Oil change

ANDY 545 · 28th February 2007, 11:09

I am trying to find the best routine for oil changes and type of oil, I would appreciate any help with this.
I bought my cdt 12 months ago totally standard no mods, my mileage is approx 8000 a year. Driving is towing a caravan in the april to august then mainly short stuff through the rest sometimes not even getting fully warmed up, my normal routine is to change it every 6 months with a filter an 10w/40 semi synthetic.
So would I be better going for a fully synthetic such as millers XFD 5w/40
or Halfords own 5w/40 fully synthetic every 12 months.
The car has covered 61000 miles and I intend to keep it indefinitely as its the business but you already know that

GreyGhost · 28th February 2007, 11:59

0w 40 is the recommended fully synthetic I would not advise going against the manufacturers requirement.
Oil and filter change every 6 months for a vehicle doing 8K per annum is serious overkill but that is your choice. Modern oils and cars require change at yearly or 15K

JohnDotCom · 28th February 2007, 16:07

Mobil 1 0w 40w is the Spot on Oil recommended and I would say with your mileage once a year oil change as said by GG is more than enough, it does take a lot for the diesel (Need to purchase 7 litres). Some stores sell this in 5 litre size now rather than the 4 litre size which 2 of is good for change and any top up during year.

MartinW · 28th February 2007, 19:32

If it's semi- you're using, and this is normally cheaper than the full synthetic, then 6mthly may not be a bad thing if you do it yourself because you state that you sometimes don't even getthe car fully warmed up which can be more damaging than a long motorway run. Plus, yours being a diesel, I would stay away from the Mobil1 as it has a lower API C rating than the S rating, and is ideally suited to petrol engines, not diesel. Your diesel also has an Exhaust Gas Recirculating valve allowing unburnt fuel a second pass at being burnt, but this increases the soot loading on the oil (the very black stuff that discolours the oil, it is usually less than 1µm in size, that's a 1/1000th of a mm!

Cold running and lots of idling and lugging increases the strain on the oil, so in your case this will be greater than someone on motorway runs regularly. I'd look at what BMW use as some of their service intervals are quite long now by comparison for their diesel units, up to 2yrs, but your service indicator will also use an algorithm to assess your driving style and use and alter the interval accordingly.

Check what your handbook reccomends in the way of the ACEA or API rating, and also look for oils thathave these approvals on the can along with any OEM approvals. If you are keen to go with a long term ownership, then invest in a quality oil such as Millers and and do an annual oil change.

JohnDotCom · 28th February 2007, 20:23

The Mobil 1 0-40w is stated in Facelift Manual & on car Label for use in the Diesel Models and Recommended by Rover & BMW.

MartinW · 28th February 2007, 21:36

I wasn't aware it was also recommended for the diesel engines, John, but it has a lower rating in ACEA & API terms than for the petrol engines, as Mobil1 is designed primarily for petrol engines. The current highest rating for petrol engine oil is API SM, and for diesel the highest is API CL-4. Mobil1 is API SM/CF and the C (Commercial or aka Compression) rating is for diesel and that CF is at least 3 categories below the current highest rating. The current highest rating for C is based on the soot load problems that diesel engines suffer especially during Winter months, lack of proper warm-up, long periods of idling/lugging and with current EGR technology. The problem with soot is that it clusters to form larger abrasive particles and so soot load capability is very important, as is the Base Reserve which must counter the fuel dilution and consequential sulphuric acid build-up.

I am surprised at BMW/MG R recommending this for the diesel, but then I assume this may be to do with the engine not being the current one. My current can of Mobil1 shows approvals from various manufacturers inc. BMW. However, as with all these things, if you only plan to keep the car 3 years then use the recommended oils, but if you are planning a long term affair with the car, then go for the very best and I would certainly look at an oil with a higher API C rating than Mobil1 for a diesel. I'd also use a very low sulphur diesel if possible to minimise corrosive wear as in Andy's case where short journeys will result in condensation and fuel dilution that will create high levels of sulphuric acid.

