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
Just get as close as you can to whatever you usually use. Engines die because of lack of oil, not choice of oil.
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.
Carrefour and E leclerc both sell 20.50 mineral. The Halfords equivalent is a company called Feu Vert, green signage. You'll be fine...
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.
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
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
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