Mixing Oils

[RAW-SEWedge]

I have to put some oil in my Griff but I’ve no idea what oil is currently in it.

I know you can’t mix synthetic with non-synthetic so is there anything I can put in that is safe. Short of draining it all off and replacing it is there any way round this because the oil looks clean and it was only serviced 3000 miles back.

[simpo two]

Can you ask them what oil they put in it? Does it say on the invoice?

[icamm]

Yep, phone them and ask. They should have put fully synthetic in. In which case any other fully synthetic is fine. Most people prefer the slightly thicker oils (such as Mobil 1 Motorsport) over the standard Mobil 1 recommended in the handbook.

[RAW-SEWedge]

I'll try and find out. I've only had the car 3 weeks and there is very little history appart from the TVR history record book.

[simpo two]

RAW-SEWedge said:

I'll try and find out. I've only had the car 3 weeks and there is very little history appart from the TVR history record book.

That should do - if you know where the car was last serviced they should be able to look up their records of that vehicle. If it was a TVR dealer it was almost certainly one of the Mobil 1 oils.

[darreni]

You can mix Synthetic with other oils with no worries, but a lower grade of oil will limit the performance of fully Synthetic.
This being the case, I would top up with Either fully Synthetic ( Mobil 1) or a good semi-synthetic like Castrol magnatec. Dont worry, you wont do it any harm!
Darren.

[rev-erend]

Mobil 1 - also make a thicker grade of fully
synthetic called 'Motor sport' or sometimes
sold as motor bike oil... I use in in my car.

It's still expensive at about 8 quid a litre
and is alailable from Halfords...

[HeyAndy]

Can't you just drain the whole lot and find out from someone like Dave Batty?

[RAW-SEWedge]

Looks like it was Motul 300 V Synthetic 15W50.

So I guess either Mobil 1 or Magnatec will be OK. I only need 1/2 a ltr for now.

[dogsharks]

Just wanted to confirm you can, indeed, mix synthetic with regular dino oils. I don't know about UK, but here in the US they sell many types of semi-synthetic and "synthetic-blends".

For aircraft, for instance, the piston engine type, you can NOT use a full synthetic, because it reacts with the lead in the av-gas, and the byproduct forms a type of gum on the pistons. Full synthetic is not a solvent for this stuff, but by making it a blend, such as the shell aviation oil on the market, you can solve the problem. Just a bit of trivia. Here in the US we don't have lead in auto gas, so using a full synthetic is just fine. I use Mobil-1 15W50 and 10W30 in my three Porsches, and the 1974 TVR is not running at this time (it's mothballed) but I'm sure it would love the 15W50.


Dogsharks
Nashville, TN

[NHyde]

Hey dogsharks , ASTO560 should do the trick , just avoid the Mobil 291 !!!!!