28th February 2007, 11:09	#1
ANDY 545 Regular poster Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nottingham, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Posts: 89 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oil change I am trying to find the best routine for oil changes and type of oil, I would appreciate any help with this. I bought my cdt 12 months ago totally standard no mods, my mileage is approx 8000 a year. Driving is towing a caravan in the april to august then mainly short stuff through the rest sometimes not even getting fully warmed up, my normal routine is to change it every 6 months with a filter an 10w/40 semi synthetic. So would I be better going for a fully synthetic such as millers XFD 5w/40 or Halfords own 5w/40 fully synthetic every 12 months. The car has covered 61000 miles and I intend to keep it indefinitely as its the business but you already know that

28th February 2007, 11:59	#2
GreyGhost Banned 180+ Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bedford Middle Level Posts: 17,787 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 5 Posts	0w 40 is the recommended fully synthetic I would not advise going against the manufacturers requirement. Oil and filter change every 6 months for a vehicle doing 8K per annum is serious overkill but that is your choice. Modern oils and cars require change at yearly or 15K

28th February 2007, 16:07	#3
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Mobil 1 0w 40w is the Spot on Oil recommended and I would say with your mileage once a year oil change as said by GG is more than enough, it does take a lot for the diesel (Need to purchase 7 litres). Some stores sell this in 5 litre size now rather than the 4 litre size which 2 of is good for change and any top up during year.

28th February 2007, 19:32	#4
MartinW Newbie MG TF LE500 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chester Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	If it's semi- you're using, and this is normally cheaper than the full synthetic, then 6mthly may not be a bad thing if you do it yourself because you state that you sometimes don't even getthe car fully warmed up which can be more damaging than a long motorway run. Plus, yours being a diesel, I would stay away from the Mobil1 as it has a lower API C rating than the S rating, and is ideally suited to petrol engines, not diesel. Your diesel also has an Exhaust Gas Recirculating valve allowing unburnt fuel a second pass at being burnt, but this increases the soot loading on the oil (the very black stuff that discolours the oil, it is usually less than 1µm in size, that's a 1/1000th of a mm! Cold running and lots of idling and lugging increases the strain on the oil, so in your case this will be greater than someone on motorway runs regularly. I'd look at what BMW use as some of their service intervals are quite long now by comparison for their diesel units, up to 2yrs, but your service indicator will also use an algorithm to assess your driving style and use and alter the interval accordingly. Check what your handbook reccomends in the way of the ACEA or API rating, and also look for oils thathave these approvals on the can along with any OEM approvals. If you are keen to go with a long term ownership, then invest in a quality oil such as Millers and and do an annual oil change.

28th February 2007, 20:23	#5
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	The Mobil 1 0-40w is stated in Facelift Manual & on car Label for use in the Diesel Models and Recommended by Rover & BMW.

28th February 2007, 21:36	#6
MartinW Newbie MG TF LE500 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chester Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I wasn't aware it was also recommended for the diesel engines, John, but it has a lower rating in ACEA & API terms than for the petrol engines, as Mobil1 is designed primarily for petrol engines. The current highest rating for petrol engine oil is API SM, and for diesel the highest is API CL-4. Mobil1 is API SM/CF and the C (Commercial or aka Compression) rating is for diesel and that CF is at least 3 categories below the current highest rating. The current highest rating for C is based on the soot load problems that diesel engines suffer especially during Winter months, lack of proper warm-up, long periods of idling/lugging and with current EGR technology. The problem with soot is that it clusters to form larger abrasive particles and so soot load capability is very important, as is the Base Reserve which must counter the fuel dilution and consequential sulphuric acid build-up. I am surprised at BMW/MG R recommending this for the diesel, but then I assume this may be to do with the engine not being the current one. My current can of Mobil1 shows approvals from various manufacturers inc. BMW. However, as with all these things, if you only plan to keep the car 3 years then use the recommended oils, but if you are planning a long term affair with the car, then go for the very best and I would certainly look at an oil with a higher API C rating than Mobil1 for a diesel. I'd also use a very low sulphur diesel if possible to minimise corrosive wear as in Andy's case where short journeys will result in condensation and fuel dilution that will create high levels of sulphuric acid.