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Motor oil

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Bobs64TR4

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Kind of a dumb question, but I want to do it right this time...Years ago, I owned a TR4 and always used 10w-40 motor oil....Is this still recommended? I heard that a heavier weight oil (20w-50?)may the way to go, especially with a slightly tired engine (another TR4!).....Any advice would be appreciated!.....
 
What ever weight you go with, I find the formula designed for "older engines" is worth the extra bucks. I find that I use less oil between changes and it supposedly contains ingredients that refresh dried, but not worn, oil seals.
I use Castrol 20w-50 Hi Mileage (97k) in Ol' Basil.
 
I also use the Castrol 20w-50
my engine has not been completely overhauled yet but seems to be running very well with the heavier oil.
 
I run 15-40 in my newly rebuilt engine. Because the pressure tops the gage before it is warmed up I do not run much over 1500 rpm's until it is warmed up. And I do not run in cold weather.

I did run 10-30 but was not satisfied with the idle pressure when warmed up. It wasn't real low but lower than I liked.

Maybe a 12.5-35? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Thanks for the input,guys....I currently have 10w-40 in the TR4 and I haven't been happy with the oil pressure when warm...The Tr4 is waiting for a new throw-out bearing right now (along with a few other things), but I'll try the 20w-50 when I next change the oil.....soon!
 
Just some more input here, My Tr-3 currently is not running so I have no experiance with it and 20/50 oil.
Having said that I have an older Motorhome, 65,000 miles {460 Cu.In. engine} I was using 10/40 in it, it went through oil like a drunkard does alcohol.
last oil change I went to castrol 20/50, although I have only put about 200 miles on it, sence the change. It seens to be a reformed oil consumer. Previously with the 10/40 and driving it the same route of 200 miles it would have consumed at least a quart. I did do some minor tightening of the valve covers and intake manifold {Yes the valve covers were leaking but I don`t think a quarts worth in the 200 miles.}
I`m SOLD on the 20/50, especialy for a summer or fair weather only vehicle.
 
Is this Castrol 20w-50 oil special order stuff?
Or can it be purchased in many places? Like maybe
Pep Boys or Western Auto?

Is this a good oil for use here in the tropics?

thanks

D
 
20w50 would be fine, actually preferred, for tropical weather. If you can, get the "racing" oil, as it has the zink that solid lifter engines like.
Should be available in most parts stores. Even in PR I'd think. you still have a racing scene on the island (albeit down on the south side).
 
Pep boys has it by me.
 
Catrol GTX 20/50 is the one type most suited to our cars. There was a whole big thing on present oil not meeting our engines needs. I am sure the articles can be still found on the web. Hey if we can find it up here in the great white north then it should be readily available to you through your normal retailers. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
 
Odd man out again ... I've been allergic to Castrol since having several lubrication failures with it. First time it caused the oil pressure relief valve to stick on a freshly rebuilt engine. When I tore it down, I found a thin sticky layer on the guts of the valve ... wouldn't hurt a bearing but cost me an engine tear-down. Many years later I tried it again (on the assumption it had improved), that engine started burning a lot more oil than it had before.

I use only Valvoline 20W50 full synthetic in my Triumphs. Can't say it leaks any less than others, but it doesn't leak any more. And on the Chevy that started burning the Castrol like crazy, the oil burning went back down after switching to the full synthetic.

If I lived in a colder climate, I'd probably use lighter oil. Low oil pressure at idle isn't a bad thing in itself, it's just an indicator of how worn the bearings are. Thicker oil may look better (hence it's not unusual to find very thick oil in cars being sold) but won't make it last any longer.
 
When my wife drove a GT6 to work daily I used 20/50W in the summer and 10/40W in the winter, she drove it for 12 years and put 190,000 miles on it. I overhauled ( not rebuild ) once and rebuilt the tranny twice, replaced rear diff once. U-joints regularly about 3 years, clutch once. But, never had any problems with the summer/winter difference in oil and it was one of the most reliable cars we've owned. Also changed the thermostat 180 in winter 160 in summer.
 
Dale....
If I lived in the tropics like you I'd be looking for a 20W 50 oil, helps maintain it's lubricating qualities when the heat gets high.
 
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