oilman

Hi folks, It's that time again, all you have to do is answer the following question on our website for a chance to win a brand NEW White Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 worth £275 The Prancing Horse is the symbol of which car manufacturer? Good luck, you'll never know it could be you receiving a phone call from the Opie Oils team saying your a winner. As always, our expert advice is free, if you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. Cheers Oilman

Hi all, The team at Opie Oils would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! With thanks for your valued business and support during 2013. Here are our Opening Times: 31st - Open as normal (Normal dispatch and delivery) New Years Day - Closed (No dispatch and delivery) 2nd January onwards - Open as normal (Normal dispatch and delivery) As always, our expert advice is free, If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. Happy new year from the team at Opie Oils

Yep, 5w-40 would be ideal :) Cheers Guy

We already had it, a good evening a couple of weeks ago. Still not going to be a quiet weekend as it's my birthday on Sunday.

Thanks for that and I hope you all have a good Christmas and New year. Only 3 hours to go, then I'm off until the new year :)

Hi all, The team at Opie Oils would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! With thanks for your valued business and support during 2013. Here are our Opening Times: Monday 23 December: Open as normal Christmas Eve: Open till 2 (Normal dispatch and delivery) Christmas Day: Closed (No dispatch and delivery) Boxing day: Closed (No dispatch and delivery) 27 till 31: Open as normal (Normal dispatch and delivery) New Years Day Closed (No dispatch and delivery) 2 January onwards Open as normal (Normal dispatch and delivery) One more thing... Keep an eye on your emails for a offer that can not be missed. If you don't receive our emails, you can sign up to them by joining our mailing list at the link below. Join our mailing list here >>>> As always, our expert advice is free, If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. Merry Christmas and Happy new year from the team at Opie Oils

Hi Yes, it does. Here is something from Fuchs/Silkolene from a few years ago (although the information is relevant). A while ago now, we ran three Silkolene performance oils in a Honda Blackbird motorcycle. this fearsome device is fitted with a light, compact, naturally aspirated 1100cc engine which turns out 120+ bhp at the back wheel. The normal fill for this one-year-old engine was 15w-50, so the first reading was taken using a fresh sump-fill of this grade. (The dyno was set up for EEC horsepower, i.e. Pessimistic) 15w-50 Max Power 127.9 bhp @ 9750 rpm Torque 75.8 ft-lbs @ 7300 rpm After a flush-out and fill up with 5w-40 the readings were; 5w-40 Max Power 131.6 bhp @ 9750 rpm Torque 77.7 ft-lbs @ 7400 rpm Then we tried an experimental grade, 0w-20 yes, 0w-20! This wasn’t as risky as you may think, because this grade had already done a season’s racing with the Kawasaki World Superbike Team, giving them some useful extra power with no reliability problems. (But it must be said, they were only interested in 200 frantic miles before the engines went back to Japan) 0w-20 Max Power 134.4 bhp @ 9750 rpm Torque 78.9 ft-lbs @ 7400 rpm In other words, 3.7 bhp / 2.9% increase from 15w-50 to 5w-40, a 2.8 bhp / 2.1% increase from 5w-40 to 0w-20 or a 6.5 bhp / 5% overall. Not bad, just for changing the oil! More to the point, a keen bike owner would have paid at least £1000 to see less improvement than this using the conventional approach of exhaust/intake mods, ignition re-mapping etc. Am I recommending that you use 0w-20 in your Subaru’s? Well, perhaps not! The 5w-40, which is a “proper” PAO/Ester shear-stable synthetic, will look after a powerful engine better than a heavier viscosity “cave at the back” conventional oil, and provide a useful extra few BHP. Cheers Tim

