20/50 mineral, accept no other grade, so take it back to the garage and insist they take out the oil which is 'damaging your engine' !

****s sake I hate it when modern data forgets the age of the thing!

Ok will get it sorted.
 
I said to the garage I wanted 20/50 as it was best for the engine but they said they had 15/40 on the approved oil list so they were not prepared to put in 20/50.

15/40 will be fine - the main problem with the newer oils is the low levels of zinc which the engine needs which is why sythnetic is not an option. bog standard mineral oils tend to have higher levels of zinc
 
I use Comma Sonic 20w50 which has good levels of ZDDP (the zinc stuff you need)

15w40 will be fine but it's not ideal, especially if it falls into the modern engine category which it probably does.

20w50 is produced with old engines in mind now so it tends to be good gear, although the Halfords Classic doesn't have much additive in it.

You can buy oil additives but a purpose made oil is the easiest/cheapest option :)
 
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So can I buy an additive that will change the zinc levels in the current 15/40? i.e. make it more like 20/50.
 
So can I buy an additive that will change the zinc levels in the current 15/40? i.e. make it more like 20/50.

you are getting bowled over by a swath of internet rubbish here Kurgan. we have no idea of the make of oil and therefore have no idea as to its levels of zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate. there are plenty of ZDDP additives on the market.
 
I'm not the sort of chap who easily believes any kind of bull****, nor am i the sort of chap who really believes things are as important as the product manufacturer says they are BUT:

Before i did any research i tried various engine oils and ended up with a 20w50 Classic because my engine was happiest using it, then when i researched it i found it was common knowledge.

ZDDP additives are good for souping up a basic 20w50 oil, but the high viscosity is also good for the old clunky v8.

Its not going to blow your engine up any time soon using the 15w40 but if there's an option to wangle some out of the geezers who told YOU you were wrong about 20w50 then i'd go for it...

Now i sound like a keyboard warrior :rolleyes:
 
next time use comma sonic 20w50 or comma europa 15w50 for the older engine, cheap as chips and loads of ZDDP in it. you cant loose at £12 for 5 litres
 

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