Oil change today (1.8 K) - what a difference

Gigagator · 1st September 2018, 20:26

Carried out an oil and filter change today after some very thorough advice from a chap at Opie Oils - he suggested to move away from 10w40 semi-synthetic and switch to 5w40 fully synth in my 1.8 K-series (non-turbo).

I took it on a good 20 minute blast on the motorway prior to draining to get the oil very hot to hopefully drain as much out as possible. I also let it drain for probably 45 minutes to an hour while I did some other jobs.

One of my biggest gripes with the car has been that over 60mph the engine gets quite noisy due to the revs and obviously a lack of 6th gear to bring the revs down.

Well after putting this new oil in, I took it on another blast on the motorway and I was honestly gobsmacked. I was expecting no discernible difference but it seems so much quieter and refined - and I don't think it's a placebo effect. It was like night and day compared to the earlier blast running 10w40.

I also adjusted the gap on the spark plugs down to 0.9mm as it has been suggested to me that most K-series owners have adjusted down to 0.8mm so meeting halfway to see how it runs. No idea if that has any bearing on it.

Out of interest, anybody know if 5w40 can also be run in a 1.4 K-series as I need to do an oil change on the other halfs 25.

mbonwick · 1st September 2018, 21:21

Can't honestly see how 5w40 has made it better (beyond the variation in additives between oils) - it's nominally the same weight when hot as 10w40.
Give it a while and you may find the tappets start rattling more.

No reason it can't be used in other K-series but I personally wouldn't go for it.

roverbarmy · 2nd September 2018, 08:53

I always used 5-40 on my K series as it stops the first thing start up rattle on cold mornings. I use fully synthetic.

Gigagator · 2nd September 2018, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

I always used 5-40 on my K series as it stops the first thing start up rattle on cold mornings. I use fully synthetic.

Indeed!
I've done the oil change on the missus 25 this morning...
Rattle on start up gone.

Outlaw 41 · 2nd September 2018, 18:23

In my V6 ZT 160 i use Mobil1 0-40 full synthetic , no problems .

1st September 2018, 20:26	#1
Gigagator Avid contributor Rover 75 Saloon, Rover 25, Mazda 6 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Cardiff Posts: 220 Thanks: 143 Thanked 112 Times in 49 Posts	Oil change today (1.8 K) - what a difference Carried out an oil and filter change today after some very thorough advice from a chap at Opie Oils - he suggested to move away from 10w40 semi-synthetic and switch to 5w40 fully synth in my 1.8 K-series (non-turbo). I took it on a good 20 minute blast on the motorway prior to draining to get the oil very hot to hopefully drain as much out as possible. I also let it drain for probably 45 minutes to an hour while I did some other jobs. One of my biggest gripes with the car has been that over 60mph the engine gets quite noisy due to the revs and obviously a lack of 6th gear to bring the revs down. Well after putting this new oil in, I took it on another blast on the motorway and I was honestly gobsmacked. I was expecting no discernible difference but it seems so much quieter and refined - and I don't think it's a placebo effect. It was like night and day compared to the earlier blast running 10w40. I also adjusted the gap on the spark plugs down to 0.9mm as it has been suggested to me that most K-series owners have adjusted down to 0.8mm so meeting halfway to see how it runs. No idea if that has any bearing on it. Out of interest, anybody know if 5w40 can also be run in a 1.4 K-series as I need to do an oil change on the other halfs 25.

2nd September 2018, 08:53	#3
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,098 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	I always used 5-40 on my K series as it stops the first thing start up rattle on cold mornings. I use fully synthetic. __________________ Oil in my veins!

1st September 2018, 21:21	#2
mbonwick Gets stuck in Connoisseur SE 1.8 Auto Saloon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kendal Posts: 633 Thanks: 129 Thanked 176 Times in 147 Posts	Can't honestly see how 5w40 has made it better (beyond the variation in additives between oils) - it's nominally the same weight when hot as 10w40. Give it a while and you may find the tappets start rattling more. No reason it can't be used in other K-series but I personally wouldn't go for it.

2nd September 2018, 18:23	#5
Outlaw 41 Loves to post MG ZT Join Date: May 2018 Location: Blackwood Posts: 315 Thanks: 244 Thanked 125 Times in 83 Posts	In my V6 ZT 160 i use Mobil1 0-40 full synthetic , no problems .