spitfires
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: When it rains, it pours...

To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: When it rains, it pours...
From: Michael Hargreave Mawson <OC@46thFoot.com>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 18:26:34 +0100
In article <200105311048.f4VAm5O07814@dymwsm11.mailwatch.com>, Mitchell,
Doug (D.B.) <dmitchel@ford.com> writes
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Nolan Penney [mailto:npenney@mde.state.md.us]

>>15-40 too thin for summer?  That's a new one on me. The 15 side of the 
>equation 
>is >so think it's usually not recommended for winter. It requires summer heat 
>to 
>be
>>easily pumpable on a chilly morning. 40 weight is not exactly heavy oil, but 
>it's
>>not thin either. Unless you're cooking yourself in Texas heat or something, 
>the 
>40
>>weight side of the spread is quite adeqate.
>
>
>Huh? The 15 side is specifically for Winter weight. In fact a lot of new cars
>are recommending 5W-20 or 5W30 for year round use. I have used Castrol 20W50
>in my Spit here in Michigan and when it/we were in the UK, and find that the
>pressure keeps up just fine. If you are in Texas or some other warm weather
>climate, you can get by with a straight weight, but in general, use a multi-
>viscosity oil.
>
I am in UK, and although we have been having a heatwave recently, that
means temperatures in the high eighties/low nineties, not 120 degrees in
the shade.   Nevertheless, I am encouraged to hear that 20W50 seems to
suit UK/Michigan temperatures - I will probably go for that at the next
oil change.

>>From what you wrote, it seems that Carly suddenly started blowing smoke.  If 
>that's >the case, you don't have wear, something broke.  
>
>>Be very carefull sticking additives in the oil.  Many of them are harmfull.
>
>I agree with both of Nolan's points here. If you Carly is blowing blue smoke,
>something is wrong. Either a valve or valve guide, or a ring. If you just
>had the head gasket replaced, I would first check the valve lash. The
>mechanic may have set them too tight and some oil is leaking by them.

Will do.
>
>If (big if) you are using good quality oil, there is never any reason for
>an oil additive. Most of them simply sit in the crankcase or clog up the
>oil passages. By good quality oil, I mean name brand, not recycled or
>off brand. Stick with something like Castrol or Duckham's Q, and it
>is unlikely you'll have a need for additives.

I only ever buy name-brand oil - Castrol or Duckhams - but I have no
idea what the DPO had in her.   The first full oil change she had since
I bought her in February was last week (Castrol 15W40), and that was
when the trouble started. :-(

ATB
-- 
Mike
Michael Hargreave Mawson, author of "Eyewitness in the Crimea"
http://www.greenhillbooks.com/booksheets/eyewitness_in_the_crimea.html

///  spitfires@autox.team.net mailing list
///  To unsubscribe send a plain text message to majordomo@autox.team.net
///  with nothing in it but
///
///     unsubscribe spitfires
///


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>