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oil change questions
jabbahutt - 23/6/10 at 06:55 AM

Morning all

Right few questions on changing the oil in my pinto.

1. Engine was completely stripped and rebuilt new bearing etc, has now done 500 miles, was thinking it should now have an oil change. Is this too soon and if so how many miles should I leave it?

2. As the car does low mileage (lucky if going to get 1500 per year due to young baby) how often should I change the oil? yearly irrespective of miles?

3. Anyone recomend a 20/50 oil to use that can be sourced from motor factors, Halfords etc. The car is driven in a spirited fashion but not thrashed as I'm too scared

thanks for your time and asstiance as usual..

BenB - 23/6/10 at 07:23 AM

Given the fact that most people drive their kits in a spirited manner utilising the full RPM range I think the oil is going to be working much harder than in a tintop so it's worth changing annually even if you do small miles....

contaminated - 23/6/10 at 07:33 AM

As above, annually whatever the mileage. Twice if you smash the sump

britishtrident - 23/6/10 at 07:38 AM

20w/50 isn't a good idea, the main problem is cold start lubrication particularly on the Pinto the camshaft, a 5w/40 ( or if you want to spend more money 0w/40) is what you want.

jabbahutt - 23/6/10 at 07:44 AM

Sorry I know nothing really about oils. Why would the original oil be 20 50w if it isn't particularly good for the engine?

I thought the newer oils with the thinner viscosity didn't suit older engines?

Thanks all for your answers.

David Jenkins - 23/6/10 at 07:48 AM

I use 20W/50 oil in my x-flow simply because it's what was specified for the engine. The lighter oils were designed for engines with tighter tolerances - IMHO, of course.

The Pinto is a little more modern so may be happier with the lighter oils...

coozer - 23/6/10 at 07:51 AM

I would stick with the Ford specified oil grade. You don't want to be rebuilding the motor....

jabbahutt - 23/6/10 at 08:00 AM

So the problem is that no where local seems to stock such an old grade of oil anymore!!

Online orders they want nearly a third of the cost of the oil for carriage

jabbahutt - 23/6/10 at 08:12 AM

sorted found a motor factors that stocks Comma oil for a decent price

anyone know anything about this brand, is it good enough for yearly low mileage use?

britishtrident - 23/6/10 at 08:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jabbahutt
Sorry I know nothing really about oils. Why would the original oil be 20 50w if it isn't particularly good for the engine?

I thought the newer oils with the thinner viscosity didn't suit older engines?

Thanks all for your answers.


10w/40 was the OEM grade as sold by Ford

Back in the 1930s to early 1960s engines used to run on straight SAE30 oil big end failure was common at around 30,000 miles .
Oils improved 20w/50 became available and very few big end failure were seen before 80,000 miles. Some engines were still problematic the Cortina 1200 would still run its bearings at under 40,000 miles.

By 1966 things improved again most engines got 5 main bearings detergents were added to oils and Duckhams brought out a 15w/40 that worked wonders for the life expectancy of Cortina 1200 engine.

In 1970 the Cortina Mk3 with the Pinto engine came out it was a disaster it had major camshaft problems, normally the camshaft would start rattling at anything over 40,000 miles, the problem was partly materials choice/heat treatment and lubrication issues. Ford made modification that helped a bit but the major change was oils improved Ford filled the sumps at the Factory with 10w/40 which was also used by dealers for servicing and sold by Ford parts outlets and by 1978 or so the number of Pinto camshaft failures dropped dramatically.


These days big end failure is practically unkown even at engines with over 200,000 plus miles on the clock -- and the only thing that has really changed is that engine oils are much lower viscosity which cold start up lubrication and because t partly synthetic oils have a higher film strength offer a better level of protection.

britishtrident - 23/6/10 at 08:20 AM

Comma are a well known supplier of own brand and fleet oils, generally very good products --- but just go down to your local Morrisions petrol station and buy 5litres of Havoline 10w/40 semi-synthetic. --- Very good price for a good oil good multinational brand.

jabbahutt - 23/6/10 at 08:36 AM

Thank you all for your time and patience, especially British Trident for such detailed explainations.

So I take it that 10/40 is part way between 10w 30 and 20w 50 which is listed in the Haynes?

Must admit missing the lower numbered oil when first reading what I needed and only seeing the 20w 50.

So off to Morrisons for some oil.

Thanks again