Correct Spec. Oil for Monaro

[Breaker Morant]

The B-i-L, a dealer, has access to an online site that gives trade information for particular types of vehicles.

My service book shows the last oil change (Monkfish) as 10w30, he said this is wrong. He then showed me what the online site specified - a GM oil, a BMW oil and a Porsche oil.

I didn't fancy a 10 minute discussion about whether or not he was correct but what do you think?

[Yanayaya]

Isn't the correct oil grade printed on the oil cap on the engine? It is on mine.

Here is what mine has printed:

Engine Oil
SAE 10w-30
Mobil 1
Factory Fill


Based on that info you can see that Monkfish were in fact correct I hope this helps.

Edited by Yanayaya on Friday 3rd October 16:21

[Madgevxr]

Mine always has Royal Purple 10/30, readily available from Monkfish

[ringram]

Yep US LS spec was 10/30 Mobil 1

But thats not available in Europe apparently, Mobil recommend 0/40 instead.

Something to do with different measurement standards etc.

I use 10/60 stuff as it has a high Zinc/Phosphor content like the old motorsport 15/50.

[Behold81]

I use GM 10/30. It's cheapish on trade too.

[M11 MFP]

Valvoline Synpower 5w/40 in mine. Similar cold viscosity to OEM, but a little more oil pressure hot.

[snowwolf]

Mobil 2000

[TheLeatherman]

ringram said:

I use 10/60 stuff as it has a high Zinc/Phosphor content like the old motorsport 15/50.

Totally agree - me too - I use the Castrol stuff spec'd for the M3 motors in the Monaro. Note this oil is not exactly 10/60, but it has the behaviour of 10/60. Cheap at Eurocarparts I think.

And that is all the ute has ever had as slippery stuff, and the motor has been thrashed.

[ringram]

Valvoline VR1 ticks the same boxes and is available in 5L for £26 odd with free delivery on Amazon.

Only point to note is high zinc levels do not play nice with cats. Though they do play nice with uprated springs and cams etc.

[stigmundfreud]

Why buy on Amazon when you can go to Eurocarparts and get it for much cheaper than anywhere else - especialy Opie who charge like it was Caviar

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Vauxhall_Monaro_...

that's just one of many brands you can get

[jameshsv]

Valvoline VR1 5/50 in mine

[MadMaxHSV]

TheLeatherman said:

ringram said:

I use 10/60 stuff as it has a high Zinc/Phosphor content like the old motorsport 15/50.

Totally agree - me too - I use the Castrol stuff spec'd for the M3 motors in the Monaro. Note this oil is not exactly 10/60, but it has the behaviour of 10/60. Cheap at Eurocarparts I think.

And that is all the ute has ever had as slippery stuff, and the motor has been thrashed.

You guys running wider bearing tolerances then? Or not see that as a concern? The BMW's run a 60 weight for other reasons (as it also needs to support the hydraulic VANOS system) earlier M cars were on a 40weight.

[TheLeatherman]

No my Monaro is a standard LS1 5.7 but does have a 216 Comp Cam upgrade. But that is all.

It's not actually a 60 weight AFAIK. It has the performance of it though. We used to use this in Oz as the only oil for drag and circuit racing. And always protected the car perfectly.

[ringram]

stigmundfreud said:

Why buy on Amazon when you can go to Eurocarparts and get it for much cheaper than anywhere else - especialy Opie who charge like it was Caviar

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Vauxhall_Monaro_...

that's just one of many brands you can get

Because that crud no doubt has a pathetic amount of zinc in it
Unless you can inform me otherwise.

[jelevents]

Changed oil last weekend Mobil 1 5w 30 currently 30%off at Eurocarparts

[stigmundfreud]

ringram said:

stigmundfreud said:

Why buy on Amazon when you can go to Eurocarparts and get it for much cheaper than anywhere else - especialy Opie who charge like it was Caviar

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Vauxhall_Monaro_...

that's just one of many brands you can get

Because that crud no doubt has a pathetic amount of zinc in it
Unless you can inform me otherwise.

That was just the first lot I found, there is a whole world to select from but how did our engines survive before royal purple and their ever so keen pricing?!

[KMud]

jelevents said:

Changed oil last weekend Mobil 1 5w 30 currently 30%off at Eurocarparts

That's what I usually use (and am running now).

[preciousmetal]

There is GM Dexos2 5W/30 F/S and available at any VX main dealer

http://www.vauxhallsuperstore.co.uk/product/GM_Dex...

[MatrixXXx]

Mobile 1 as on the filler cap. have used it in all my cars. it is the best oil out there.

[VinceM]

The Monaro from the factory left with Mobil 1 10W30 and that is why it's printed on the oil cap. I suspect Mobil may have paid a small fortune for that little bit of advertising.

For a standard car, look in the handbook and/or the service history book and it'll state a range of suitable viscosities from a 0W30 up to a 10W40 iirc, but the spec is also important, from memory mine is ACEA A3/B4 OR GM LL-A-025. The range of viscosities expalins the differences between different companies stating different products.

Dexos 2 is also allowed, but only because when dexos 2 was introduced, GM stated that it is backwardly compatible with GM LL-A-025 or B-025. Also note that a main dealer will only sell one viscosity usually, and a 5W30 dexos 2 will cover 99.9% of the cars they are likely to see.

For modified cars, it is probably best to go with the tuner's recommendations or your own personal experiences, as each car will be different, and very few oil companies would underwrite a product recommendation for a car that's obviously had a small fortune spent on it and is something they are not overly familiar with.

For info I am using Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 at the moment. I have also used Comma Longlife 5W30 and have seen no difference in vehicle performance, only slightly more usage with the Mobil product. I will revert to the Comma product at the next oil change only because it's cheaper for me to buy.

Hope all that makes sense.