Folks, Currently at Opie Oils we are giving an extra 20% off the comprehensive range of Gulf Oils & Fluids with the voucher code GULF20 . This discount can be applied to the whole Gulf range, including the ever popular Gulf Competition engine oils, gear oils and brake fluids found HERE > > > Plus...... With it been winter it could be a good time to change your spark / glow plugs and wiper blades, so you will pleased to hear that we are currently giving an additional 20% off NGK & Denso with voucher code PLUG20 and 25% off all TRICO wiper blades with voucher code TRICO25 And finally....... 20% Off all K&N Performance Filters - This includes oil filters, replacement panel filters, 57i, Typhoon & Apollo induction kits, filter wraps, K&N filter service kits and much, much more....... As always, our expert advice is free. If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. - The team at Opie Oils

Good news, Opie Oils Final Sale of The Year has been EXTENDED, but not for long so you will have to be quick! The voucher code you need to use is SALE20, this will give you an additional 20% OFF our already discounted prices. We have also added many NEW products to our web site over last few months, these include: - Filter Removal Tools for Mahle, Hamp, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Nissan filters as well as universal filter removal tools. - Trolley Jacks & Axle Stands - 2 & 3 Tonne Axle Stands - 2, 2.5 & 3 Tonne Trolley Jacks - 40 inch Car Creeper Board - Wheel Chocks - Large range of Funnels - For use with Engine Oils, Fuels, Brake Fluids, Coolants & Screen Wash - Swarfega hand cleaning gels - From 275ml pots to 15 litre tubs - Waxoyl - Provides high quality rust & corrosion prevention - Simoniz cleaning & detailing products - Scientifically proven to give you great consistent results that’s safe on paintwork but hard on dirt. As always, our expert advice is free. If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. The team at Opie Oils

If those are the grades you can get, a 10w-40 or 20w-50 would be the most appropriate, but I would try to get a full synthetic. Cheers Tim

Final Sale of The Year - 20% Off Everything - Limited Time Only Simply use voucher code SALE20 when ordering via our web site www.opieoils.co.uk or give us a call on 01209 202944 Monday to Friday 8.30am 5.30pm This additional 20% off means a lot of products are discounted up to 45% off the RRP! There are bargains to be had across the store from all these top brands: Amsoil, ArmorAll, Astonish, Bilt Hamber, Brembo, Castrol, Denso, Dodo Juice, Farecla, Fuchs, Gulf, Hamp (we now also stock the Hamp Shortie), K&N, Kent Car Care, Laser, Mahle, Meguiars, MER, Michelin, Millers Oils, Millers Classic Oils, Mitsubishi Oil Filters, Mobil, Motul, Muc-Off, NGK, Nissan Oil Filters, Oil Safe, Polco, Red Line, Shell, Silkolene, Simoniz, Subaru Oil Filters, Trico, UFI, Valvoline & WD-40. With all these great brands to choose from, and with every product discounted, now's a great time to save money on top quality products and shop at Opie Oils! LIMITED TIME ONLY - Go shopping at Opie Oils here > > > > That's not all...... Free Delivery on all UK Mainland order over £70 And finally...... Enter our end of year competition for a chance to WIN a brand NEW Sony Playstation 4 with Killzone Shadow Fall and Need for Speed Rivals delivered before Christmas! As always, our expert advice is free. If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. The team at Opie Oils

Hi With the temps in Barbados, I'd probably go for a 5w-40, 10w-40 or 10w-50, depending on how hot the oil gets when driven hard. Castrol Edge will be fine for that. Cheers Tim

Believe me, I had far worse calls yesterday, it was one of those days :)

