[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I read that Castrol Edge begins it's life with the characteristics of a Mineral oil, but later, with use develops the charcater of a full synth. Thanks but all this sounds wishy washy to me.

LOL thats funny. I really doubt thats the case,
Castrol website clearly mentiones EDGE is fully synthetic.
Infact there is a 10W60 also in this range for extreme race conditions

[razor4077]

Originally Posted by zakaaaaasss

The synthetic oil removes the carbon deposits inside the engine block which is surely troublesome for engines that have run high kms....nevertheless, he said, you can get the overhaul done (polishing,porting) and then use syn oil...

Ok that's good. I am getting my engine overhauled. Am planning to use regular mineral oil during the run-in phase, and then switch to fully synth after an engine flush.

Has anyone used Valvoline fully synth? Castrol (Edge), Mobil1, OWS & Shell are not easily available in Kolkata, but this is.
Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Seems to be a good product, and is much cheaper than Mobil1. Any idea about it? Grade is 10W30.

Slightly OT: What is the ideal run-in period of an overhauled engine? 1000, 2000 kms?

[tsk1979]

I am guessing that ambient temparature in Calcutta never goes above 30 degree C, right?
If thats so go for 10W30. Otherwise you may need another overhaul soon.
10W30 oil will be too thin(like water) at high temperatures and will provide as much benefit as water.

As for carbon deposits, that depends a lot on detergent content in the fuel. If a mineral oil has high detergent content, it will do the same.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I am guessing that ambient temparature in Calcutta never goes above 30 degree C, right?
.

What are you crazy? Calcutta goes to 45 degs sometimes!! It's hot and dusty there in the summer. Not to mention the traffic scene. 30 degs!

Unless you're being a little sarcastic, in which case Bravo! Well done. You fooled me.

In any case if Rudra visits Calcutta, he sets fire to the place. Tollygunge is shut down and there is a curfew at Dum Dum. They have a Rudra alert in cal, as opposed to red alert. All the cal cops pick up their walkies and go Rud-alert, Rud-alert. The prices of whiskey stock goes up and all vegetarian joints shut down immediately. The consumption of fish rapidly drops in WB and everyone dresses up properly in case they might be photographed.

[razor4077]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I am guessing that ambient temparature in Calcutta never goes above 30 degree C, right?
If thats so go for 10W30. Otherwise you may need another overhaul soon.
10W30 oil will be too thin(like water) at high temperatures and will provide as much benefit as water.

As for carbon deposits, that depends a lot on detergent content in the fuel. If a mineral oil has high detergent content, it will do the same.

Ok.. so basically I should be looking at a something like 5W50 ?

@sam: lol, i think we may have a "rud-alert" soon. rudra da.. what say?
and max temp here hasn't gone beyond 42 in the last few yrs, but everything else (dust, traffic etc) is true.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

What are you crazy? Calcutta goes to 45 degs sometimes!! It's hot and dusty there in the summer. Not to mention the traffic scene. 30 degs!

Unless you're being a little sarcastic, in which case Bravo! Well done. You fooled me.

Umm I thought coastal area so high humidity but no extreme temperatures. 10W30 will do good until about 35 degrees or so ambient, maybe even 40 degrees or so for short periods

Originally Posted by razor4077

Ok.. so basically I should be looking at a something like 5W50 ?

@sam: lol, i think we may have a "rud-alert" soon. rudra da.. what say?
and max temp here hasn't gone beyond 42 in the last few yrs, but everything else (dust, traffic etc) is true.

20W50, 10W50, 5W50, 15W40 15W50 are all fine.
Make sure higher number is 40 or 50, the higher the merrier.

[nitrous]

Originally Posted by razor

Slightly OT: What is the ideal run-in period of an overhauled engine? 1000, 2000 kms?

after 5000 or 10,000 kms.
Check speedworksindia.com for distributor/retailer or PM me if u need help sourcing OWS 5w50 in kolkatta.
@dippy: when did u last change gearbox oil??

[razor4077]

Thanks tsk! I think I may just go for Valvoline Syn Power fully synth oil - grade: 5W40. Any feedback on this product, and how it measures up to Mobil1 & Shell?

Link: Full Synthetic Motor Oil

@nitrous: thanks, will send you a PM when i'm going for the synth oil. 5000kms... so I have some time. btw, what's the price of OWS 5w50?

[tsk1979]

Looks good, but the detergent content in this oil(20W50) is a about 30-40% lesser than mobil 1.
you can try Durablend 20W50 for one time, and then move on to fully synthetic. Durablend should be cheaper than syn power.

[razor4077]

As mentioned above, I was looking at the 5W40. What about the detergent content of this vis-a-vis Mobil1?

For the run-in, I'll probably stick to a regular mineral oil at the company recommended grade. Anyone know what this is for the Lancer?

[tsk1979]

Grade will depend on ambient temperature.
For example if you are in Toronto in winter 0W20 is a good oil to use, however in Delhi 15W50 15W40 or 20W50 is good.
There will be an API specification in your manual(API-SL etc.,), make sure you use the minimum or a higher specification, if your manual says API-SF then you can use API-SG, API-SH, API-SJ... and so on.
Most of the newer oils like Castrol Magnatec or synthetics are API-SL or API-SM

As for Valvoline 15W40, its not a very popular oil I think(as compared to mobil) so getting exact data will be more difficult.
But since its fully synthetic and made by a reputed company you can use it without fear.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

In any case if Rudra visits Calcutta, he sets fire to the place. Tollygunge is shut down and there is a curfew at Dum Dum. They have a Rudra alert in cal, as opposed to red alert. All the cal cops pick up their walkies and go Rud-alert, Rud-alert. The prices of whiskey stock goes up and all vegetarian joints shut down immediately. The consumption of fish rapidly drops in WB and everyone dresses up properly in case they might be photographed.

Really! WOW, Rudra sir seems to be THE famous personality there

[IMP]

Ok, now my car is due for it's 40k service, and I'm planning to go for a better oil than what the service center puts in my engine. Which oil should i use?

By now have gone through all the posts regarding Mineral vs Synthetic,(and i know most will recommend Mobil 1) but what about Castrol Edge and Shell Helix Ultra? these are cheaper options than Mobil. IMO mobil has a good brand image, and they are relying on it, for their premium pricing.
Shell and castrol might be equally good - what say guys?

Also if i flush the engine, would it have any negative effect on the engine? (like seals leaking and all) since my car has done 40k kms.

One last thing, I got my engine De-carbonised in the last service, in which they put some additive and let the engine idle for some time, then drain it out. How is engine flush different from De-carbonising?

aah, before i forget to tell you, my car is a Optra 1.8. I'm concerned about the engine oil since the car is used for short distances most of the time. My office is 2.3 kms from my house you see. Though i do about a 750-800 kms trip every fortnight. and the service interval for the optra is 10000kms.

Cheers

[tsk1979]

1. EDGE etc., are also good, if you are on a budget go for it
2. 40K is a new engine not old, esp in a modern car
3. De-carbonising is removing carbon deposits. I think they flushed your engine
4. Go for a good synthetic oil 15W40/15W50/20W50/10W40 etc., make sure higher number is 40 or 50.

[nitrous]

I just picked up lubricants for both my cars yesterday from the castrol distributor in chennai.
He had Castrol's fully synthetic EDGE.So, i had a look and when enquired for the cost.He said 2800 for 5 litres of 5W50, which is pretty good value considering the Mobil1 here costs 3200 for 4 litres.

Recently, I was going through a research paper on oil filters and found that Mobil1 also market their own oil filters too. And apparently, every mobil product comes with a ultra premium price tag.