Engine oil
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Discussion

Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Hi all, question needed from our readers. The car was serviced two weeks ago, now it’s loosing a bit of oil when parked, googled and is says usually this means the filter isn’t tight or the gasket is leaking.

I have been topping it up, but as I am away from home can’t get it looked to at the moment, see pic of what I topped it up with, am I right in saying any make of oil with 5W-20 can be used, ie you can mix different oils.



Gigamoons

18,084 posts

230 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Yeah I'd mix brands of the same grade oil.

(In the shed I've often topped it up occasionally with the wrong grade oil and the old goat's happily at 270k miles still doing it's job)

21st Century Man

42,561 posts

278 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Rather than top it up why don't you just tighten the filter up a bit more? Just hand tighten as much as you can.

Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
21st Century Man said:
Rather than top it up why don't you just tighten the filter up a bit more? Just hand tighten as much as you can.
Not even sure if Incan reach it, it’s a Ford Focus, but will have a shufty, thanks for that, mind you with the cover under the engine it may be difficult to get to.

Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
Gigamoons said:
Yeah I'd mix brands of the same grade oil.

(In the shed I've often topped it up occasionally with the wrong grade oil and the old goat's happily at 270k miles still doing it's job)
That you for that, very reassuring, I am not that clued up.

Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
Just googled and watched a video, think I mean the sump drain, and you can’t get to that without removing the cover under the engine, be checking with a local garage tomorrow.

21st Century Man

42,561 posts

278 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
It might be they've reused the plug washer, crush washer, or none at all, or it's not tight enough (unlikely, usually too tight from a garage).

You could slacken off and retighten, see if that helps it seat.

Gigamoons

18,084 posts

230 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Vipers said:
Gigamoons said:
Yeah I'd mix brands of the same grade oil.

(In the shed I've often topped it up occasionally with the wrong grade oil and the old goat's happily at 270k miles still doing it's job)
That you for that, very reassuring, I am not that clued up.
My view is the right quantity of lubey stuff of mixed pedigree is certainly better for an engine than running low.

But I'm just a random on the internet, so treat your car to your own standards disclaimer!

Pica-Pica

16,606 posts

114 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Look in the handbook for engine oil grade required, then write that with a sharpie on the tyre pressure label. Any 5W-30 Long life, eg Castrol edge, would be good for a petrol (but the 5W-20) would be fine for a top up. Don’t top up too much, just a little, and check later, to add more if needed. Use 0W-30 LL for a diesel.
I would keep a bottle of oil in the car ‘just in case’ any fuel station will have what you need.

Sheepshanks

41,065 posts

149 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Pica-Pica said:
Look in the handbook for engine oil grade required, then write that with a sharpie on the tyre pressure label. Any 5W-30 Long life, eg Castrol edge, would be good for a petrol (but the 5W-20) would be fine for a top up. Don’t top up too much, just a little, and check later, to add more if needed. Use 0W-30 LL for a diesel.
I would keep a bottle of oil in the car ‘just in case’ any fuel station will have what you need.
I believe some newer Ford engines (ecoboost?) are pretty fussy about having 5W20.

Just got rid of a Merc and the handbook listed just about every viscosity you could think of and said they were OK, as long as the ambient temp wasn't very low.


Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Tks everyone, forgot I had RAC cover, visit arranged later, here’s hoping.

tux850

1,956 posts

119 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
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Sheepshanks said:
I believe some newer Ford engines (ecoboost?) are pretty fussy about having 5W20.
Yeah I was wondering if it is an Ecoboost, and if it is I'd strongly suggest to the OP to only use the Castrol Magnatec as it is the 'official' Ford oil and I'd be concerned anything else might damage the wet timing belt.

Vipers

Original Poster:

33,506 posts

258 months

Monday 14th August 2023
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Update if anyone is interested, RAC man came out, this is his report.

“Vehicle had oil leak traced fault to plug for engine locking tool missing vehicle has recently had cam-belt done suspect not tightened enough”

On the plus when he removed the cover under the engine, I found the cap I dropped in the first place.