MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Semi or fully synthetic oil

Hi, simply what should I use ? Cheer's Garry
GarryGSXR

Hi,

Quite simply, (for road use) I don't think it really matters as long as the oil is to the latest spec (SL, I believe), the right grade, intended for high-performance engines, and comes from a reputable manufacturer.

As an example of the confusion surrounding oil types, I believe that Comma manufactures Halfords own brand, and Comma isn't bad. I don't use it (Halfords) in my MGF, but I do in the Rover runabout. The semi-syn that is.

Another problem is that the definition of synthetic oil is one that has undergone some form of processing to amend its structure. Even Mobil 1 uses modified mineral oil as a component, so I suppose it could be called semi-synthetic. Also 'semi-synthetic' could mean 1% syn and 99% mineral, so you don't know what you're getting anyway.

I'll stick to my first paragraph.

Regards, Kes.
Kes

I personally used Mobil 1 in my F (which was bloomin' expensive). My TF gets whatever the dealer puts in it - think the spec used to be Shell semi-synthetic?? On my '66 B (hardly a high performance engine) I use the proper grade of Duckhams multigrade. I heard the manager of my local branch of Halfords comment to a customer once that he wouldn't the cheapest Halfords own brand oil in his lawnmower - and I don't think he was just trying to sell more expensive oil!

FWIW!
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Hi,

He's right, but then you should use special lawn-mower oil in your all-alloy horizontal single-cylinder side-valve no tappets lawn mower engine.

The cheapest Halfords is the same as any cheap oil, and is intended for rather old and tired cars. I'm not advocating its use in particular but I think that the top-spec Halfords oil is fine. As fine as the top-spec Comma oil that is.

A lot of this is marketing and fashion, and I'm just as suceptible as the next man. Or woman.

Regards, Kes.
Kes

You're quite right, Kes, the better Halfords stuff is probably fine. Certainly I used it for several years and thousands of miles in my old Metro (but then, it used to leak so much that it ended up with a full oil change several times a year!!)

Ultimately, if the oil is the correct grade and you change it regularly you should be fine. I vaguely recall something about not being able to move from fully synthetic to semi though?

Tim.
Tim Jenner

I think unless you use the engine really hard on track days and the like, getting to very high temps, fully synth is probably a luxury in an F. I have to use fully synth in my 9-5 because it is a turbo and those oil temps can be stupid causing carbonisation and sludging especially if you don't let it idle for a bit after stopping. I think you will be better off putting a good semi-synth in and changing it twice as often!
Tony

This thread was discussed on 30/01/2006

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.