Best oil for a 1967 stepnose GT 1300 Junior

Hi there,

Other question.. what is the best oil (brand, type, visc) to use on my '67 stepnose GT 1300 Junior? And where would I likely find it?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Mark.

Good old Castrol GTX 20W/50 is a common choice. If you feel like changing your oil twice a year then you might consider different summer/winter grades. I personally use Penrite HPR30 20W-60 which is a special oil formulated for classic cars. Don't go for anything too thin like the ultra lightweight synthetics - fine in a modern engine but not so good in a classic.

I use Millers classic sport 20/50 semi synthetic. No sure if its available in the Netherlands though.

Originally Posted by VeloceMitch

I use Millers classic sport 20/50 semi synthetic. No sure if its available in the Netherlands though.

Yep... i've been having a look and it appears to be.


http://www.millersoils.nl/olie-oldtimer.shtml

Would you recommend the 'sport' over the normal?

Originally Posted by 1300GTJunior

Would you recommend the 'sport' over the normal?

If you throw it through forests and piles of cow dung like Mitch, then yes it's probably worth it!
If however you drive like a normal person there's probably not much in it. Halfords Classic oil is (I think) the same as Castrol GTX or one of the other long established multigrades.

The old Castrol GTX 20W50 is now marketed as Castrol Classic XL 20W50

You can buy direct from Castrol.
Link from the Classic section of their website.

Originally Posted by RicksAlfas

If you throw it through forests and piles of cow dung like Mitch, then yes it's probably worth it!
If however you drive like a normal person there's probably not much in it. Halfords Classic oil is (I think) the same as Castrol GTX or one of the other long established multigrades.

Mmmm probably true that, I remember the guide who showed us around the Millers factory saying just about the same thing. Normal driving classic mineral Oil is fine, thrash it's nuts off and you might want the semi synth classic sport.

But another point is, i'm a lazy bugger and don't change it as much as I should so I reckon the semi synthetic is more likely to stay in grade. It gets changed after about 5000 hard miles, I think the handbook would recommend changing after about 3000 miles with normal mineral oil. It's a bit more expensive but I feel more comfortable with it.

Blimey Mitch you could do with changing it more than that! The problem with big carbs is that they just tip the fuel in and no matter how well they are set up you still get petrol washing down the bores and into the oil. Bloke I knew who did grass track racing (not in an Alfa!) used Vauxhall branded 10/40 semisynth because he could get it ridiculously cheap and changed it after every event...

I'd have to agree with Rick here. I don't do many miles but I don't hang about and I will be changing the oil at 12 months, even though it is only couple of thousand miles old. The cost of a gallon of decent oil sounds pretty good insurance to me.

Just rejoice in the puny oil capacity of the Nord engine - my V12 takes 12 litres of fully synthetic Mobil 1 every 6,000 miles - Ouch!

Originally Posted by Cosmo

Just rejoice in the puny oil capacity of the Nord engine - my V12 takes 12 litres of fully synthetic Mobil 1 every 6,000 miles - Ouch!

It's not that puny though is it? About 6.5 litres or so for a little four pot! Alfa should have kept that sump on the later Twin Spark...

I guess there's a fair bit sat around somewhere as I only use 5L on a change.

Recently when the oil was changed in my car I gave the garage Halfords 20/50 to use. Although there is absolutely nothing on the tin to indicate the specification I had been told it was a good quality oil and also it looked very much like the old Duckhams oil I used to use in the 80's.

However, I have noticed the oil consumption has increased, the same thing happened on a Jaguar when I used the same oil.

Has anyone else used Halfords 20/50 and found the same results or is it just my car?

Originally Posted by Cosmo

I guess there's a fair bit sat around somewhere as I only use 5L on a change.

That big finned sump and the cam boxes trap an awfull lot of Oil which doesn't drain through the sump plug.

You've got me thinking about Oil changes now Rick, maybe once a year isn't enough then

Originally Posted by VeloceMitch

You've got me thinking about Oil changes now Rick, maybe once a year isn't enough then

Absolutely not Mr Scrooge!!

I do half the mileage of you and twice as many oil changes!!

Looking in my original (!) owners handbook it recommends changes every 3,000 miles for standard road driving on a 20/40 Multigrade. I think for hard use that should be halved to 1,500 and a decent modern oil like Millers Classic Sport used.

I have to admit to being a bit jealous at not being able to add anything to this thread, you guys have got fabulous motors in those Guilia's and if I'd had the space when my mate sold his I'd have been very tempted to buy it. As it is, it's now somewhere in Scotland where I'll never see it again

You've all got me thinking now - I think that because of all the brake issues I've had with the car over the Summer that the oil hasn't been changed since last July . I think that maybe I should get to it.

Embarrassment aside - I use Castrol 20w/50 Classic Oil - it even comes in a classic tin bottle!

I was told by Tom at BLS that the capacity is a good 6.5 L.