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Engine Oil Viscosity Viscosity is the most misunderstood aspect of oil and yet it is the most important. Viscosity is the force required to shear (break) the oil at a certain speed and temperature. Oils work because they have viscosity; the drag of a rotating part pulls oil from a low-pressure area into a high pressure area and “floats” the surfaces apart. This is called “hydrodynamic lubrication” and crankbearings depend on it. Oil must be capable of flowing at low temperatures, so that it gets around the engine in a fraction of a second at start-up and must protect engine components at high temperatures without evaporating or carbonising and maintain adequate (not excessive) oil pressure. Many people think that the thicker the oil, the better the protection, but if the oil is too thick, it will not flow properly, leading to reduced protection. The numbers on every can of oil indicate its performance characteristics when new but there are many misconceptions on what these numbers actually mean. For multigrade oils you will see two numbers (for monograde oils only one). The first is followed by a “w” and is commonly 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20. The second number is always higher than the first and is commonly 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60. The first and second numbers ARE NOT related. The “w” number (0, 5, 10, 15 or 20) When multigrade oils first appeared, a low temperature test called “w” (meaning “winter” not weight) was introduced. Using a “Cold Crank Simulator", the test measures the oils ability to flow at low temperatures. ALL oils are THICKER at low temperatures than at high temperatures but the lower the “w” number, the quicker the oil will flow at low temperatures. The second number (20, 30, 40, 50 or 60) This number is known as the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) number and is measured in “Centistokes” (cst) at 100C. Centistokes (cst) is the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow (viscosity). It is calculated in terms of the time required for a standard quantity of fluid at a certain temperature to flow through a standard orifice. The higher the value, the thicker the oil. An oils cst at 100C determines its SAE rating within the following parameters. SAE 20 = 5.6 to less than 9.3cst SAE 30 = 9.3 to less than 12.5cst SAE 40 = 12.5 to less than 16.3cst SAE 50 = 16.3 to less than 21.9cst SAE 60 = 21.9 to less than 26.0cst ALL oils labelled 40 must fall within the SAE parameters at 100C so everything from a monograde 40 to multigrade 0w-40, 5w-40, 10w-40, 15w-40 or 20w-40 are approximately the same thickness at 100C. Some oil companies label oils as SAE 35, 45 or 55, but as you can see from the above figures, there isn't a SAE 35, 45 or 55. This "could" be because they are approximately on the boundary of the two grades, but as we don't deal with any of those I can't really comment further. Summary Cold start. A 5w-40 will flow better than a 10w-40. A 10w-50 will flow better than a 15w-50 A 5w-40 is the same as a 5w-30 At operating temperatures. A 10w-50 is thicker than a 10w-40. A 15w-50 is thicker than a 5w-40 A 0w-40 is the same as a 10w-40 If you look above, you will see that the figures quoted do not indicate at all as to whether the oil is synthetic or mineral based... Well except for 0w oils as synthetic PAO basestock is required to acheive this viscosity. Generally the oil you use should be based on the manufacturers recommendation found in the owners manual, but then modifications, climate and the type of use can affect that recommendation. If you are unsure of what is the correct recommendation for your car and would like to know more please contact us here [email protected] With thanks to John Rowland of Fuchs/Silkolene Cheers Tim and the Opie Oils team

20% OFF in our Bank Holiday Blowout : Voucher Code - BLOWOUT - PLUS Free UK Mainland Shipping on orders over £70 ! - At Opie Oils we've discounted absolutely everything for our Bank Holiday Blowout! With an additional discount of 20%, there are bargains to be had across the store from all these top brands: Amsoil, ArmorAll, Astonish, Bilt Hamber, Castrol, Denso, Dodo Juice, Farecla, Ferodo, Fuchs, Gulf, Hamp (we now also stock the Hamp Shortie), K&N, Kent Car Care, Laser, Mahle, Meguiars, MER, Michelin, Millers Oils, Millers Classic Oils, Mitsubishi Oil Filters, Mobil, Motul, Muc-Off, NGK, Nissan Oil Filters, Oil Safe, Polco, Red Line, Shell, Silkolene, Simoniz, Subaru Oil Filters, Trico, UFI, Valvoline & WD-40. With all these great brands to choose from, and with every product discounted, now's a great time to save money on top quality products and shop at Opie Oils ! Limited Time Offer - go shopping at Opie Oils here > > > > If you pay us a visit then make sure you subscribe to our new daily deals programme, where you can save up to 50% OFF RRP every day of the week! PLUS . . . . Remember to enter and bookmark our monthly competition. This month we have a 32gb iPod touch up for grabs As always, our expert advice is free. If you need help you can call us Monday - Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm on 01209 202944, email us at [email protected], or just ask here. Have a great Bank Holiday Weekend! The team at Opie Oils

