Oil level Checking
Oil level Checking
Author
Discussion

Lurkio

Original Poster:

107 posts

243 months

Friday 11th August 2006
quotequote all
Realistically, how often do you check your Oil level, I've got the 4.5LW and have had serviced (12k) six weeks ago, when should I re-check the oil level, thanks lads, Chris.

Jonnie B

229 posts

248 months

Friday 11th August 2006
quotequote all
Hi.
Every week or after a long or hard (fast) run.
Others will say more often but check regular until you get to know your car,they are all different.

ridds

8,372 posts

273 months

Friday 11th August 2006
quotequote all
Use mine infrequently but every time I drive it.

Only takes a few seconds and could save your engine one day.

cossiemetro

1,092 posts

269 months

Friday 11th August 2006
quotequote all
i do it everytime i go out it takes seconds its a good habit to get into

Mr.Cerbera

5,151 posts

259 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Jonnie B said:
Hi.
Every week or after a long or hard (fast) run.
Others will say more often but check regular until you get to know your car,they are all different.


Now that's interesting coz I check mine BEFORE a long or hard run ??

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

275 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
cossiemetro said:
i do it everytime i go out it takes seconds its a good habit to get into


I do the same. I also remove the dipstick everytime I put the car away in the garage, so that the next time I go to take the car out for a drive I know that when I put the dipstick back in I will get an accurate reading. Paranoia.....oh yes, but it's always best to be safe. My Cerb doesn't use a great deal of oil, but I would rather constantly keep topping it up to keep it at the max mark, than to let it get to the lower level indicator before topping it right up.

Jules.

flashheart

581 posts

271 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
I check mine every time I go out in it. I have a trickle charger on all of the time too so the bonnet is always open, therefore it is easy to check coolant and oil level before I disconnect the charger. I am definitely paranoid

StefT

259 posts

243 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
flashheart said:
I check mine every time I go out in it. I have a trickle charger on all of the time too so the bonnet is always open, therefore it is easy to check coolant and oil level before I disconnect the charger. I am definitely paranoid


Just cos you're paranoid doesn't mean that everyone isn't out to get you!

byker28i

91,549 posts

246 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Which oil does everyone use. The handbook says Mobil Delvac 15w40 but this is a diesel car oil? What does everyone use?
Cheers

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

275 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Any good quality synthetic with a grade of 10W-50, or 10W-60, 15W-50, 5W-50 and some will use 5W-40 (I wouldn't). You can even use a semi-synthetic, the main thing to remember is to have the oil changed at regular intervals. A fully synthetic in theory should perform at within it's operating window longer than a semi, but as to how much longer is negligable. It's adviseable not to mix grades if possible, but mixing brands of the same grade shouldn't result in too much of a problem.

I have used Silkolene fully synthetic Pro 10W-50 in my Cerbs but have just put in Mobil 1 15W-50 as it was a freebie, not noticed any real difference although the Silkolene is a better type of synthetic than the mobil. Other top quality grades are Motul and Millers, thereafter you have the likes of Castrol RS, Shell Helix, Valvoline, Halfords, Comma, Synta etc etc etc.

Jules.

RUSSELLM

6,002 posts

276 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Check mine every week.

Before and after if I'm going on a run of 100 miles or more.

Mines an old girl, and my indie has prescribed her 20W-50.

Lurkio

Original Poster:

107 posts

243 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Thanks lads, better check the level more often then, havn't checked it since the service, the weather looks a bit pants for tomorrow so I doubt I'll take her out, but next time I'll check, is there anything else you would recomend to check on a frequent basis, thanks, Chris.

FUBAR

17,065 posts

267 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
StefT said:
flashheart said:
I check mine every time I go out in it. I have a trickle charger on all of the time too so the bonnet is always open, therefore it is easy to check coolant and oil level before I disconnect the charger. I am definitely paranoid


Just cos you're paranoid doesn't mean that everyone isn't out to get you!


Paranoia is just 100% awareness

byker28i

91,549 posts

246 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Cyclone1 said:
Any good quality synthetic with a grade of 10W-50, or 10W-60, 15W-50, 5W-50 and some will use 5W-40 (I wouldn't). You can even use a semi-synthetic, the main thing to remember is to have the oil changed at regular intervals. A fully synthetic in theory should perform at within it's operating window longer than a semi, but as to how much longer is negligable. It's adviseable not to mix grades if possible, but mixing brands of the same grade shouldn't result in too much of a problem.

I have used Silkolene fully synthetic Pro 10W-50 in my Cerbs but have just put in Mobil 1 15W-50 as it was a freebie, not noticed any real difference although the Silkolene is a better type of synthetic than the mobil. Other top quality grades are Motul and Millers, thereafter you have the likes of Castrol RS, Shell Helix, Valvoline, Halfords, Comma, Synta etc etc etc.

Jules.


OK I've had a nose around my local motor factors. Is Castrol magnetex any good? it's a fully synthetic 15W40 which is the same grade as the handbook recomends.
Cheers

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

275 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
It recommends 15W-40 Delvac or Mobil 1 5W-50, quite different oils so not quite sure why TVR came up with that. I am not a big fan of the Magnatec (semi-synthetic) and personally wouldn't use a 15W-40 grade, go for one of the other brands mentioned in any of the following - 5W-50, 10W-50, 10W-60, 15W-50, my personal preference would be the 10W-50, but this may hard to get, so go for one of the other grades and don't worry too much about brand as long as it's fully synthetic.

Jules.

ridds

8,372 posts

273 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Indeed I would plump for the 10w50 too. As long as your oil pressure is good though anything will do in theory. I'd steer clear of Magnatec though. I tend to use that for running engines in.

byker28i

91,549 posts

246 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice - decnet oils for supercars seems to be missing from my local suppliers so I guess it's a quick chat with opie oils then.

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

275 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Yes talk to Simon or Guy at Opie Oils and go for the Silkolene Pro 10W-50.

Jules.

byker28i

91,549 posts

246 months

Saturday 12th August 2006
quotequote all
Cheers - I checked my oil today and it's just below max after 5-600 miles from service so I'm happy with the oil usage, but this was a good reminder to get some in before I need it.

micky g

1,576 posts

264 months

Sunday 13th August 2006
quotequote all
Cyclone1 said:
Any good quality synthetic with a grade of 10W-50, or 10W-60, 15W-50, 5W-50 and some will use 5W-40 (I wouldn't). You can even use a semi-synthetic, the main thing to remember is to have the oil changed at regular intervals. A fully synthetic in theory should perform at within it's operating window longer than a semi, but as to how much longer is negligable. It's adviseable not to mix grades if possible, but mixing brands of the same grade shouldn't result in too much of a problem.

I have used Silkolene fully synthetic Pro 10W-50 in my Cerbs but have just put in Mobil 1 15W-50 as it was a freebie, not noticed any real difference although the Silkolene is a better type of synthetic than the mobil. Other top quality grades are Motul and Millers, thereafter you have the likes of Castrol RS, Shell Helix, Valvoline, Halfords, Comma, Synta etc etc etc.

Jules.

Just had mine back from automedon for a service who say 5 - 40 is the factory reccomended oil - ????

Btw sorry for not responding to your earlier e mail jules.