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Rebotco

By Rebotco
in Boat Building & Maintenance

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I never know what to believe about oil! No names, but a certain type of oil was given a bad name over the years, but when I bought my current car, the same oil is recommended for it by the car's manufacturers.

 

I have used Asda diesel engine oil for many years in boat engines, though last oil change I used Comma on the recommendation of our local motor factors.

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alan_fincher Veteran II

alan_fincher

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Does it say it is suitable for diesels?

 

You need to find out the API spec - something lile API-Cx where x is a letter like C,D,E or F. If it only has an API-Sx spec that is for petrol engines, not diesels.

 

I'm fairly certain it is Isuzu that are fairly strict that the API spec is a "low" one like API-CD (from memory!). If this oil is (say API-CF then at least HMI Isuzu would I think have said don't use it, I believe.

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Flyboy Experienced

Flyboy

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laugh.png

 

 

OK, I'll try again .....

Anyone have any experience of this cheapo oil in Isuzu engines?

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-F23C4CF9-780CD532/www_lidl_uk/hs.xsl/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=7015

This is a top spec.oil & too good for an Isuzu or or any other canal boat engine. I use this oil in my own car & now done over 100k. miles with no problems. You need an oil without all the additives & modifiers that a modern car engine needs, so this is why 15/40 API CD is specified.

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boots Proficient

boots

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We have an Isuzu 35 and the spec States API-cc (API-cd by exception)

 

My two penneth...

 

I used to look round for cheap oil (have used the B&Q stuff with no issues ) and thought - I am trying to save a few £'s at the risk of damaging an engine costing a few £k's.

 

How do you know if it is not good enough until it is too late?

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David Schweizer Veteran II

David Schweizer

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I have never understood why people try and find the cheapest oil available to put into their engine. I probably change the oil about every nine months, the difference between £10 cheapy cheapo and £15 quality oil (which is what I pay for Morris oil) is not worth worrying about. How much is your engine worth?

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Rebotco Rising Star

Rebotco

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We have an Isuzu 35 and the spec States API-cc (API-cd by exception)

 

My two penneth...

 

I used to look round for cheap oil (have used the B&Q stuff with no issues ) and thought - I am trying to save a few £'s at the risk of damaging an engine costing a few £k's.

 

How do you know if it is not good enough until it is too late?

 

You ask on CWDF ...... rolleyes.gif

 

I've just found an old Isuzu manual, and it says to use API - CC 15W/40 (or CD if cc not available).

But I don't yet know the Lidl's spec, as they're not exactly informative in their sales emails!

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Paul C Veteran II

Paul C

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The cheapest oils are probably going to be API CF, since this is a pretty popular specification (economies of scale). Something like API CC ie less additives is more 'specialised' and ends up being more expensive.

 

The lack of (too many) additives is important for canal boat engines - the low load of idling eg when charging batteries etc is prone to glaze bores, its the additives in the oil which do the glazing.

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Flyboy Experienced

Flyboy

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We have an Isuzu 35 and the spec States API-cc (API-cd by exception)

 

My two penneth...

 

I used to look round for cheap oil (have used the B&Q stuff with no issues ) and thought - I am trying to save a few £'s at the risk of damaging an engine costing a few £k's.

 

How do you know if it is not good enough until it is too late?

I've been running my Barrus Shire 45 on 15/40 API CD own brand oil I bought in France from an Auchan Hypermarket for €8 for 5 litres. Its now done over 1300 hours and runs as sweet as a nut. Good enough proof I'd say.

The Lidl's oil has the same spec. as all the major brands but I would not reccomend it for narrowboat use.

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Grace and Favour Veteran II

Grace and Favour

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My Beta Manual specifies API CC -CD-CE grades, though having spoken to the technical department at Beta Marine they told me that a current CF grade Mineral oil would be perfdectly suitable.

I'm jnow using Wilkinsons ACEA A3/B3 API CF CF-4, have double-checked with Beta, and they've confirmed that it's absolutely fine. £12 per 5Ltr

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I have never understood why people try and find the cheapest oil available to put into their engine. I probably change the oil about every nine months, the difference between £10 cheapy cheapo and £15 quality oil (which is what I pay for Morris oil) is not worth worrying about. How much is your engine worth?

