Oil change.........

[andyc16]

Got a 94/L Chim 4.0litre. Need to attempt an oil change this week. Can anyone help with the following...

The book says Mobil 5/50 but kind find this anywhere. Can I use another oil? What do people recommend?

If I dont do a full oil change but top it up, do I have to use the same grade oil as before? (dont know what is currently in it)

Anyone know the spec of the oil filter?

Is an oil change job fairly simple?

Thanks!
AC

[dannyboyo]

Shouldn't be any harder than changing the oil on any other car.

The oil filter is apparently a standard Rover part.

I've been using Mobil 1 (15/50 I think) till recently when a local garage (against my wishes) put Magnatec in it instead. But to tell the truth it's running better on Magnatec, using less oil, and 4 litres is about £10 - £15 quid cheaper than Mobil 1. I'm gonna stick with the Magnatec for now.

Also I hear Dave Batty always uses it, and he's a pretty well respected TVR specialist by all accounts.

[TheHobbit]

dannyboyo said:

Shouldn't be any harder than changing the oil on any other car.

IIRC, The Bible points out that it is different. If you don't do it quick enough and the oil pump drains, you have to re-prime the oil pump in one of 2 or 3 ways, otherwise you'll have no oil pressure when you start the engine. I would suggest reading the bible before you do it..... it has a nice section on oil changes.

[andyc16]

Thanks for the information. Can anyone tell me where i can buy "the bible"?!

[Big Al.]

andyc16 said:

Thanks for the information. Can anyone tell me where i can buy "the bible"?!

Here www.tvrbooks.co.uk/

It's the only place.

[shpub]

Go to www.tvrcc.com and order on line.

[joospeed]

it's as easy as any other oil change .. you *might* have a problem on preserps engines if you leave it ,say, a week before you fill it up and start .. but I've never ever had a problem in 20 years .. if you do it's probably more a sign of worn oil pump than anything else, so you'd want to be changing that anyway.

[shpub]

Joolz that is probably due to the fact you have been doing it correctly for 20 years. I agree that once you know of the problem it is not difficult. I too have never had a problem.

Unfortunately, many owners are not as knowledgable or skilled as you (if they were, you and many other fine gentleman mechanics would be out of business) and there are well documented cases of people wrecking their engines. Usually the argument goes.

"No oil pressure so it must be a defective gauge because I've filled it with oil so I will get that fixed later on... whoops why as the engine seized?"

[ropey]

dannyboyo said:

Also I hear Dave Batty always uses it, and he's a pretty well respected TVR specialist by all accounts.

Indeed he does - 15W/40

[andyc16]

can i put 10/50 synthetic oil in as a top up? dont know whats in there at present?

[andyc16]

i presume that main dealers will always use the real stuff.....

[Incorrigible]

There are as many opinions on oil as the oils themselves

I would advise a high quality fully synth, 15/40. I use Millers BTW