What oil to use ?

[Colinbentley]

Help! I live in Austrlia and having just purchased a 2000 model XJ8 have been told by 2 Jaguar service managers to only top up with Castrol Magnatec 5W/40 oil which is not available in 5 litres. ButI can get Castrol Magnatec Edge Sport 5W/30 . is this compatable with 5W/40 oil ?

[tonys]

Are you saying that you can't get 5/40 oil in Australia, or just that you can't get Magnatec 5/40?

I would always prefer to stick with the same viscosity as recommended by the manufacturer, what does the handbook say? If it's supposed to use 5/40, I would rather use any 5/40 that met the required spec. rather than a 5/30 that just happened to be a Castrol Magnatec.

[Colinbentley]

Tony, what I am saying is that Castrol Magnatec is now only available in 20 litre containers, which would last about 20 years. I may never need to top up. I have just sold a Ford Fairmont which I had for 6 years and never once ever had to top up the oil between services.So I just want a 5 litre container of some compatable oil in caes I need it.

[xkrGiles]

If you look in the book, its got quite a wide oil spec range.

I would be quite happy using the 5/30 as a top up oil

[tonys]

That's bit of a pain. As you only want a top up, and assuming that you don't change your own oil, would the garage supply a litre or two from their bulk supply? At least that way you know that you are topping up with what is already in the engine. Not the cheapest way of buying it, though.

The attached might be of interest, if not already aware.

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/iframe.do?categoryI...

In my opinion, and it is only that, I would rather add 5/30 as a top up to a 5/40 than not add anything, on the basis that any oil is better than none.

[Colinbentley]

Tony ,thanks that site in castrol oils was very helpful and I have solved my dilemma. The answer is either Magnatec Edge Sport 5W/30 or Edge OW/40 .As a top up I can use either.