I see your point, but do we honestly know that the 10 quid oil is inferior to the 15 quid oil? I pay 15 quid for diesel engine oil in Asda (used it for ten+ years now) but noticed in Halfords today that they had some diesel mineral oil for 20 quid. Should I pay the extra fiver and use Halford's brand in my 7 grand engine, or should I go the whole hog and pay almost 40 quid for the Vetus brand? What I am trying to say is are they necessarily better quality because they are more expensive, or are we paying extra for a name on the container other than (in my case) Asda? I am not trying to be clever here; it is a genuine question.

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Tony Brooks Veteran II

Tony BrooksDonate to Canal World

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I see your point, but do we honestly know that the 10 quid oil is inferior to the 15 quid oil? I pay 15 quid for diesel engine oil in Asda (used it for ten+ years now) but noticed in Halfords today that they had some diesel mineral oil for 20 quid. Should I pay the extra fiver and use Halford's brand in my 7 grand engine, or should I go the whole hog and pay almost 40 quid for the Vetus brand? What I am trying to say is are they necessarily better quality because they are more expensive, or are we paying extra for a name on the container other than (in my case) Asda? I am not trying to be clever here; it is a genuine question.

 

People pay what they feel happiest. If they want to pay silly Halfords prices then fair enough. If the oil is the correct viscosity for the engine e.g. SAE 14W40 AND the correct API spec. e.g. API CC then unless Asda Wilikinsons etc are selling fake oil it should perform exactly the same as the same viscosity and API spec oil as that from Halfords and Morrisses.

 

Even the "too high a spec/ excess additive will cause bore glazing" thing is not written in stone. Its a guide, a bit like the 50% battery discharge rule. (Sorry about this) Vetus seem very concerned about bore glazing as did Isuzu but Beta seem very relaxed once the engine is run in. It is a guide to minimising a potential risk of unknown likelihood. I am use Wilko CF oil in my Bukh when I can get it an it has not yet caused a problem - yet.

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David Schweizer Veteran II

David Schweizer

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I see your point, but do we honestly know that the 10 quid oil is inferior to the 15 quid oil? I pay 15 quid for diesel engine oil in Asda (used it for ten+ years now) but noticed in Halfords today that they had some diesel mineral oil for 20 quid. Should I pay the extra fiver and use Halford's brand in my 7 grand engine, or should I go the whole hog and pay almost 40 quid for the Vetus brand? What I am trying to say is are they necessarily better quality because they are more expensive, or are we paying extra for a name on the container other than (in my case) Asda? I am not trying to be clever here; it is a genuine question.

 

No we don't, but also we don't know that it isn't, and I see no point in buying supermarket oil at £15 for five litres when I can get Morris oil for more or less the same price. Apart from that the ASDA oil is API-CF which is not suitable for my old engine,

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alan_fincher Veteran II

alan_fincher

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If you want a 20W/50 oil, and want to be rigorous about the API-CC spec, then this one is often mentioned, and cheaper than most.

 

Comma oil from B&Q.

 

Note however that the £10.98 price is for 4.5 litres, rather than 5 litres, when comparing prices

 

I don't actually use it, but would have no qualms about doing so, and in engines that might bore glaze, it is surely a better choice than compromising on API-CF oils from Wilko, Asda, Lidl, etc?

I know careful shopping around, (and maybe decanting from 25 litre containers) can find Morris oils cheaply, but I never seem to find the best deals. Many outlets now want £25 or even more for the API-CC 10W/40 or 20W/50 multi-grades, so without bulk buying and/or finding cheaper outlets, you are looking at double the cost of that B&Q oil.

I still tend to use the expensive stuff, but sometimes wonder why!

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No we don't, but also we don't know that it isn't, and I see no point in buying supermarket oil at £15 for five litres when I can get Morris oil for more or less the same price. Apart from that the ASDA oil is API-CF which is not suitable for my old engine,

I used to use Morris in my ancient Yanmar for the same reasons. Never had any probs. with it. I am in a different position though and I believe my current engine needs a higher spec. From the point of view of my current engine, I would love to know who actually produces the engine oil for the likes of Asda and Wilki's, I liken it a bit to when I used to buy genuine oil filters from Vetus, but decided to cut one open and compare it to a competitors equivalent which I also cut open. Apart from the colour, if they weren't the same filter I will eat my hat. They are however 1/3 of the price. So when we pay extra, are we paying for a superior product, or are we paying for a name?

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