The Advantages of Synthetic Oils over Mineral oils Extended oil drain periods Better wear protection and therefore extended engine life Most synthetics give better MPG They flow better when cold and are more thermally stable when hot Surface-active meaning a thin layer of oil on the surfaces at all times (in ester based oils) How Synthetic oils Achieve these Benefits Stable Basestocks Synthetic oils are designed from pure, uniform synthetic basestocks, they contain no contaminants or unstable molecules which are prone to thermal and oxidative break down. Because of their uniform molecular structure, synthetic lubricants operate with less internal and external friction than petroleum oils which have a non-uniform molecular structure. The result is better heat control, and less heat means less stress to the lubricant. Higher Percentage of Basestock Synthetic oils contain a higher percentage of lubricant basestock than petroleum oils do. This is because multi-viscosity oils need a great deal of pour point depressant and viscosity improvers to operate as a multigrade. The basestocks actually do most of the lubricating. More basestocks mean a longer oil life. Additives Used Up More Slowly Petroleum basestocks are much more prone to oxidation than synthetic oils. Oxidation inhibitors are needed in greater quantities in petroleum oils as they are used up more quickly. Synthetic oils do oxidize, but at a much slower rate therefore oxidation inhibiting additives are used up more slowly. Synthetic oils provide for better ring seal than petroleum oils do. This minimizes blow-by and reduces contamination by combustion by-products. As a result, corrosion inhibiting additives have less work to do and will last much longer in a synthetic oil. Excellent Heat Tolerance Synthetics are simply more tolerant to extreme heat than petroleum oils are. When heat builds up within an engine, petroleum oils quickly begin to burn off. They are more volatile. The lighter molecules within petroleum oils turn to gas and what's left are the large molecules that are harder to pump. Synthetics have far more resistance as they are more thermally stable to begin with and can take higher temperatures for longer periods without losing viscosity. Heat Reduction One of the major factors affecting engine life is component wear and/or failure, which is often the result of high temperature operation. The uniformly smooth molecular structure of synthetic oils gives them a much lower coefficient friction (they slip more easily over one another causing less friction) than petroleum oils. Less friction means less heat and heat is a major contributor to engine component wear and failure, synthetic oils significantly reduce these two detrimental effects. Since each molecule in a synthetic oil is of uniform size, each is equally likely to touch a component surface at any given time, thus moving a certain amount of heat into the oil stream and away from the component. This makes synthetic oils far superior heat transfer agents than conventional petroleum oils. Greater Film Strength Petroleum motor oils have very low film strength in comparison to synthetics. The film strength of a lubricant refers to it's ability to maintain a film of lubricant between two objects when extreme pressure and heat are applied. Synthetic oils will typically have a film strength of 5 to 10 times higher than petroleum oils of comparable viscosity. Even though heavier weight oils typically have higher film strength than lighter weight oils, an sae 30 or 40 synthetic will typically have a higher film strength than an sae 50 or sae 60 petroleum oil. A lighter grade synthetic can still maintain proper lubricity and reduce the chance of metal to metal contact. This means that you can use oils that provide far better fuel efficiency and cold weather protection without sacrificing engine protection under high temperature, high load conditions. Obviously, this is a big plus, because you can greatly reduce both cold temperature start-up wear and high temperature/high load engine wear using a low viscosity oil. Engine Deposit Reduction Petroleum oils tend to leave sludge, varnish and deposits behind after thermal and oxidative break down. They're better than they used to be, but it still occurs. Deposit build-up leads to a significant reduction in engine performance and engine life as well as increasing the chance of costly repairs. Synthetic oils have far superior thermal and oxidative stability and they leave engines virtually varnish, deposit and sludge-free. Better Cold Temperature Fluidity Synthetic oils do not contain the paraffins or other waxes which dramatically thicken petroleum oils during cold weather. As a result, they tend to flow much better during cold temperature starts and begin lubricating an engine almost immediately. This leads to significant engine wear reduction, and, therefore, longer engine life. Improved Fuel Economy Because of their uniform molecular structure, synthetic oils are tremendous friction reducers. Less friction leads to increased fuel economy and improved engine performance. This means that more energy released from the combustion process can be transferred directly to the wheels due to the lower friction. Acceleration is more responsive and more powerful, using less fuel in the process. In a petroleum oil, lighter molecules tend to boil off easily, leaving behind much heavier molecules which are difficult to pump. The engine loses more energy pumping these heavy molecules than if it were pumping lighter ones. Since synthetic oils have more uniform molecules, fewer of these molecules tend to boil off and when they do, the molecules which are left are of the same size and pumpability is not affected. Synthetics are better and in many ways, they are basically better by design as they are created by chemists in laboratories for a specific purpose, rather than being modified from something that came out of the ground to be as good as they can for a purpose. Cheers Tim

