Recommended engine oil

[KennethB]

What brand of oil would people recommend, I have been looking at 10W40 castrol GTX.

Do you have to change the oil every 3000 miles? if so do people use cheaper oil as it would come to a lot of money as I use my bongo a lot.

[You've Been Bongod]

i take it you have the 2.5 turbo diesel ?????

if so 10/40 sinthetic is fine
bongo takes 7 litresof oil

[KennethB]

synthetic? I was thinking of mineral as i will be changing the oil every 3000 miles or would this be a wrong move.

synthetic is a lot more expensive and we do need 7 litres of the stuff. Yes i have a 2.5 turbo.

[Veg_Ian]

There's been plenty of discussion on this in the past if you look at the various threads and there's also a factsheet. I'm assuming you have a 2.5 turbo diesel of 95/96/97 vintage? For an older engine of this type it will probably have quite a few thousand miles on the clock. Putting fully synthetic oil in is probably a waste of money. Manufacturer's recommendation is to change the oil every 3000 miles. Personally I feel that the regular change at 3000 is more important than the quality of oil. You can get a 20 or 25 litre drum of 10w40 semi-synthetic for about 30 quid if you shop around at the bigger motor factors.

[KennethB]

Thanks, just waiting for the oil filter and I'ii do a oil change.

[francophile1947]

Fact sheet here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... icants.pdf

[Trouble at t'Mill]

10W 40 semi-synth isn't much more than mineral - unless you go for really 'cheap' mineral, which you shouldn't.

Personally, I'd rather run on decent semi-synth for 5k miles over mineral for 3k any day. Semi-synth is much better suited for turbo'd engines - the oil passing past turbo bearings experience much higher temps than in any other part of the engine, and the synth component can hold on to its 'integrity' much better than mineral oil in these circumstances.

Buy in bulk as mentioned above. Even with regular size cans, I can get Millers semi-synth 10W 40 for £17 / 5L (ok, you need 3 cans for 2 oil changes!), but how much is ordinary mineral - £10? That's £7 well spent in my view.

(I don't understand suggestions that synth or semi-synth oil is somehow less well suited to older engines which have some wear. Surely it's the viscosity grade that matters - 10W 40 is 10W 40 whatever 'type' of oil it is. The main difference between synth oil and mineral is that synth not only degrades less with heat, but it holds on to its viscosity ratings at both extremes of temp much better too. 10W 40 should 'flow' like a 10 grade oil even at cold temps (whereas a mineral oil could be significantly thicker...), and should also not 'thin' more than 40 when running hot, so keeping its protection when the going gets tough.

I run my well-worn 35-year old Ford 'Pinto' engine on Millers high-synth oil - but being 20W50 it is the correct 'old' grade for this engine and works beautifully.)

[helen&tony]

Hi
I've always used a good quality 10-40 turbo diesel mineral oil, and a good well-known make of oil filter, and always used major brand names for oil, but the last time, I opted for fully synthetic 5-40 Elf turbo diesel, and a Mann filter.....The engine loves both, and it has no need to beg me to use the same again.....I'm sticking with that combination.
Cheers
Helen

[Veg_Ian]

I hear what you are saying 'Trouble' and there are various view points on this but if the engine's already worn and been running on mineral oil there's not much point in pouring expensive synthetic oil in it now. I agree with you about using decent semi-synth but you have to make a judgement on what constitutes 'decent'. An oil can be termed 'semi-synth' if it only has a gnats of synthetic mixed with mineral. I've yet to see a manufacturer state what percentage of synthetic is in their oil so you have to go on reputation I suppose. Miller's is good yes and expensive. I've gone for Silkolene (now Fuchs) or Comma in the past as both come well recommended.

[scanner]

I hear what you are saying 'Trouble' and there are various view points on this but if the engine's already worn and been running on mineral oil there's not much point in pouring expensive synthetic oil in it now. I agree with you about using decent semi-synth but you have to make a judgement on what constitutes 'decent'. An oil can be termed 'semi-synth' if it only has a gnats of synthetic mixed with mineral. I've yet to see a manufacturer state what percentage of synthetic is in their oil so you have to go on reputation I suppose. Miller's is good yes and expensive. I've gone for Silkolene (now Fuchs) or Comma in the past as both come well recommended.

It only matters what oil you use if the engine is losing any - if it isn't losing any semi-synthetic, or even fully synthetic, is going to give better protection than any straight mineral oil.

The Bongo's recommended oil and change intervals were set up to 15 years ago when oil quality and standards were lower than today AND as with all recommendations of that sort, set to take account of the lowest common denominator - the worse possible traffic conditions the vehicle could be used under - in this case probably crawling into Tokyo in the morning "rush" hour and back out again in the evening 5 days a week.

Mine doesn't do that and I don't use bog standard mineral oil either, so I modify the "recommendation" accordingly.

[Veg_Ian]

in this case probably crawling into Tokyo in the morning "rush" hour and back out again in the evening 5 days a week.

A bit like Cambridge on a good day then ?

[bigdaddycain]

I have used a 10/40 semi-synth oil at 5000 mile intervals since i have owned my bongo. I used to use motaquips oil (surprizingly good) Now i'm on shell helix, and have used granville, and miller's oil in the past. I replace the filter at each change, not every other change as some others do.

I limit engine speed to 2000 rpm till i'm showing normal operating temp too, as i feel that free's the engine from any undue stresses till everything is fully warmed up.

I do pamper my little bongo....

[scanner]

in this case probably crawling into Tokyo in the morning "rush" hour and back out again in the evening 5 days a week.

A bit like Cambridge on a good day then ?

That's why I gave up working there 10 years ago..........

Travelled to P'boro instead, twice as far in half the time, then gave that up exactly (to the day) 2 years later when stupid management made it possible for me to retire 10 years early.

[mikexgough]

I have got some Fuchs semi synth (from GSF in Peterborough).......lol............

I only do the Cambridge run when needs must.........mostly I use the A428/M11 these days when I need to go to Trumpington for meetings....

[brorabongo]

Magnetec what i've used, because she's worth it.

Normally change around the 5k (miles) mark aswell, and found that the oil still looks good.