An answer to the 'what oil for my engine' question

[AHoy2]

Re: An answer to the \'what oil for my engine\' question

Take a look at Fuchs/Silkolene who supply to the commercial sector with a large range of products. This includes diesel engine multigrade and monograde. Their website(s) take some getting around to find product specs so for starters look here:

http://www.fuchstz.com/pagediesel.html

This lists multigrade and monograde oils that should meet some of the availability concerns expressed earlier.

On the recommendation of their UK tech centre I am using their TITAN UNIVERSAL HD 1540 which is API CG-4 (but also carries a CD classification listed on the container but not on the spec sheet). Engine is 3 litre 200hp TD with 200hr drain intervals.

If you are Poole based then Upton Oils (off A350/A35 junction) are the local suppliers, 20 litres for around £38 if I recall. "Bulk" supply only, not by the litre can though! No connection other than as a customer.

I believe Fuchs supply to VW, MAN and MB for engine factory fill and from my investigation also seem to have a good commercial reputation. UK support and supply as well.

A.

 

[oldestgit]

Re: An answer to the \'what oil for my engine\' question

I agree...
Excellent subject, not sexy maybe but of massive interest to those of us using specifically slightly older marine (& marinised) engines.

I absolutely agree with “Galadriel” when he suggests Vyv should do an article in YBW regarding the subject and would even ask that it contained specific reference to say the most common 20 or so engine types.

Having asked Volvo for their recommendation as a replacement for the CD they originally specified for my VP2003 of 20 year old vintage and once they got over recomending their own VDS-2, visc. 15W-40 and VDS-3, visc. 15W-40 oil, the reply I eventually managed to drag from them was….............

The API class CD is obsolete. Use CF instead. Viscosity 15W-40....

If you are about Vyv your observations would be appreciated………… Peter

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: An answer to the \'what oil for my engine\' question

I suspect that Volvo follow the API recommendations without question. This is fair enough if we are talking about automobiles in current production, where specific power outputs increase over the years. For older engines that are low powered, in vehicles, boats and static, moving to higher grades does lead to problems.

Stu asked the question earlier, 'what is the evidence?' The problem was first brought to my attention more than 10 years ago by Dickies of Bangor, who had seen a number of engines worn excessively by using higher oil grades. As a consequence of their observations they stocked the old Rotella X oil, which was then an API CC. I always used that until I moved away. Since then my job included lubricant advice to operators of rotating equipment, for which I had a lot of contact with oil formulators, so naturally I picked their brains on this subject.

I have seen much advice on the problems of over-specification on websites. There's quite a good one here , Technical > lubricants for vintage and veteral engines. Austin, Morris, MG, Wolseley, Triumph owners clubs all have advice or forums that warn against over-specification. An oil that is commonly recommended for such vehicles is Castrol XL 20w/50, which is to API CC.

As I said much earlier in this thread, if API CD is obsolete, why do Shell still make it? And why do so many yacht engine manufacturers still specify it?

Another question further up, I think Rimula X is too high a spec for a non-turbo engine. It is intended for high power use and is one of Shell's biggest sellers for truck fleets. I suggest you look at the Shell site I linked to earlier for the Rimula grades.