Hi You need a 75w-90 GL5 oil http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-673-75w-90-mtfs-manual-transmission-fluid.aspx The Fuchs Syn 5, Millers CRX, Redline 75w-90 GL5, Motul Gear 300 and Gulf Competition are ideal for the diffs. The Fuchs Sintopoid, Castrol Syntrax Longlife, Millers TRX, Motul Motylgear, Mobil SHC and Amsoil FGR are also good choices. Cheers Tim

Weekly Deal - K&N 30% Off RRP Enter Voucher Code WEEKLYDEAL and get 30% Off RRP on all K&N products. PLUS... We now have Daily Deals which run for 24 hours only. PLUS over the weekend our Friday Daily Deal will continue until 10am Monday! Our Daily Deal will not always be posted on the forum, but for those who subscribe to our daily deal emails will receive an email each day to let you know what spectacular saving there is to be had. So get subscribed and START SAVING WITH OPIE OILS! SUBSCRIBE HERE >>>> Oilman

Fuchs TITAN RACE Pro S 10w-50 - Only £39.98 for 5 Litres - Ends 10am Monday 8th July! Voucher code: DAILYDEAL From 10am Monday to Friday we will have one of our most popular products on offer at a ridiculous discount for 24 hours only. PLUS over the weekend our Friday Daily Deal will continue until 10am Monday! Our Daily Deal won't always be posted on the forum, so those who subscribe we will receive email each day to let you know what spectacular saving there is to be had. So get subscribed and START SAVING WITH OPIE OILS! SUBSCRIBE HERE >> Oilman & the team at Opie Oils

25% Off Everything at Opie Oils Enter Voucher Code MAYHEM and get 25% Off all products we stock from all these top brands: Amsoil, ArmorAll, Astonish, Bilt Hamber, Castrol, Denso, Dodo Juice, Farecla, Ferodo, Fuchs, Gulf, Hamp (we now also stock the Hamp Shortie), K&N, Kent Car Care, Laser, Mahle, Meguiars, MER, Michelin, Millers Oils, Millers Classic Oils, Mitsubishi Oil Filters, Mobil, Motul, Muc-Off, NGK, Nissan Oil Filters, Oil Safe, Polco, Red Line, Shell, Silkolene, Simoniz, Subaru Oil Filters, Trico, UFI, Valvoline & WD-40. Take advantage of this offer here > > > > > We also have many more new products including... - Filter Removal Tools for Mahle, Hamp, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Nissan filters as well as universal filter removal tools. - Trolley Jacks & Axle Stands - 2 & 3 Tonne Axle Stands - 2, 2.5 & 3 Tonne Trolley Jacks - 40 inch Car Creeper Board - Wheel Chocks - Large range of Funnels - For use with Engine Oils, Fuels, Brake Fluids, Coolants & Screen Wash As always, if you have any questions or need any advice then feel free to ask. - The team at Opie Oils

