Yet another what oil should I use thread! | FerrariChat
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Yet another what oil should I use thread!

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Impactco, Jul 8, 2006.

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  1. Impactco

    Impactco Formula 3

    Jan 29, 2006
    1,615
    #1 Impactco, Jul 8, 2006
    I have read what seems like an endless variety of threads here on what oil brand and viscosity to use but everyone appears to have a different opinion! My situation is that I have an '85 Euro 308 with 29K miles that has been running high oil temps lately. It has been averaging 90-100 degrees ambient air temp during our drives the past few weekends and my oil temp has been getting as high as 130C (260F). I just installed a Stebro exhaust system in place of the pre-existing custom fabricated exhaust with 2 cats. The intense heat from the cats will no longer be an issue. The car currently has 10W40 in it from the mechanic that did my PPI in February '06. I am well aware that the manual specifies 10W50 but, like everyone else, I have had no luck locating this grade anywhere. Our winters here in SoCal rarely get below 50 degrees but the summers are getting upwards of 110 degrees. I do not track the car and just use it for highway cruising and spirited back road twisties. Is conventional Castrol 20W50 the right choice or should I go with a 20W50 Castrol Syntec for it’s claimed better hi-temp performance? The car currently leaks a little oil from the oil pan seal (this will be repaired in a few months). Will this grade of Syntec increase my oil pan leak?
     
  2. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
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    #2 f355spider, Jul 8, 2006
    Have you been able to confirm there is no obstruction either internally or externally on your oil cooler? I have driven my previous 308 and 328 in 90 degree temps and never saw oil temps that high.
     
  3. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    Sep 30, 2003
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    Savannah
    #3 thecarreaper, Jul 8, 2006
    never seen temps over 210 on the street. 230 on the tracks, but i drive for fun, and am not a professional. 260 is heart attack range. something is wrong.
     
  4. Gary48

    Gary48 Guest

    Dec 30, 2003
    940
    #4 Gary48, Jul 8, 2006
    Might be a sensor going south. My currant two favorite oils are Amsoil 5-40 European formula and Aero Shell 15-50 a semi synthetic air craft oil available at Aircraft Spruce, compares to Redline pure synthetic. Castrol Syntec is an under performer and not a true synthetic but rather a hydrocracked dino oil. Mobil one 15-50 is anther good choice.
     
  5. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
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    Thibaut A.
    #5 thibaut, Jul 9, 2006
    You must have a problem to have such high oil temp. may be thermostat needing replacement or oil line blocked.

    check out the AE Haas posts on oil, there is all you can learn on a technical basis. give you car is not really a 'modern' you may not want to go very very thin synthetic.
     
  6. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
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    Mar 14, 2005
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    #6 JCR, Jul 9, 2006
    It's time you check the temp using a different gauge and sensor. I'm thinking calibration issues.
     
  7. Impactco

    Impactco Formula 3

    Jan 29, 2006
    1,615
    #7 Impactco, Jul 9, 2006
    Thanks for the feedback. The oil temps only started becoming an issue during drives with large groups of cars at relatively low speeds on some of our mountain roads. Oddly, the water temp remains normal at all times. I have checked the left body intake and tube to the oil cooler and it is free of obstruction. What procedure would be appropriate for verifying that the oil cooler and lines are also free of obstruction? I plan to go drive the car today on a 50 mile freeway drive and I'll watch the temps and see what happens.
     
  8. AEHaas

    AEHaas Formula 3

    May 9, 2003
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    Ali E. Haas
    #8 AEHaas, Jul 9, 2006
  9. Impactco

    Impactco Formula 3

    Jan 29, 2006
    1,615
    #9 Impactco, Jul 9, 2006
    I did a drive of 50 miles today, mostly freeway speeds and the oil temp never got over 95C (203F) and water temp was no higher than 85C (185F). Ambient air temp was about 95F. The car definitely runs a lot cooler now without the cats. I still want to fit a fan on the oil cooler to boost cooling at low speeds. I saw a thread relating to this somewhere here but there was no mention of what part to use and where to purchase it. Anyone have ideas on this? Thanks much.
     
  10. Irishman

    Irishman F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2005
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    #10 Irishman, Jul 9, 2006
    My conclusion after reading all the various threads on this subject is that you have to join one camp or the other until a 10W-50 comes along (unless you can find that Agyp oil). So whether the synthetic camp, the 10W-40 camp, the 5W-40 camp, the 15W-40 camp, or the 20W-50 camp you have to pick one and drive happy. I picked Castrol 20W-50.

