Which oil....in a pinch...?

Hi all,

A slight twist on the old chestnut....

We are in Belgium for 10 days in the camper and seem to be using more oil than I'd like*. I have some spare - almost certainly enough - but in a pinch, if I can't find any 20w50 (current) or sae30, what would be the 'least worst' weight to use as a top up?

Cheers

Paul

*this is an on-going problem, which I thought I'd cured....apparently not

 

15/50
20/50

Oily oil is best basically

 

Avoid 30w and fully synthetic. 10w/40 or 15w/40 should be fine in an engine in decent condition but 20w/50 should be available in most supermarkets.

 

Any oil is better than none

 

10/40 or 15/40 mineral oil is my choice.

 

Carrefour and E leclerc both sell 20.50 mineral.
The Halfords equivalent is a company called Feu Vert, green signage.
You'll be fine...

 

Awesome!! Thanks

 

Although this is a top up question which in my opinion any engine oil will do in an emergency.

I have been told that flat tappet engines need ZDDP oil or they will suffer tappet wear and failed camshaft prematurely. So now am buying Westway's High ZDDP oil 20W 50.

 

I have been using this year Millers pistonease 20/50 with ZDDP tech and seems good at £26 for 5 litre on Flebea How much is Westway's High ZDDP 20/50 oil and where from?

 

I think the biggest thing (IMO) and its in the threads above is that, more than the weight, is to make sure its mineral

 

Just one of those myths, ZDDP was just a cheap friction modifier, modern quality oils will exceed the performance of ZDDP oils, they have to with modern engines. Flat tappet engines is irrelevant VW flat fours are lightly concave so they turn and the spring loading is small compared to modern high reving engines, just that the cam lobe has to work twice per revolution compared to an inline engine.

 

Valvoline VR1 20w50 is another, has ZDDP

 

They are indeed.

 

Thanks all...

 

Eek...just seen the price of the 20w50 at Feu Vert!! 25Euros for just 2 litres!!

No luck in a Carrefour hypermarket.

That said, still for plenty of spare (good British) oil, for now

Paul

 

Zut alors!

 

Elf 20w50 is €21.99 for 5lt at Feu Vert https://www.feuvert.fr/huile-lubrif...f-evolution-300-essence-20w50-5l/p800807.html

And Carrefour labelled 20w50 is €16.90 https://www.carrefour.es/aceite-de-motor-20w50-5l-carrefour/367962023/p

 

Which probably came from the middle east.

 

I don't doubt they sell it...there wasn't any in stock in the branch I visited...

There is a feuvert on my route tomorrow...we'll sew