Hi All, It's been a while and there has been a lot of exciting things going on at Opie Oils, so we thought it would be a good idea to update everyone to keep you in the loop!! So here goes: Opie Oils Club Discounts We are delighted to say that all club discount codes have been renewed. To redeem your 10% club discount simply use the following club discount code at the checkout. SUBOC Once the code is added at the checkout you will then receive your extra 10% club discount. However this discount code cannot be used in conjunction with other offer codes, BUT the code can be used in conjunction with any of our offers that do not require offer codes. Our current offers page address will never change, so it's probably a good idea to bookmark it! Here you will find all our latest offers from our top brands. Over 30 Top Brands Now Stocked at Opie Oils Oil, lubricant & fluid brands: Amsoil, Castrol, Fuchs, Gulf, Millers Oils, Millers Oils Classic, Mobil, Motul, Red Line, Shell, Silkolene, Valvoline and WD-40 - Soon to be extended! Spark & Glow Plug brands: Denso & NGK Cleaning & Detailing brands: ArmorAll, Astonish, Bilt Hamber, Dodo Juice, Farécla, Kent Car Care, Meguiars, Mer, Michelin, Muc-Off and Simoniz - More to come Oil, Air & Fuel Filter brands: Hamp Filters, K&N Performance Filters, Mahle, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru Filters and UFI Filters - Others to be added Tools & other products from: Laser Filter Removal Tool, Oil Safe, Trico Wiper Blades, Polco Axle stands & Trolley Jacks and a 7 Litre Oil Drip Tray - More to come Not Just for Cars & Bikes..... Opie Oils stock a large range of specialist oils, fluids and parts for a number of automotive, marine, household and hobby activities. So if it needs oil, the chances are we have one! Opie Oils Free Advice & Recommendations We know that choosing the correct oils and fluids can be a bit of a mine field. So with that in mind feel free to give us a call on 01209 202944 or fill in an oil recommendation request form. Any oil we recommend is available to buy from us (if you would like to) for delivery throughout the UK and many destinations in Europe. Technical Articles On All Things Oil Over the years we have written and shared many technical articles, these can all be found on our web site HERE > > >. Please feel free to share these on the clubs community, all we ask is that credit is given to oilman at Opie Oils. If you would like to discuss any of these further then please do not hesitate to get in touch. We Now Accept PayPal We know accepting as many payment options as possible makes your shopping experience quicker and smoother, that's why we accept 5 major ways to pay through our website and 9 ways through PayPal. Opie Oils Monthly Competition Every month we're giving away a great prize, we try and find prizes that we feel club members would appreciate, for example over recent months we have given away an iPad Mini, Nintendo WiiU, Samsung Google Chrome and many other top prizes. Enter Opie Oils Monthly Competition> > > This competition will change every month but the page address wont, so it's probably a good idea to bookmark it. Used us Before? Give us a Review If you're an Opie Oils customer then we would love to know how we did! Feel free to leave us feedback through our web site or by submitting a review through TRUSTPILOT, both of which can be done HERE > > > We pride ourselves on our customer service, in the unlikely event you are not happy, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can rectify any issue you may of had. More to Come.... In the next coming months we will be launching our NEW blog, Brembo brake parts and will be constantly working to improve our look up guides and databases, we will keep everyone updated by threads and emails. If you would like to keep updated with all things Opie Oils then you are welcome to join our mailing list, simply follow this link : Register for Opie Oils News & Offers > > > Thanks for reading. oilman

15% Off All Gulf Competition Products Voucher Code: GULF15 Gulf Competition is a range of products specially formulated for, and tested in, race and rally conditions in a variety of cars. The engine oils are based on the very latest concept of synthetic fluids, such as chemically pure esters, that have been carefully chosen to provide the maximum level of engine protection and deliver specific performance benefits vital in motor racing. All the oils incorporate a top-of-the-range additive system. GULF15 can be used on all Gulf Competition Engine Oils, Gear Oils and Brake fluids. 20% Off Selected Castrol Products Offer includes Castrol Syntrax Limited Slip 75W-140, Castrol Axle EPX 80W-90, Castrol ATF DEX II Multivehicle, Castrol Universal 75W-90, Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90, Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90 and Castrol Transmax Dex III Multivehicle. PLUS...... We have also extended our Muc-Off range with the addition of many NEW products, to celebrate we are giving an additional 10% OFF with voucher code MUCOFF Not only have we extended our Muc-Off range with new products, we have also added ArmorAll, Astonish, Farécla, Kent Car Care, MER, Michelin and Simoniz products to our cleaning and detailing section, all of which can be found HERE > > > > > Pay us a visit and enter our April Competition..... Other good news, we now accept PayPal As always, if you have any questions or need any advice then feel free to ask - The team at Opie Oils

