Oil moan

Whilst I do like living in the IOM it can have its drawbacks.

I tried to buy some basic 10w 40 oil on Saturday, to change oil in my 300tdi defender, and no stock. Only semi synthetic or full synthetic.

Not only a waste of money, but also might not do a 200,000 mile defender any good.

At this rate I may as well invest in a bigger drum of cheap stuff and change it often.

Is 10w 40 mineral oil still readily available in England etc? Wish we had a Halfords, I know they can be guff sometimes but at least they are open on Sundays. Even our BandQ hardly has any car oil any more.

Ok sulk over.

Make sure it is suitable for a turbo diesel, a lot of mineral oil isn't.

Why not buy it online?

nobber said:

Make sure it is suitable for a turbo diesel, a lot of mineral oil isn't.

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Pretty sure the stuff I used last time was fine for turbos but point noted.

I have had trouble mail ordering oil before, as we are on an island and the oil etc is classed as hazardous goods, it has to come by boat, etc etc not impossible of course but some couriers won't touch it.

I tried to get a full service kit from Milner off road for my old L200, (long story but couldn't afford a disco3 when my disco 2 broke.) and they couldn't send oil, which was a shame as it was a fab deal.

I'll try opie oils see if they can send stuff here.

kes86 said:

Whilst I do like living in the IOM it can have its drawbacks.

I tried to buy some basic 10w 40 oil on Saturday, to change oil in my 300tdi defender, and no stock. Only semi synthetic or full synthetic.

Not only a waste of money, but also might not do a 200,000 mile defender any good.

At this rate I may as well invest in a bigger drum of cheap stuff and change it often.

Is 10w 40 mineral oil still readily available in England etc? Wish we had a Halfords, I know they can be guff sometimes but at least they are open on Sundays. Even our BandQ hardly has any car oil any more.

Ok sulk over.

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Try the local oil merchant, they usually sell lubricating oil in 20litre drums, and should have a better selection than high street places or garages.

10/40 semi synthetic oil would be fine in an engine like that anyway.

Since I would tear off one of my own arms in order to live on iom, I have no sympathy. Sorry

the 10w40 semi would have been fine imo. that's what is currently in mine.

I'm currently using Castrol GTX 10W-40 in my 19J and no problems here. Semi-synthetic or mineral are fine as long as they meet the right specifications.

i find it hard to find mineral anymore.. and if you do it's the same or more expensive than semi synth

I use Millers oil , it seems tio do the job.

Day off work today, so changed the oil. Seems quieter. Managed to cover the garage floor in oil as usual, missing the drain pan with the first litre or so.

I'll check up on the bigger drums of oil, and see what the local places will stock.

kes86 said:

Whilst I do like living in the IOM it can have its drawbacks.

I tried to buy some basic 10w 40 oil on Saturday, to change oil in my 300tdi defender, and no stock. Only semi synthetic or full synthetic.

Not only a waste of money, but also might not do a 200,000 mile defender any good.

At this rate I may as well invest in a bigger drum of cheap stuff and change it often.

Is 10w 40 mineral oil still readily available in England etc? Wish we had a Halfords, I know they can be guff sometimes but at least they are open on Sundays. Even our BandQ hardly has any car oil any more.

Ok sulk over.

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Synthetic automotive oils (and semi synthetics) are basically modified mineral oils (as opposed to true synthetic oils which might be used in aerospace applications or formula one cars), but are light years ahead of the basic multigrade mineral oils which have been around since the 1950's. And will significantly extend the mileage between changes and reduce wear and tear in the engine. Price differences between mineral, semi and fully synthetic is relatively small but the extra cost will justified by the increased life of the motor. Like most on here I am an amateur but competent home mechanic with a few family vehicles to look after. Top of the list is engine oil changes, I have researched the interweb and listened to a lot of experienced and informed views and have made my own mind up that synthetic is the way to go, including putting it in 1960's bike engines and thrashing the nuts off them on the race track. So long as you use the same multigrade as originally specified you should be ok to use a synthetic, with all the advantages why would you not want to? But don't use it to bed in a freshly rebored engine, it won't bed in properly - use mineral and change it after a good short thrashing.
All in my opinion of course.
Opie should courier you the oil you want, I got a batch of gear oil from them last week (fully synthetic of course :clap2. And better price than fashionable outlets - check them out on fleabay.
Hope this helps-----.

I put synthetic in my 19j once, it leaked past every seal on the engine.

Cheers for all the replies, very interesting. I quite like the new oil I put in. It has given me a fuzzy warm feeling putting better oil in, and none of it on the drive......yet.

I'll look into a bigger drum of semi synth, save keep buying a few tubs.

I was using a BP fleet oil which I got in a 50 litre drum. It was ok for turbos etc, but a bit of a one size fits all.

kes86 said:

Cheers for all the replies, very interesting. I quite like the new oil I put in. It has given me a fuzzy warm feeling putting better oil in, and none of it on the drive......yet.

I'll look into a bigger drum of semi synth, save keep buying a few tubs.

I was using a BP fleet oil which I got in a 50 litre drum. It was ok for turbos etc, but a bit of a one size fits all.

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One size fits all - great idea. Just stocked up on Castrol Syntrax Universal Plus 75/90, for the gear box, transfer box and diffs. Full synthetic, and a one size fits all (for my landy anyway).

There was an oil stockist in Yarmouth last year close to the ferry landing, and although much of their stuff is marine grade it will be better than the run-of-the-mill stuff.

Oldseadog said:

There was an oil stockist in Yarmouth last year close to the ferry landing, and although much of their stuff is marine grade it will be better than the run-of-the-mill stuff.

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I'm guessing you thought I lived on the Isle of Wight, not the Isle of Man, or did I have a blonde (balding grey to be fair) moment.

Update. The oil I spilt out of the oil filter onto the top of the axle, and forgot to clean off as my three year old was helping me tidy up. Has now successfully rust proofed the manhole lid on my drive.

Nipping up of the oil pressure switch which was weeping slightly, has also stopped the oil leak dripping from the bottom of the oil filter. Which is good too.

There are plenty of cars on the island, cant be that hard to find oil. IF you have a fat wallet try a chandlers. If not, try a farm supplier. Modern tractord are expensive machines, decent oil will be availble in bulk

kes86 said:

I'm guessing you thought I lived on the Isle of Wight, not the Isle of Man,...

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My apologies! I was having an Old Gimmer moment!