Oil supplier - 20L?

[robtheplod]

Hi All

 

I'm getting close to my service time again and this time I thought I'd get a 20L supply of oil rather than 3x5L ones and look to get a better price. My Beta 43's recommended oil is this: Beta Marine Engine Oil 5 Litre 15W-40 | Midland Chandlers.

 

Where does the team get their 'bulk' oil from these days?   I think i only need to be sure its SAE 15w-40 API: CF Mineral?  I did find this which i think is equivalent but not 100% sure? Smith & Allan Ultra 15W-40 - Mineral Engine Oil | Smith And Allan  not sure on API thing?

 

thanks!!

rob

Edited July 4, 2022 by robtheplod

[Tony Brooks]

If it is well run in then I doubt the API specification is too vital as long as you stay away from synthetic oils, and at 15W40 you probably will have to. I would have no concerns about putting a CG oil in such an engine as long as it is well run in.

 

If it were my engine I would use the one you link to rather than mess about trying to find a CF. It seems to me the older the AP spec. you are trying to buy the more expensive it is.

[robtheplod]

14 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

If it is well run in then I doubt the API specification is too vital as long as you stay away from synthetic oils, and at 15W40 you probably will have to. I would have no concerns about putting a CG oil in such an engine as long as it is well run in.

 

If it were my engine I would use the one you link to rather than mess about trying to find a CF. It seems to me the older the AP spec. you are trying to buy the more expensive it is.

thanks Tony, yes its well run it ..... probably on cusp of wearing out, but hey ho!!

[Dav and Pen]

You can buy this grade of oil at any motor factors, they often have the make Comma which is good.

[robtheplod]

Just thought - i use the same oil on my gearbox - PRM150, does the API impact that?

[Tony Brooks]

6 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

Just thought - i use the same oil on my gearbox - PRM150, does the API impact that?

No, they just say engine oil.

[pearley]

2 hours ago, Dav and Pen said:

You can buy this grade of oil at any motor factors, they often have the make Comma which is good.

Yes, finding 15/40 mineral at motor factors is easy but difficult to find the API spec without looking at the container, which is no so easy if it's not on display.

I find the factors that specialise in commercial vehicles/construction

/agricultural more likely to have mineral than motor car ones.

[robtheplod]

I've just come across this, which seems to show the correct API, so might be the best choice?

 

Shell Rimula R4 X 15W-40 (Formerly RT4 X) Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil 20 Litre 5011987228979 | eBay

 

[OldGoat]

You'll pay through the nose for Shell branded oil.

 

Over the years I've used fuel company oils (got staff discount...), Motor factor in house branded, motor factor supplied and lastly folks sellimg lubes on ebay.

I've used the oils on PVT cars when I had them and all manner of other cars.

The only magic is the lube business is the prose...

There are industry standards published in the blend mix - otherwise its effectively the same stuff grade for grade

Morris' is a good brand -they supply the trade and are respected. I think they do mail order.

[Sea Dog]

Beta do move with the times re their oil spec.  I think my original manual said CD, but  rather than dictate, say, CD or the CF spec referred to above, they now say 'minimum properties of', so CD might have been superceded by CF but CG is fine too for example. They also used to say mineral oil only, but they've changed that to allow semi-synthetic now too. Check out their website.

[Chris John]

I phoned up PRM (or whoever the manufacturer is) about using Synthetic oil in a PRM 150 and they said no definitely needs to be mineral 

[AndrewIC]

I’ve always used the cheapest 15w40 fully mineral in my fairly ancient Beta, and changed it religiously. Usually sourced from the nearest motor factor, and not worried too much about the API. Doesn’t seem to have done it any harm. It’s getting harder to find mineral oil off the shelf as so few cars use it nowadays. 

[David Schweizer]

I used to buy CC grade oil in 25 litre drums direct from Morris Lubricants, but a quick look at their current website seems to ignore oldder marine diesel engines. Maybe a phone call will help identify the oil you need.  There was a company in Aylesbury which also sold Morris Oil in bulk but I cannot remember their name.

 

I have just found them, they have moved to Bicester:-  https://www.classic-oils.net/All-Products-by-Manufacturer/Morris/

 

 

Edited July 4, 2022 by David Schweizer

[alan_fincher]

1 hour ago, David Schweizer said:

I used to buy CC grade oil in 25 litre drums direct from Morris Lubricants, but a quick look at their current website seems to ignore oldder marine diesel engines. Maybe a phone call will help identify the oil you need.  There was a company in Aylesbury which also sold Morris Oil in bulk but I cannot remember their name.