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If you are modding your car and adding BHP or using it off road then consider your oil choice carefully as the stock manufacturers recommended oil will not give you the protection that your engine requires. A standard oil will not be thermally stable enough to cope with higher temperatures without "shearing" meaning that the oil will not give the same protection after a couple of thousand miles as it it when it was new. Let’s start with the fundamentals. An engine is a device for converting fuel into motive power. Car enthusiasts get so deep into the details they lose sight of this! To get more power, an engine must be modified such that it converts more fuel per minute into power than it did in standard form. To produce 6.6 million foot-pounds per minute of power (ie 200 BHP) a modern engine will burn about 0.5 litres of fuel per minute.(Equivalent to 18mpg at 120mph). So, to increase this output to 300BHP or 9.9 million foot-pounds per minute it must be modified to burn (in theory) 0.75 litres. However, fuel efficiency often goes out of the window when power is the only consideration, so the true fuel burn will be rather more than 0.75 litres/min. That’s the fundamental point, here’s the fundamental problem: Less than 30% of the fuel (assuming it’s petrol) is converted to all those foot-pounds. The rest is thrown away as waste heat. True, most of it goes down the exhaust, but over 10% has to be eliminated from the engine internals, and the first line of defence is the oil. More power means a bigger heat elimination problem. Every component runs hotter; For instance, piston crowns and rings will be running at 280-300C instead of a more normal 240-260C, so it is essential that the oil films on cylinder walls provide an efficient heat path to the block casting, and finally to the coolant. Any breakdown or carbonisation of the oil will restrict the heat transfer area, leading to serious overheating. A modern synthetic lubricant based on true temperature-resistant synthetics is essential for long-term reliability. At 250C+, a mineral or hydrocracked mineral oil, particularly a 5W/X or 10W/X grade, is surprisingly volatile, and an oil film around this temperature will be severely depleted by evaporation loss. Back in the 1970s the solution was to use a thick oil, typically 20W/50; in the late 1980s even 10W/60 grades were used. But in modern very high RPM engines with efficient high-delivery oil pumps thick oils waste power, and impede heat transfer in some situations. A light viscosity good synthetic formulated for severe competition use is the logical and intelligent choice for the 21st century. You must seriously consider a "true" synthetic for "shear stability" and the right level of protection. Petroleum oils tend to have low resistance to “shearing” because petroleum oils are made with light weight basestocks to begin with, they tend to burn off easily in high temperature conditions which causes deposit formation and oil consumption. As a result of excessive oil burning and susceptibility to shearing (as well as other factors) petroleum oils must be changed more frequently than synthetics. True synthetic oils (PAO’s and Esters) contain basically no waxy contamination to cause crystallization and oil thickening at cold temperatures. In addition, synthetic basestocks do not thin out very much as temperatures increase. So, pour point depressants are unnecessary and higher viscosity basestock fluids can be used which will still meet the "W" requirements for pumpability. Hence, little or no VI improver additive would need to be used to meet the sae 30, 40 or 50 classification while still meeting 0W or 5W requirements. The end result is that very little shearing occurs within true synthetic oils because they are not "propped up" with viscosity index improvers. There simply is no place to shear back to. In fact, this is easy to prove by just comparing synthetic and petroleum oils of the same grade. Of course, the obvious result is that your oil remains "in grade" for a much longer period of time for better engine protection and longer oil life. If you would like advice then please feel free to ask. Tim Opie Oils