• This topic has 11 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by lerk.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Alternative to 5/30 semi synthetic oil? 10/40 ok for topping up?
  • georgecats_0
    Free Member

    Always used to top up my car with 5/30 ss, but don’t see it any more, it’s only for topping up, would 10/40 be ok as an alternative

    Rich
    Free Member

    I’d do it.

    thejesmonddingo
    Full Member

    I use this
    buy here

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    NorthCountryBoy
    Free Member

    Ho old is it? is it a VW or BMW diesel?

    fifeandy
    Free Member

    Dont do it.
    Did it myself on a Civic diesel and it cost about 2mpg until i had a full service and replaced with the proper stuff.

    chrisdiesel
    Free Member

    It’s a dam site better than no or low oil.
    Unless is something very special or very expensive than its fine.

    trail_rat
    Free Member

    What car is it. Why is it using oil ?

    What Chris said. Anything better than. Low oil

    wobbliscott
    Free Member

    It’ll be perfectly fine. Having owned an old car that had a number of minor leaks I used to top it up with all sorts of different grades between services. You’re topping up with a thicker viscosity oil so less likely to lose lubrication between the sliding surfaces as long as you’re not hooning it around a track for hours on end at high revs. There are no guarantees around what your garage/dealer/specialist is using when they service your car anyway. There is every chance it could be any old generic oil they buy in bulk and use for every car they service. How are you going to know? I remember doing work experience after school at a Ford dealership and they just used oil from a huge drum to service all their cars – so the same oil went into a Sierra Cosworth as a Fiesta Poplar.

    What’s wrong with fully synthetic anyway? Semi synthetic has so little mineral oil content it is practically fully synthetic anyway.

    johnners
    Free Member

    Tesco’ll do you 2 litres of fully synthetic 5W30 for £12, why not use that?

    philjunior
    Free Member

    As others have said, it’ll be better than nothing, but surely you can find some in the right grade. Fully synthetic will be fine instead of semi.

    craigxxl
    Free Member

    Always used to top up my car with 5/30 ss, but don’t see it any more,

    Have you tried looking. Even Asda sell 5w30 Fully Synthetic or try Halfords for 5w30 Semi Synthetic

    lerk
    Free Member

    Given that 5w30 is often spec’d for hydraulic tappets, I wouldn’t if you can avoid it.

    Having said that – if it really is just a top up <0.5L and it won’t end up turning into a rolling oil change, then as above – it’s better than nothing!

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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