Wat is the brand of the car....maybe it already got engine problem.... Last time i use 20W50 only on my new Hundai van smoke out like siao... later change to 15W40 better..... But my dad's Nissian double cab over 10 years....still ok using 20W50.....Originally posted by Gedanken:All things being equal, your best bet is something like 20W-40 or 20W-50.
You might be able to get away with 15W-40, but I've broken a 200,000 km engine that way before - you will need to ensure that the engine is in excellent condition first.
At the same time, don't go all the way to the other end of the scale and chuck 25W-70 in - you will only need that to restore lost compression, otherwise you will be increasing your fuel consumption and losing performance for nothing.
Try 20W-40 or 20W-50 first, and if you find smoke, you can always add an oil fortifier.
Yup, it was a 1985 Mazda 323 SS - the last owner didn't have a clue about maintenance. When I first took the engine apart, I found that the gaps on the spark plugs ranged from 0.7 to 1.6 mm - he had no idea how to gap a spark plug even. I figured that since I was only going to use it as a student car for a while, I may as well drive it into the ground. Besides, the 1052's engine has a design flaw that results in cracks between the cylinders at 250,000 km - sure enough, the engine went at 250K, and being a $1500 car, it wasn't worth rebuilding (although I did already put extractors on, and was thinking of changing the engine, porting the heads and replacing the Hitachi twin carbs with one 48mm Weber).Originally posted by Handgunner:Wat is the brand of the car....maybe it already got engine problem.... Last time i use 20W50 only on my new Hundai van smoke out like siao... later change to 15W40 better..... But my dad's Nissian double cab over 10 years....still ok using 20W50.....
Which type of engine does it work best with? We can't just say that it is good without giving other info.Originally posted by kopiosatu:Castrol Aerojet 5 is very good!
Turboshaft Engines, Turbomeca MakilaOriginally posted by hotxyz2002:Which type of engine does it work best with? We can't just say that it is good without giving other info.
I use the 15w40 Mobil Delvac for my Hundai van....still got black smoke(famous for that) but lesser, 2 yr old(but I sold it off now)...ya I also agree use thicker oil with older car. But the front value (W)should be ok right? cos the oil won,t get thinner than 40 I now using Mobil 1 0W40. Now driving a 6yr Civic Sir. Last time use Agrip 10W40 engine quite nosiy, now better liao.... and smoother...Originally posted by Gedanken:Yup, it was a 1985 Mazda 323 SS - the last owner didn't have a clue about maintenance. When I first took the engine apart, I found that the gaps on the spark plugs ranged from 0.7 to 1.6 mm - he had no idea how to gap a spark plug even. I figured that since I was only going to use it as a student car for a while, I may as well drive it into the ground. Besides, the 1052's engine has a design flaw that results in cracks between the cylinders at 250,000 km - sure enough, the engine went at 250K, and being a $1500 car, it wasn't worth rebuilding (although I did already put extractors on, and was thinking of changing the engine, porting the heads and replacing the Hitachi twin carbs with one 48mm Weber).
Anyway, that doesn't add up - you went to a thinner oil and got less smoke? What colour was the smoke? Did it have a bluish, brownish or white tinge? I suspect the smoke was from a fuel-air mixture that was too rich, rather than burning oil. I'll stick with what I've said - with an older engine that needs more lubrication because of wear, use a thicker oil.
You are certainly right about the expensive gasket change cause I just had mine changed due to overheating problems and it has already 'burnt holes in all my pockets'!Originally posted by Gedanken:Good stuff, hotxyz2002. They just missed out on one thing, though: if your oil is of a milky brown colour, it's time for a very expensive head gasket change!
And kopiosatu, when are we ever going to drive cars at that altitude?
If the oil viscosity index is at 10, your engine isn't getting much protection when you first start it up because the oil is too thin. For an engine that's done less than 50,000 km, I would first use a PTFE coating additive, so that until your oil gets warmed up and thicker, you've got a layer of PTFE protecting the moving parts. For older engines, I wouldn't risk using such a thin oil.Originally posted by Handgunner:I use the 15w40 Mobil Delvac for my Hundai van....still got black smoke(famous for that) but lesser, 2 yr old(but I sold it off now)...ya I also agree use thicker oil with older car. But the front value (W)should be ok right? cos the oil won,t get thinner than 40 I now using Mobil 1 0W40. Now driving a 6yr Civic Sir. Last time use Agrip 10W40 engine quite nosiy, now better liao.... and smoother...
Does anyone has any views pls comment...
I've seen gaskets that last up to 17 years. The one big gasket killer is excessive heat, because it warps the gaskets, thereby leaving gaps betweehn the engine block and cylinder head. Because the coolant channels run through the blosk and head, and gaps will also lead to water seeping out, leading to coolant loss and even greater chance of overheating. I make a point to check my radiator fluid levels (plus battery water, brake and power steering fluid and oil) every time I fill up my tank - keep a check on it and your head gasket should last you a very long time.Originally posted by hotxyz2002:You are certainly right about the expensive gasket change cause I just had mine changed due to overheating problems and it has already 'burnt holes in all my pockets'!
I was told that the gasket has a lifespan of about 7 years. So for all those would-be second hand car buyers out there, do take this into consideration if you should decide to buy one. And make sure you use the correct oil engine suitable for your engine otherwise you would definitely encounter engine problems.
My advice would be to use 20W-50 (Shell Helix or BP Visco 2000) for older engines because my engine has been working smoothly ever since i use it.