What oil weight do you use in you Seven?

[jlumba81]

I've been reading the Caterham owner's manual downloaded from the UK site. I'm planning on getting a SV w/ the 210hp duratec and the manual says to use 'Caterham Motorsport Oil 5w-50'. What oil types do you guys use and what engine do you have?

[yellowss7]

Amsoil 10w-40. Rover K series.

 

Tom

[pi7ot]

My Zetec ZX1...5w30. Anything heavier and the lifters pump up and go nuts.

 

m

[pksurveyor]

The Caterham dealer in Ft. Worth uses the following on my vehicles:

 

Zetec 147 hp - Castrol GTX 20W50; SVT 205 hp - Castrol Syntec 10W30

[slngsht]

Mobile1 5w30... just the manufacturer's recommended oil.

[bsimon]

Mobil-1 15W50

 

There seems to be a lot of people that think solid lifter XEs like that stuff.

[jlumba81]

Any of you guys use a different weight for winter use? Also how often do you change your oil? The manual says every 6000 miles or once a year, but that seems a bit long. I usually change the oil on my WRX at 3 months or 3000 miles which ever first and I use 5w-30 mobile 1 full synthetic.

[Davemk1]

Mobil1 in my ZX1 Zetec.

 

Dave

[athens7]

Mobil 1 5W30 (SVT Zetec).

[powerbookguy]

Mobil 1 5W30 right now but i just bought a few cases of Amsoil 10W40 becase that's what Amsoil reccomended for the S2K motor and it happens to be what I use for the Elise as well.

[WestTexasS2K]

We had a tech session at the SW 7s festival with Blaine from Cem Pec Co. He is an oil speacilist and does the testing and formulations for the company. It was a very interesting session. From what he says that over the years due to emissions requirements and direction from the auto makers they have cut the ZDDP down to 800 PPM which is Zinc and Phosphate. It is the main anti wear item in oils. They are allowed to have 1200 PPM in diesel engine oil since it is used mostly by trucks and heavy loads. His suggestion is to use an oil made for diesel engines in our cars 15w 40. If you are racing then he recommends using SAE 50w racing oil. Their company uses 2400PPM of ZDDP in its racing oil.

 

They have extensive history in tractor pulling community as well has some Top Fuel drag racing. He claimed that they were able to reduce bottom end rebuilds from every 5 pulls to over 90 hooks before bearings showed wear.

 

This is very important if you have engines that contain flat tappet cams. New engine oils will often have camshaft failures in very short periods of time.

 

At the very least a diesel engine oil should be used for break in periods.

 

If you are loyal to a brand then call the manufacturer and find out the level of ZDDP in the product.

 

He had many other interesting info on synthethic oil vs mineral based oils.

Edited April 7, 2009 by WestTexasS2K

[Hank]

Megabusa here, Hayabusa motorcycle engine: Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40

 

Tranny shares the same oil with the engine and if you don't use a motorcycle oil with specific additives the tranny doesn't last long.

 

Even though it's $9.50 a quart and I run 8.5 quarts I plan to change the oil every race. Ouch!

[pksurveyor]

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=82915470&contentId=7032644

 

Castrol makes a high ZDDP oil. Note it is not applicable for 1993 or newer model cars.

[oilteq]

Most of the Se7ens have engines with sliding cam followers, and so I recommend a higher ZDDP level than permitted in current passenger car oils. Diesel engine oils tend to be a good choice for street cars because they have higher ZDDP levels, and the detergents inhibit rust during storage. Look for API CJ-4 SM oil, which is available in SAE 15W-40 and SAE 10W-30. If you live in the South, the 10W-30 may be hard to come by because it is considered a winter grade for diesel engines.

 

For track work and high RPMs, you may want to consider a racing oil. Most racing oils have zinc levels between 1200 ppm (0.12%) and 1600 ppm, but can be as high as 2400 ppm. Always look for zinc levels, as many products are more marketing than performance.

 

Most passenger cars call for SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 to achieve better fuel economy. I prefer SAE 10W-30, as it calls for less of a compromise and I can wait a minute or two for warm up before putting it in gear.

 

Approximately 20 degrees F separate the viscosity grades. An SAE 30 (or xW-30) at 200 degrees, an SAE 40 at 220, and an SAE 50 at 240 are all about the same viscosity. So if you are running stock bearing clearances and your oil temperature is 40 degrees higher than normal on track, you should step up to a 20W-50 and be patient at warm up.

 

Mobil 1 users may want to read this http://jobbersworld.com/valvolinesletter.htm

 

Blaine

[Hank]

So Thomas Smith, Technical Director and all, can spell Valvoline but he can't spell valvetrain and he wrote rpms? Fooey.

 

Other than that article I haven't heard any negative press on Mobil 1 at all. Hell, maybe it's a conspiracy.

[11Budlite]

"Most passenger cars call for SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 to achieve better fuel economy. I prefer SAE 10W-30, as it calls for less of a compromise and I can wait a minute or two for warm up before putting it in gear." - Blaine, do you think I'd have a problem running 10W-30 in my ZX1 Zetec with hydraulic lifters instead of the 5W-30 I've been using? The reason I ask is one of the oils I've been considering using is not available in a 5W-30. Thanks

[oilteq]

Bruce

 

No problem. I put a ZX1 Zetec in my first Birkin and ran SAE 20W-30 for one of the drains. I was patient with warm up, particularly the few times I drove it in sub-freezing temperatures.

 

By the way, when Ford was first pushing the SAE 5W-20 a couple years ago, I got tired of reading the press releases that said 5W-20 was best for fuel economy and durability. I knew that statement was only half right. So I called the largest Ford dealer in Europe and asked what oil is recommended for warranty purposes for the Zetec engine. He said 5W-30. I asked about 5W-20. After an uncomfortably long pause he repilied in his thick British accent, "But sir, 5W-20 is not available."

 

Blaine

[11Budlite]

Thanks Blaine. I appreciate your expertise.

[WestTexasS2K]

Thanks for chiming in here Blaine. I tried to translate what we learned in your session at the 7s festival. I hope I wasnt to far off the mark.

[oilteq]

Thanks for chiming in here Blaine. I tried to translate what we learned in your session at the 7s festival. I hope I wasnt to far off the mark.

 

You got it right. However, I only recommend straight SAE 50 oil for extreme engines or conditions, and even then I prefer to see a pre-heater for start up.