Engine oil for Fulvia 1.3

[simonandjuliet]

What is everybody using for a Fulvia nowadays ?

Synthetic, semi-synthetic, 20W50 , 10W40 , Castrol, Penrite ??

We all have our favourites ....

[chriswgawne]

I use branded such as Mobil fully synthetic 10/40. Expensive at oil change but I believe a good investment. Same in all Aurelias and our 993 Porsches. Chris

[fay66]

What is everybody using for a Fulvia nowadays ?

Synthetic, semi-synthetic, 20W50 , 10W40 , Castrol, Penrite ??

We all have our favourites ....

I've always used 10/40w semi synthetic on in my 2c with no problems.

Brian
8227

[lancialulu]

Millers 10-60 triple ester fully sythetic - both my Fulvias lasts forever defraying the initial high cost.....

From opie with club discount....sometimes cheaper if they are running a spcial offer.

[stanley sweet]

Currently Total Activa 15/40 for no other reason than it's easily available in my local supermarket at a reasonable price. In the UK I always used Castol Magnatech (?) 10/40.

[davidwheeler]

I use semi -synthetic 10/40 from my local motor factors in all my cars - about £14 per 4 litres.    It is what the trade uses after all and is cheaper because of nil advertising costs.  Cheap enough to change fairly often in the older cars too (have converted the Lambdas to modern filter of course).

[Scott]

Like Stanley I'm a Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 user too.

The rationale is simply that I've read that on older engines it's better to use a good quality (mineral or part synthetic) oil changed regularly than a fancier (synthetic) oil that's left in for ages. Add to that those "intelligent molecules" in Magnatec soothing my engine at startup "when up to 75% of engine wear occurs" and I'm living the dream.

I'm sure I remember reading that older engines don't always like the newer synthetic oils as their lower viscosity means it seeps past seals never designed for them. This means unnecessary oil usage through burning or loss.

Since however an engine rebuild is going to be more expensive than oil whatever the type - and I certainly don't do the mega miles where losing a bit is such a big deal - it would be really interesting to hear if I should re-evaluate the above assumptions and switch to something else.

[simonandjuliet]

Thank you everyone, dare I ask for your thoughts on viscosity vs oil pressure ?

I certainly notice higher oil pressure on the Aprilia when I use 20w60 over 20w50 - both oils from the same manufacturer and both high quality.

Bearing in mind some of the other discussion on low oil pressure on Fulvias ......

[rogerelias]

I have always used a good 20/50  at the moment I am using comma 20/50 

[ColinMarr]

I am slow to respond to this, but I have good faith in Fiat's semi-synthetic Selenia HPX, which is supposedly designed to be good for elderly and high-mileage engines - and it's relatively inexpensive. This link gives some details: http://www.maseratished.co.uk/SeleniaOil/FLCat.pdf

Colin

[fay66]

I am slow to respond to this, but I have good faith in Fiat's semi-synthetic Selenia HPX, which is supposedly designed to be good for elderly and high-mileage engines - and it's relatively inexpensive. This link gives some details: http://www.maseratished.co.uk/SeleniaOil/FLCat.pdf

Colin

Colin what is "relatively inexpensive"?

Brian
8227

[neil-yaj396]

I have always used a good 20/50  at the moment I am using comma 20/50 

A switch to Comma 20/50 has boosted oil pressure in my Beta.

[ColinMarr]

Brian, I used to buy HPX from my local Fiat dealer when it was relatively cheap compared to other fully synthetic oils. A quick search suggests that HPX might still be available at about £25 for 5 litres. I don't know how competitive that is nowadays. See: https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Results&keywords=S4P5063

Colin 

[fay66]

Brian, I used to buy HPX from my local Fiat dealer when it was relatively cheap compared to other fully synthetic oils. A quick search suggests that HPX might still be available at about £25 for 5 litres. I don't know how competitive that is nowadays. See: https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Results&keywords=S4P5063

Colin 

Thanks Colin,
it's quite a bit more than I usually pay, but I used to use it in my Dedra's.

Brian
8227

[stanley sweet]

The oils I have used are semi-synthetic changed every 3500 miles. Possibly I could leave them in a lot longer but there's nothing nicer than starting an engine full of fresh oil. I think I may have mentioned once before that my brother-in-law who did his apprenticeship with Rob Walker (and remembered brand new Fulvias in pastel metallics lined up outside, Rob Walker was a Lancia dealer) said to me not to waste money on fully synthetics in the Fulvia as they are more beneficial if used straight away in a fully rebuilt engine than in an old engine that has lived on all sorts. I too have read that engine tolerances these days are much tighter than in years gone by and older engines relied partly on thicker oils to prevent seeping past rings etc. I can't say whether any of this is right or wrong but it seems to make sense.

On maintaining oil pressure, it may be imagination, but since using the 15/40 it seems to keep a higher pressure longer into a run from cold than 10/40.