oils could do serious damage. Use the correct oils or face the consequences.

[DTCwordfan]

How old a car and is it petrol or diesel?

Keep it simple if old something like a Shell Helix 15W40 - that's a good product and outstrips Castrol GTX in areas such as friction reduction, sulphur removal and a whole host of specs.

[DTCwordfan]

They have a diesel version too..............

[Graham-W]

A change to 5W 40 fully-synthetic would reduce the emissions for MOT and also be likely to improve fuel consumption.

[DTCwordfan]

too thin for a car of this age.

[Prudie]

Good question chakka, faced the same in Halfords recently, far too many to choose from.

[Graham-W]

DTcrosswordfan
That's the recommended oil for that model. I guess you know the engine mileage somehow.

[DTCwordfan]

nope I was asking chakka for the age of the car, and yes you are right, the mileage on it, how much she does a year, what sort of driving and where do they live - the difference between the Fens and the Welsh mountains as to stress on the engine. That is what will make for a sensible decision. And remember there is a difference between recommended and exclusively.....if the latter, then the oil has to be given by the car Co as part of their service...... (I used to market/sell/manufacture Lubs for one of the majors).

[TWR]

Just a tip Chakka, do not use cheap, as CHEAP does not always work that way, you mension OIL that was the odd gallon can's, depending how long its been standing " DO NOT USE IT" It's cheaper to bye a decent oil that it is to replace the engine.