RaceDiagnostics
Active Member
Can someone make a reccomendation please.
best engine oil for a 450SL
- Thread starter RaceDiagnostics
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OP
OP
RaceDiagnostics
Active Member
Hi,
I have just accuired the car and have no handbook but think it is a 10/40 that is suggested.
The car has done 148k minimum but may have been clocked at some time.
The engine condition is slightly rough, and there is a ticking from the right hand side.
I have no idea about what oil has been used in the past.
Cheers
I have just accuired the car and have no handbook but think it is a 10/40 that is suggested.
The car has done 148k minimum but may have been clocked at some time.
The engine condition is slightly rough, and there is a ticking from the right hand side.
I have no idea about what oil has been used in the past.
Cheers
Ted
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Castrol GTX would have been used originally.
So I would be using this
So I would be using this
Roger Jones
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I'd stick to 10W40. The lower the first number, the quicker the oil gets around a cold engine, which is the phase when most damage can be done (most = 70%+). If the car hasn't been cared for, I'd run it on the fresh oil for 1000 miles, without putting it under serious stress, then change the oil again. Fresh filter each time, of course. I wouldn't use a flushing oil. Thenceforth, I'd change the oil every 5000 miles at most; within reason, the lower the mileage, the more frequent the oil change.
Only my non-expert opinion . . .
Only my non-expert opinion . . .
SilverSaloon
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Yes i used 10w40 Castrol GTX in my 1985 280SL.
Number_Cruncher
Active Member
It's worth asking your local Vauxhall dealer about the 10W40 semi synthetic that they sell - it's good oil They sometimes offer a very good deal whereby you buy 20 litres, but only pay for 15. I bought some the other day, and it came to under £2 per litre.
Bellow
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I'd be wary of a synthetic or semi-synthetic in an engine not designed with it in mind. Seem to recall reading on a BMW forum that some component of the synths can attack plastics within the engine. Not just the obvious seals, but breather components and parts of cam chain tensioners are susceptible.
Not absolutely certain of this, but I'd spend an evening trawling the BMW fora if I was contemplating the switch. In any case, as controversial as it may sound, a good quality mineral oil is easily the measure of a synthetic.
Not absolutely certain of this, but I'd spend an evening trawling the BMW fora if I was contemplating the switch. In any case, as controversial as it may sound, a good quality mineral oil is easily the measure of a synthetic.
Number_Cruncher
Active Member
As long as the oil meets 229.1, it's OK
Ian B Walker
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Millers XSS 10W/40. I use it on my own cars and it has always done the business. 
Looking back at this thread , I bought 8 litres of castrol GTX 10W- 40 , which I ordered from Amazon and received yesterday . On checking the label I found that next to 1OW- 40 in smaller print was A3/B4 . At the bottom of the label was "synthetic technology" , fully or semi - synthetic. On the reverse it is marked MB 229.1 . So I am now confused as to whether I have "original" GTX , semi , or fully synthetic. And is MB229.1 a spec for newer engines! Dare I risk using it?
I only ordered the Castrol after realisIng the Triple QX 10 that I bought a few months ago ( but didn`t use ) was semi synthetic. Incidentally if you are an Amazon Prime member the 8 litres of GTX was £40 delivered.
I only ordered the Castrol after realisIng the Triple QX 10 that I bought a few months ago ( but didn`t use ) was semi synthetic. Incidentally if you are an Amazon Prime member the 8 litres of GTX was £40 delivered.
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Original CASTROL GTX from the 70's / 80's was a 20/50 non synthetic motor oil. I used it for years on customers cars, with no problems. Depending on what vehicle the 10/40 is going in will depend on what others, more clever than I am, will say about its suitability. I always thought that older engines do not fare well on oil the consistency of gnats piss. Tolerances etc etc.
Steve.
Page 30, May 1968
New Castrol GTX Motor Oil
Castrol, following the sales success of their "liquid tungsten" range of motor oils, have recently gone one step further, and have adopted a new name among their range of oils for the first time in 30 years. This is Castrol GTX, an entirely new multi-grade lubricant of 20W/50 viscosity. This has been formulated to give what is at the moment optimum performance in terms of consumption control and wear protection.
Among the qualities claimed for the oil are easier starting from cold, arrest of cylinder bore corrosion when the engine is idle and less risk of engine damage since oil pressure is maintained at a higher level than hitherto, and sludge is actively dispersed.
Interesting statistics concerning the new oil include viscosity ratings of 18 at 210º F. and 139 at 100º F., but Castrol seem to attach particular importance to its high sludge dispersancy and improved protection against varnish deposits achieved by improved detergency. So don't expect Castro' GTX to stay clean for long, but Castrol do have a reputation for producing high quality lubricants. Price is 3s. 6d. per pint.
3s. 6d a pint, same price as 20x No 10 fags !!
Steve.
Page 30, May 1968
New Castrol GTX Motor Oil
Castrol, following the sales success of their "liquid tungsten" range of motor oils, have recently gone one step further, and have adopted a new name among their range of oils for the first time in 30 years. This is Castrol GTX, an entirely new multi-grade lubricant of 20W/50 viscosity. This has been formulated to give what is at the moment optimum performance in terms of consumption control and wear protection.
Among the qualities claimed for the oil are easier starting from cold, arrest of cylinder bore corrosion when the engine is idle and less risk of engine damage since oil pressure is maintained at a higher level than hitherto, and sludge is actively dispersed.
Interesting statistics concerning the new oil include viscosity ratings of 18 at 210º F. and 139 at 100º F., but Castrol seem to attach particular importance to its high sludge dispersancy and improved protection against varnish deposits achieved by improved detergency. So don't expect Castro' GTX to stay clean for long, but Castrol do have a reputation for producing high quality lubricants. Price is 3s. 6d. per pint.
3s. 6d a pint, same price as 20x No 10 fags !!
Last edited:
grober
MB Master
A "true" 10W40 semi-synthetic which stays in grade slightly longer than conventional 10W40 oil is a good compromise. The term synthetic or semi-synthetic has become largely meaningless following extensive litigation between Mobil and Castrol about what constitutes a true synthetic base stock.
Synthetic oil - Wikipedia
It follows that all 10w40 semi-synthetics are not all the same. While all may meet MB 229.1 some will perform better than others. CASTROL products while perfectly adequate, would not be at the top of my list. Millers or Fuchs[oem] or Shell are good value - watch out for the 4litre v 5litre containers when pricing!
EE Semi Synthetic 10w40 Engine Oil
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...tegory=179492&pm=1&ds=0&t=1506082216000&ver=0
Shell Helix HX7 Engine Oil - 10W-40 - 5ltr
Synthetic oil - Wikipedia
It follows that all 10w40 semi-synthetics are not all the same. While all may meet MB 229.1 some will perform better than others. CASTROL products while perfectly adequate, would not be at the top of my list. Millers or Fuchs[oem] or Shell are good value - watch out for the 4litre v 5litre containers when pricing!
EE Semi Synthetic 10w40 Engine Oil
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...tegory=179492&pm=1&ds=0&t=1506082216000&ver=0
Shell Helix HX7 Engine Oil - 10W-40 - 5ltr
Thanks guys. I have just bought distributor cap, rotor , plugs and leads , and new oil filter . ( only thing I could not find was correct number for points ,seems distributors changed in `75 and finding the correct cap took ages ). I think I will use the GTX for a few hundred miles as it seems to have a reputation for cleaning out the engine ,then swap to Fuchs.Having just dropped down to 4 days a week I will hopefully get a service done sooner rather than later ! Probably be my last year with the SL anyway.