    Seamus
     
  11. Shark49

    Shark49 Formula Junior

    Mar 31, 2005
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    #11 Shark49, Jul 9, 2006
    After extensively reading Dr. Haas writings as well as others, I pretty much stick with mobil1 0w-40 in my mondial3.2. If you are seeing high temps like that, you water should too so I bet your oil temp guage/sender is off. You should change the oil just in case. You could take the car on a spirited run and then once back immediately drain the oil and check its temp with a regular thermometer. Just dont burn yourself......
     
  12. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #12 f355spider, Jul 9, 2006
    I just remembered! On my 1978 308GTS I had a sudden, constantly 20 to 30 degree F higher readings on my oil temp. Water temps remained normal. I surmised that the Veglia sender was bad and ordered a replacement from T.Rutlands for $14 (!) and it immediately solved the problem.
     
  13. Impactco

    Impactco Formula 3

    Jan 29, 2006
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    #13 Impactco, Jul 10, 2006
    Very informative. Thanks for posting this. After reading this rather lengthy article it appears that a synthetic 5W40 would be the way to go, as you had suggested. I'm still concerned that the thinner oil will leak more from my bad pan seal when the engine is cold. Until I can get this fixed a 10W40 synthetic might work well.
     
  14. bergxu

    bergxu Formula 3

    Aug 16, 2005
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    #14 bergxu, Jul 10, 2006
    I use the Agip SINT 2000 in my 308. It is no longer manufactured in the 10W-50 weight so 10-40 is the choice. I sell this oil at my shop. If you are interested in purchasing some, please either PM me or e-mail at [email protected]


    Cheers,
    Aaron
    '82 GTSi
     
  15. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

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    #15 enjoythemusic, Jul 10, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Ditto here for the 1985 Euro 308GTS QV. Mobil 0W-40 synth is fine as daily drive and could easily go 3000 miles on it. Also use Mobil 0W-40 for track use, though obviously change it after two to four days of track time. During cold weather months here in New England (under 60F) i go with 5W-30 synth (as 0W-30 Mobil synth is NA here).

    A used oil analysis (UOA) appears that even after four days of track time (at Watkins Glen) all is well and the oil still has 'life' in it. Please see image below for the UOA.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #16 gothspeed, Jul 10, 2006
    260 oil temp is HOT at any ambient temperature. Check your fan switches, fuses, relays and your coolant/oil levels.
     
  17. TMan

    TMan Formula Junior

    May 13, 2006
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    #17 TMan, Jul 11, 2006
    If you really think you need a 10w-50 motor oil, and you probably do not, Cosworth makes a synthetic 10w-50 that you can order from them. I think the site www.liquidcosworth.com or something like that. Google it if this URL doesn't work. I am presently using this in my '72 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV but will drop down to 5w-40 (Cosworth or Amsoil) or 5w-30 (Amsoil).

    Steve
     
  18. chris marsh

    chris marsh F1 Veteran
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    #18 chris marsh, Jul 30, 2006
    I've had my car one year. When I bought it the reciept from the mechanic said "Mobil drive clean 5000". I was unable to locate that brand and I am not sure if it is synthetic or not. I found a new mechanic in Detroit and asked what he recomended he said Castrol 20W-50 which I ran for the first 2000 miles I owned the car.
    When I took it to the same mechanic this spring and had him change all the fluids, he claimed he never said that and he said that I must run synthetic because that's what Ferrari recomends. Since switching to synthetic I've went thru almost 2 quarts of oil in 1500 miles where I was using none with the castrol non-synthetic.

    Question: Is there any harm in running non synthetic since I change every 2000 mile or 3 months?
     
  19. ProCoach

    ProCoach F1 Veteran
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    Sep 15, 2004
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    #19 ProCoach, Jul 30, 2006
    Liquid Cosworth is MIA in the US, I believe.

    I just started with Castrol TWS 10W-60 in the t Coupe.

    There is no harm in running Dino (non-synthetic) oils if the change intervals are as frequent as 3K miles (or six to twelve months).

    I'll leave all the 0 weight oils to those who want to take their stuff apart more frequently than I do... I live in the SE and it's almost 100 degrees out today...

    -Peter
     

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