Engine Oil Grade for the MGB 1.8

[jims-terrano]

As it says guys, has anyone got any idea of engine oil that I should use.

Cheers

 

[solarman216]

do you not have the handbook? whatever I would be using mineral oil, this synthetic stuff is crap in older engines, it is all I use, but then I have buying power as my factors are now only willing to get it in in 100 ltr lumps, this for me is not a problem running two gensets and 2 T2's, 35 ish ltrs every year so not a massive investment, please do not ask what I paid for the last lot as I have no idea, it was a while ago and have enough left for another change, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

Think the handbook is probably long since disintegrated lol. That said somewhere I've got a haynes but for the moment aren't able to get at it.

Good call regard the mineral oil, struggle to get that nearby.

Cheers

 

[panelbeater]

i just got 20ltrs 15/40 mineral delivered for 53.00 for both my t2 as both want a change.

 

[solarman216]

15 40 that is good for this country it is what I use, but thing to remember is viscosity improver's are the first things to break down in an oil, so after 6 months daily running it will 15 anyway, but thicker with carbon sludge, so DO THE GLASS TEST, as said many times on here, put a drop from the dip stick on a flat bit of glass then out another glass on top and press together till it gets about 50 p size, can you see through it? test against new oil, Rick

 

[rustic]

Back in the 70's 80's, most engine oil for BL cars was 20/50 mineral.
However, on the cars I had, they were engines that shared the same oil for the gearbox too. Mini, Austin Ambassador etc
I always used 20w50 Castrol GTX mineral, not something easily available these days.
But I did a quick google search and found this oil...
https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/ZCA...llon-4-54-l/?gclid=CKr5pdTBrcsCFdYK0wodOLUMEQ

not sure if it's suitable or not, but searching the net for MGB GT engine oil does link to quite a few forums that recommend certain oils.

I was amazed to see that the choice of engine oil on these older cars helped to seal the piston rings, thus increasing compression, and reducing oil consumption. something that cleaner synthetic oils will not do.
Hope it helps...
PS... gives me something to do in the early hours when I can't sleep lol...
Rustic

 

[panelbeater]

a lot of old cars as mentioned did not have separate geargox only diff .mg i am sure is 20/50 mineral,i have rebuilt several of them years ago.

 

[Thomas61]

As it says guys, has anyone got any idea of engine oil that I should use.

Cheers

Hi,

I asked a mate what he used when he had one of these cars and he said the same as others here 20w50, he used Castrol XL20w50. He did send me a couple of links though of where he sometimes got his oil and parts from plus some oil info

http://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/products/cars/classic-oils/classic-engine-oils.html

http://www.sussexclassiccar.co.uk/shop_factory_hazel/enter.html

 

[groovylee]

i run 20w50 in my mk2 escort derived kit car, and pretty much all of the similar era classic trials guys seem to do the same