Spitfire 20-50 oil says run in car manuel

[Duane3]

I have a 1980 spit .. my manuel says to run 20-50 oil with zinc ,, the zinc I understand but is not that to heavy of oil when it is cold out say 20 to 40 degrees ? Seems that is not right.. what do you all run ??

 

[trglory]

I run 20-50 in both cars without a problem. I have to point out, though, that I have gear reduction starters on both cars.

 

[Joe Schlosser]

20 viscosity when cold 50 when hot

 

[Duane3]

20 viscosity when cold 50 when hot

Thanks Joe,, it is kinda confusing.

 

[Andrew Mace]

A 10W-40 should be fine in very cold temperatures, by which I mean well below freezing!

 

[LarryK]

Ran a 64 Spit with 20-50, had an 80 Spit and ran 20-50. The 80 has hardened valves, don't need lead. My wife ran a 73 GT6 for 10 yrs, I used 20-50 without hardened valves. Ran the begeezes out of it, never had problems with engine. Just u-joints and blew one tranny.

 

[glemon]

When I drove these cars daily I ran 10w-40 in the winter and 20w-50 the rest of the year. You sometimes needed all the help you could get to start the car on a cold morning, plus less viscosity to fight idle speed when warming up.

Nowadays I do drive my car in the winter, but only on nice days. So it is 20w-50 year round.

The 10w-40 probably circulates over the bearings faster and protects the engine a little better on cold start up too.

If your Spit is not a daily or regular driver in the winter I would stick to the heavier oil. If it sees regular service in temps below 20f or so then switch out to the 10w-40.