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MG MGA - Oil Change Time

Hi All
I am fairly new to my MGA(bought March this year) although I owned an MGB for 20 years and TC for 10.
My MGB had a rebuilt Oselli 1840 engine and used originally Shell Gemini Oil (as recomended by Oselli)when this was discontinued I used Castrol Magnatec 10w 40 semi synthetic and in 30000 miles hardly used a drop of oil.with regular annual oil& filter changes
My MK 2 1600 Coupe has a rebuilt engine some 5 years and only 3000 miles ago. 9.5 CR -160-170 compression on cylinders with a mild tuned cam (according to the spcification sheet and papers that came with the car) The engine pulls well and I have done some 1500 so far troublefree miles using Duckhams 20w 50 and a Spin on oil filter from Brown & Gammons.The car uses approx 1 pint of oil per 600-700 miles I suspect some minor leaking from the rear seal
I am about to change the oil (after my trip to the Le Mans Historic this weekend)and my question is would changing to Magnatec 10w 40 be advisable as I was pleased with its performance on my MGB or would it be too thin a viscosity? any advice from this great resource would be welcome
Paul Rainy Hertfordshire UK
P D Camp

Paul

This year (since March)I have been using a Millers 5W 40 fully synthetic in my 5 bearing 1800. Doing ok so far. I believe a lot of the guys across the pond are using even thinner oil.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Steve
I will try the 10w40 next month
Paul
P D Camp

Then again, if your oil pressure is ok with the 20w50, why switch? Switching to thinner oil might exacerbate any leaking seals.
M. D.

Call me an evil purist, but I've been using Castrol 30 weight since my rebuild (on the advice of the mechanic that rebuilt it) and have had excellent results. Just changed the oil this morning. Now it's 85 outside - too hot to drive! At least I can drive some more tomorrow morning.
David Breneman

David - "too hot to drive" - now there's something on our wish list over here in UK!! cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

To me, 90F is just too hot. We get a few 90 degree days even here in the famously rainly Puget Sound area. The following day was nicer, low 80s. Had a nice long evening drive with a friend. No oil leaked, so the oil change was a success!
David Breneman

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2008 and 19/07/2008

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