ENGINE OIL

Chris Abbott · Post by **Chris Abbott** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:14 pm

Ive just been stopped in the road by a fan of my BX!!
After a chat about the car- he informed me he was in the oil business, and said the best oil to run my 1.9 non-turbo was 5W 40 fully synthetic.
Any advice? Is he right or wrong?
Thankyou.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:35 pm

I understand that there are potential leak problems from gaskets and oil seals if you switch from mineral to fully synthetic on an older car.

But isn't the main benefit of fully synthetic to give you a bigger mileage between changes? Do you need that especially?

350ci muppet · Post by **350ci muppet** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:41 pm

i think my main concern would be that modern cars are built running the tightest of tollerances there for using lighter oils, older engines specially diesels which im my eyes need the heavier oils to take up the 'slack'

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:12 pm

The handbook recommends 15W40, so 5W40 seems a bit on the thin side...plus fully synthetic is going to cost you a lot more - my advice would be a good quality mineral or semi synthetic and change it more frequently. And just because he was in the oil industry - does that also make him an expert on what oil is required for the XUD engine?

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:16 pm

OK, it's not a diesel, but my GTi auto has been filled with synthetic oil it's WHOLE life. I have just changed the oil and used a fully synthetic again. For an 18-year old 211k mile petrol engine I'm surprised it doesn't appear to burn a significant amount of oil and there's no smoke to speak of. But am I wasting money continuing to use it? (Mind you last oil change was 18k miles ago)...

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:21 pm

Philip Chidlow wrote:OK, it's not a diesel, but my GTi auto has been filled with synthetic oil it's WHOLE life. I have just changed the oil and used a fully synthetic again. For an 18-year old 211k mile petrol engine I'm surprised it doesn't appear to burn a significant amount of oil and there's no smoke to speak of. But am I wasting money continuing to use it? (Mind you last oil change was 18k miles ago)...

18 000 miles! Seriously? Ye gads, surely that can't be good...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:22 pm

From memory i thought petrols needed doing at least every 12k regardless of what oil you use? I reckon semi is perfectly adequate & is miles cheaper that you can afford to change it more frequently if you wanted to.

I run my txd on 15w40 semi, but apparently its better to run it on standard mineral oil due to the cleaning agents in it etc...So once i've done another oil change & used up the last of my semi i'll then be switching to mineral oil.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:27 pm

After a bit of a panic

I just checked: oil was last changed a tad over 15,000 miles ago. I don't intend to leave it that long next time!

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:36 pm

Use 15w40 mineral for BX diesel as specified - and chuckle at the price. Buy it at French hypermarket price if you go over there - and positively cackle. Bear in mind that the engine design is getting on for 30 years old. On second thoughts it was last September that I got a promo pack with 7 litres of Total 15/40 for under 15 Euros - but even at 1:1 exchange rates that's not bad.

XUD engines of a certain age nearly all get mildly incontinent with their oil somewhere or other - so why encourage them with something more slippery.

Had to laugh (in a different way) in my local Asda when I saw they were advertising their own-brand diesel 15/40 with a "Sale" sticker - at 50% more than it was the other month (and about double what it was last year).

Chris Abbott · Post by **Chris Abbott** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:09 pm

I had a chat with a bloke in my local car shop, he too said 15 40 mineral oil is fine, i think ill stick with what citroen recomends unless anyone else can give me a good reason to change to w5 40 f/s Cheers

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