Jag Engine & Synthetic Oil

[Dave Longley]

I recently had my old XKE engine overhauled and have now decided to go synthetic once I have it broken in.
Way (like WAY) back when I got this car they were calling for non detergent 50 weight so that's what I used! I am currently running Kendall 20W-50 for break-in and plan on switching to Mobil 1 15W-50 around 2000 to 3000 miles.
I'm currently using Mobil 1 5w30 in a Toyota Tundra but am unfamiliar with the 15W-50 product.
Anyone out there familiar with the XK engine and what is your view re Mobil 15W-50 for this engine? What would you go with?
I also have used Amsoil but not in the Jag and Mobil is presently more readily available for me.

Regards, Dave

 

[mechtech]

20-50 for break in?
What's the point of such a heavy oil when you want flow/flushing more than anything right now?

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi Dave,
what you are doing sounds just fine

The Mobil 1 15w-50 will be great for that engine - much better than anything around when it was new!

And this includes Duckhams Q20-50 which was a common choice for it at the time it was made

Regards
Doug

 

[TR3-2001SE]

I agree with the Mobil 1 15w-50 for a newly rebuilt. I still use the Castrol GTX 20w-50 in my TR3 as it has served me well in the past and with the miles since a rebuild I am afraid to switch. If I where to rebuild it this is what I would use after break-in. Don't know why we use these high weight oils in British Cars except this is what the factory recommended at the time and I am too old to switch now. Also I used the Quaker State 10w30 and did in an MGA engine. Stuff was probably no more than 20 weight at the time. Loved the XKE. I owned a 64 for awhile but went for the simplicity of the TR3. That is why I still have it 30+ years later.
Good luck with the Jag!

 

[Pablo]

Nothing wrong with the 15W-50.....

But I'll bet Amsoil S2K 20W-50 would be sweet.

I would be tempted to use a 15w40 also.

 

[Dave Longley]

Thanks for the input folks.
TR3-2001, that's what I have a 64 Series 1 E-Type...since 1964. After 30 years in my barn it's now fully restored and 'on the road again'. Time warp supreme.
For anyone out there interested in XKE's check out www.xkedata.com Mine is one of the over 5000 registered on the site (serial number 888765 for pics & history). Cheers, Dave.

 

[Steve S]

quote:

---

Originally posted by mechtech:
20-50 for break in?
What's the point of such a heavy oil when you want flow/flushing more than anything right now?

---

cause that is what is used.

 

[LarryL]

I was a foreign car mechanic when there were lots of British and Italian cars running around. One tip I can give you about reving up your Jag. Make sure your freeze plugs are well attached. When you wind up a hot engine and blow a freeze plug you get a bath, up through the hood loovers, of boiling water. It happend to me with my 63 coupe and to several customers. It's also very important to have a better surge tank for the cooling system. It was common to use one from a Corvette, or make one from scratch. The cooling system is a week point, these cars are tea kettles and you have to watch it, no A/C and when the engine is hot and you get caught in traffic the heater goes on, great fun.

And after all that, my XKE was always fun to drive. You could steer it around freeway ramps with the gas pedal, more pedal, a wider turn, less pedal, a tighter turn, while holding the wheel in one position...great fun.

 

[Spitty]

MI 15w-50 would be fine, but don't extend the OCI, personally I stick to 20w50 conventional in my Brit car and change often.

 

[Shannow]

wouldn't it be simpler to just pour the synthetic oil on the garage floor, and save all the hassle of putting it in the Jag ?

(just joking)

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
IMHE most "old" English cars respond very well to Grp3 15w-50 synthetics if they have not been dismantled before

Factory fill in most volumn produced English cars (between strikes) was Castrol-Burmah's Castrolite or Castrol XL

If they have been rebuilt Mobil 1 15w-50 (or 5w-50) seems to be an ideal lubricant. I have had a lot of success in MGBs and "A" series engines etc with Shell Helix Ultra 15w-50 but I think it has been discontinued in the last year or three

Older gearboxes that required an engine oil respond extremely well to the likes of Castrol's synthetic Syndrive 50E or Mobil's Mobiltrans SHC 50 which are used in Eaton-Fuller Roadranger heavy truck gearboxes
Of course most Benzes used an ATF in their manual boxes

In the 1960s Moskvich 412s, Jags, Daimlers, Lotus Europas, Morris and Austins, Honda Civics, Renaults and the Maserati Bora drank 20w-50.
Fiat 130s and Peugeots liked 10w-40
Benz engines loved 10w-50 (or 10w-20, 10w30 in Northern European winters) and most Audis were fed 10w-20 or 10w30 from new!

In most US engines we used a 10w30 such as Mobiloil Special! Great stuff!!!

I started using mono grade HD oils in many engine families in the late 1950s early 1960s to make up for the poor additive packages used in most petrol specific engine oils of that time. Sludging was a real problem for almost a decade then - mostly due to poor additive packages and the badly designed engine ventilation devices used then

I hope this is of interest

Regards
Doug

 

[Ignatz]

Back in the 70's when I was a mechanic at a MG-Triumph dealership, DA speedsport oil was the oil we used. The owner at on point switched to Kendall oil and saw a greater # of engine problems and switched to DA. I believe it was straight 40 wt. non-detergent oil and our customers ran it year-round with no problems. If this group had a gathering somewhere, I'd be the guy wearing a 35 yearold DA hat.

 

[Shannow]

*flashback*
13 years ago, I used to buy Duckhams 15w50 conventional (green) and mix it 3:2 with Mobil 1 15w50.

 

[tdi-rick]

what a stunner !

A mate bought a Series II drop top a few years ago. When I was in the area last year, he asked me up to the house, out came the E Type, down went the hood, and off we went !
Pretty brave on his part, as he knows I used to race

I was surprised at the torque of that engine from such low revs, the outright power and speed were amazing, and it was beautiful to drive it as it was designed on the flowing roads past the farms where I used to live. I kept having to remind myself that the car was nearly as old as me.

I could definately park one in my garage

 

[Geoff]

Yeah, I wouldn't assume that you can use a lighter viscosity since the original engines spec'd the thick stuff. The oil pump and oil passages might be set up for a flow rate more resembling a 40/50 weight. Mobil 1 15w-50 has good ZDDP package which should be helpful for the cams, distributor drive, and timing chains.

 

[AndyH]

No input on the oil choice from me, but I wanted to say

and also say what a gorgeous Jag you have there!

 

[Dave Longley]

Thanks once again to all of you for the kind words and great information. Be chatting down the road, Dave.