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What is the best oil to use in old cars?
Best oil for your classic car engine:
- Lucas Oil 20W50 Classic (2100 ppm zinc, 1900 ppm phosphorus) Perfect for break-in after an engine rebuilt.
- Royal Purple HPS 20W50 (1700 ppm zinc, 1300 ppm phosphorus) 2nd highest concentration of Zinc and Phosphorus, highly recommended.
What cars can use 5w30 oil?
5W-30 and 5W-40 oils are compatible with some models of common cars, like the Ford Focus, Ford Ka, Honda Civic and VW Golf. Some other common car models recommend 0W-30 oil, which is similar to 5W-30 but will be less viscous at lower temperatures.
Can I use 5W-30 oil in my car?
5w30 oil is particularly well suited for cars driven in cold climates. Unlike oils with a higher hot temperature rating such as 10 or 15, 5w30 oil can flow freely enough when the engine is started at low temperatures to coat and protect the engine’s internal components.
Is all 5W-30 oil the same?
The W means winter. So the first number such as 5 in 5w-30 means that it flows better when cold. 10w-30 would be a bit thicker while cold. However it is important to note that the 30 is the same across all three oils, meaning that they will all be the same viscosity once the engine is at full operating temperature.
What happens if I put the wrong oil in my car?
Using the wrong fluid can cause poor lubrication, overheating, and possibly transmission failure. A mechanic might not be able to reverse the damage, even by flushing the transmission. Mistakenly adding motor oil or brake fluid can also destroy your transmission.
What does the 5 in 5w30 mean?
5W-30 means that this is a multigrade oil. This is indicated by the two numbers separated by a “W” 5W – shows thickness/viscosity of the oil on a start-up – when you start the car (W – stands for Winter, this indicates oil performance under colder engine temperatures when the engine has not been running)
Does it matter what oil brand I use?
No. Switching brands is not harmful to your engine as long as you choose an oil marked with the API donut of the same level, e.g., API SN. Motor oil manufacturers must meet minimum industry standards for performance and compatibility of the API mark.
What kind of oil to use on a pre-1960 car?
Personally I would be reluctant to begin using detergent oil in a pre-1960 engine unless I had seen with my own eyes that it was squeaky-clean and sludge-free inside. If it was an old junker that was ready for an overhaul anyhow, I might not care so much…
What kind of oil do you put in a Ford Focus?
Ford specifies the weight (5W-20, 15W-40, etc.) and the specification that the oil must meet in the manual. The recommended oil weight is also shown on the oil fill cap. Some engines, especially diesels, specify a lighter oil in cold weather. This requirement is pretty much obsolete in gasoline engines.
What kind of oil does a 1977 Ford LTD II use?
A friend’s father (and subsequently my friend himself) kept a 1977 Ford LTD II going to over 300,000 miles with no major engine work, by using synthetic oil (changed regularly).
What kind of oil was used in rotary engines?
Castor-based oils go way back… that’s what they used in Rotary airplane engines back in early aviation; these were essentially two-cycle (?) engines that recieved their fuel/air mix through the crankcase, and therefore needed to have their lubricating oil mixed with the fuel.