 

I have just found them, they have moved to Bicester:-  https://www.classic-oils.net/All-Products-by-Manufacturer/Morris/

 

I think you can only get a 10W-40 or an 20W-50 from Morris Lubricants - I don't think they do a 15W-40.

 

I bought from Classic Oils recently, and they have become Fuzz Townshend's Classic Oils - I have no idea who Fuzz Townshend is.

 

It's well worth a visit to where Classic Oils have relocated in Bicester Heritage Village.  It is a major centre for the restoration of really classic cars spanning a huge range of original manufacturing dates.  As you  drive around the site, there are loads of them actively on the move, being anything from a bare chassis, and the minimum fitments to make it move right up to fully completed cars. I'll swear I was overtaken by John Steed at one point!  It's all there - mechanicals, steelwork, bodywork, engines, upholstery, paintwork.

 

 

 

 

[Rob-M]

9 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

Fuzz Townshend

Presenter\mechanic on Car SOS, also a drummer.

[AndrewIC]

17 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

 

I think you can only get a 10W-40 or an 20W-50 from Morris Lubricants - I don't think they do a 15W-40.

Classic Oils say… “Morris Classic Marine 10w/40 A specific lubricant for use in canal boat engines, including where a 15w/40 is specified (5 litre)”

[cuthound]

I have used Morris Classic Golden Film 10w/40 API CC in my Beta 43 and PRM150 for the last 8 years with no obvious ill effect.

[robtheplod]

On 04/07/2022 at 13:56, Tony Brooks said:

If it is well run in then I doubt the API specification is too vital as long as you stay away from synthetic oils, and at 15W40 you probably will have to. I would have no concerns about putting a CG oil in such an engine as long as it is well run in.

 

If it were my engine I would use the one you link to rather than mess about trying to find a CF. It seems to me the older the AP spec. you are trying to buy the more expensive it is.

Just wanted to come back to you Tony as I've heard back from Beta. They are happy the oil is up to spec and don't have any issues with it, so your advice was spot on!  Its also well priced compared to others so that looks brill!

 

Smith & Allan Ultra 15W-40 - Mineral Engine Oil | Smith And Allan

[robtheplod]

Quick question, does oil have a shelf life?   bigger containers of oil mean longer storage...

[Tracy D'arth]

Not in your lifetime I reckon.  Its been in the ground for millions of years already.

[jonathanA]

On 04/07/2022 at 21:00, AndrewIC said:

Classic Oils say… “Morris Classic Marine 10w/40 A specific lubricant for use in canal boat engines, including where a 15w/40 is specified (5 litre)”

If you have a farmers shop or agricultural engineers then they will have a good selection of oils at competitive prices. (When have you ever seen a farmer throwing money around ?) 

My local agricultural engineers are Morris agents and they ordered me in an 25l drum of classic marine oil 10-40 API CC. Seem to recall the price was good.

[john.k]

handling oil from a 20l drum inevitably results in mess and some wastage....... you will also need a pump and a heavy duty plastic bag to store it in......even for big engines,I prefer the plastic 5l bottles.

[robtheplod]

4 hours ago, john.k said:

handling oil from a 20l drum inevitably results in mess and some wastage....... you will also need a pump and a heavy duty plastic bag to store it in......even for big engines,I prefer the plastic 5l bottles.

True... I have some very big funnels as well..... this is looking good as buying the 20L barrel cuts my oil costs in half. I'll take it to the boat in 5L containers that i have.

[cuthound]

13 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said:

Not in your lifetime I reckon.  Its been in the ground for millions of years already.

 

When I was part of a team reviewing oil change intervals for BT's fleet of 6500 diesel generators back in the late 1990's, that is what a beancounter said.

 

I had to explain to him that the lubricating oil used in standby generators is a tad different to crude oil.

 

Eventually I persuaded the beancounter that it should be based on taking oil samples from generators in pilot tests.

 

This resulted in the oil change frequency changing for annually or every 250 hours to 6 yearly or 250 hours, whichever comes first. However it was the use of crankcase heaters to keep the coolant near operating temperature (to allow full load to be immediately applied) which facilitated this.

 

That said lubricating oil doesn't have a shelf life that I am aware of.

Edited July 7, 2022 by cuthound
To add the last paragraph

[Momac]

7 hours ago, john.k said:

handling oil from a 20l drum inevitably results in mess and some wastage....... you will also need a pump and a heavy duty plastic bag to store it in......even for big engines,I prefer the plastic 5l bottles.

I always buy 20L tubs and transfer to a 5L  container as you have  suggested . . 

I manage with a funnel for transfer of the oil  and with care  there is very  little spillage . An old bed sheet kept for the purpose catches any drips.