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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Engine oil used in UK - 1967 Autocar road test

(to save taking up room on the other thread I thought I‘d put it here)

as per the title this is from the 9th February 1967 Autocar (Road Test No. 2118)

conducted at MIRA with a ‘D’ reg. midget with 5,400 miles on it

weather was frosty and clear, 2° C and a 5-10 mph wind

oil consumption is shown as 800 miles per pint

and the oil was SAE 10W/30

as specified by MG (BMC) at the time

this information I took from pages 63-7 of the Brooklands book –

MG Midget Gold Portfolio 1961-1979 –
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/185520228X/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books



four years later, 4th February 1971

conducted at MIRA with a ‘J’ reg. Midget with 3,200 miles on it

weather was fine, 16° C and a 5-10 mph wind

oil consumption is shown as 1,200 miles per pint

and the oil was SAE 10W/40

as specified by MG (BLMC) at the time

this information I took from pages 102-5 from the same book
Nigel Atkins

what is to be inferred from this Nigel, what's the point?
David Smith

some people without the benefit of owning the relevant Driver's Handbook may think as it's mentioned so much that the only oil spec was 20w/50

whilst 20w/50 is fine it's not the one and only
Nigel Atkins

... the obvious reason being the huge advance in oil technology in 50 years. In the late 50s / early 60s there were no wide range multigrades and the factory recommended a summer grade and a thinner winter grade.
Note both the tests you quote are in winter, so still only getting half the story.
What was recommended back then is irrelevant today and a compete red herring.
David Smith

http://www.veloce.co.uk/shop/products/productDetail.php?prod_id=V4365&prod_group=Performance Tuning & Modification&
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

David thank you, that was the point that was to be expanded to and it relates to the other thread, how things have moved on and also that the cars covered a range of oil grades as shown and more so later, in the Driver's Handbooks

those two tests were the only ones I could find for 1275s with oil mentioned

yes I know the tests were in winter and at 6 month/6,000 mile oil changes the 'weights' could change for summer and your last comment I don't totally disagree with and it is relevant to the Mobil 1 oil thread

for the tests Duckhams Q 20/50 could have been used as it was also specified – so over 45 years ago 20/50 was recommended as well as other grades

1964/6 Driver’s Handbook shows as well as the other grades Duckham’s Q 20/50 for use in ‘tropical and temperate’ and ‘extreme cold’

my point is Duckham’s Q 20/50 is still (just about) sold now 45 years later so 20/50 isn’t progress more the accepted norm, oils have moved on a lot but not with Duckham’s Q or Castrol XL and Halfords Classic, both of which I currently use

I used to use Mobil 1, 0/40(?) in my previous Spridget but 15 years later I’m back to 20/50 mineral as used 45 years ago so I’ve gone backwards!
Nigel Atkins

Nigel I'm not sure I get your drift but don't for a moment think that Q20/50 in 1966 bears any resemblance to the Q20/50 sold today; the formulation of the additive pack (the bit that does the work and makes the oil perform) is totally different....
David Smith

I was just wondering when multigrade oils came onto the market. The first one I was aware of was BP Visco-static around 1959/60.

I also recall using straight SAE 40 in my Mini Cooper to keep the oil consumption down.

Dave
D MATTHEWS

about right Dave - I was working a forecourt on a Sunday in about 1965 and we still had several straight grades and one multigrade.
David Smith

"1953 - Motul produced the World's first Multigrade Oil" according to this website:

http://www.remoracing.com.au/products/partsaccessories/motullubricants/281
Doug Plumb

>>don't for a moment think that Q20/50 in 1966 bears any resemblance to the Q20/50 sold today<<

David that's a very good point and I must admit it went absent from from my thoughts

some do seem to advitise there oils as (being of?)classic (style?) (formulu?)

my point(s) - there were/are other grades than 20/50, things have moved on in oils, if you have or read the Driver's Handbook you'd have this information (for those that didn't already know)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 24/01/2012 and 25/01/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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