My Wife is looking to purchase a Rover Mini in the next couple of weeks. Something she's wanted for years and I figure the way prices are going, if she doesn't do it now she may never have the chance.
Being the BITOG'er that I am, I've already started looking at fluids.
We are looking at a late Rover Mini, something between '96 to '00 model year which has a fuel injected engine and electronic ignition. This engines shares a sump with the 4 speed synchronised manual gearbox.
The A series engine and gearbox remains generally unchanged from conception in the 60's to when manufacture ended in 2000.
From what I can work out, all cars up to the early 90's which where carb'd or had single point injection were recommended to run a 20w50. Although unable to find what specification was required.
The Rover workshop manual from '96 which relates to the multi-point injection models specifically lists a 10w30 ACEA A2 oil under the 'lubricants and fluids' section. Further on in the same manual, where it goes through the oil change procedure, it says to fill up the engine with 10w40 oil.
There are quite a few British manufacturers who sell 'Mini-Specific' oil. Such as...
All of these specific oils appear to be mineral based and in 20w50 guise.
This car will be a 'weekend' toy. And won't be going out in the rain and unlikely at all during winter. Probably will only do a couple of thousand miles a year or between OCI's.
What would you do? I'm thinking one of three options...
1. Run the specific Mini oil. It's reasonably cheap and easy to get hold of.
2. Go modern. Thinking Mobil1 0w40 or 5w50.
3. Look for a 'universal' tractor oil/HDEO that has API S* and GL-4
Being the BITOG'er that I am, I've already started looking at fluids.
We are looking at a late Rover Mini, something between '96 to '00 model year which has a fuel injected engine and electronic ignition. This engines shares a sump with the 4 speed synchronised manual gearbox.
The A series engine and gearbox remains generally unchanged from conception in the 60's to when manufacture ended in 2000.
From what I can work out, all cars up to the early 90's which where carb'd or had single point injection were recommended to run a 20w50. Although unable to find what specification was required.
The Rover workshop manual from '96 which relates to the multi-point injection models specifically lists a 10w30 ACEA A2 oil under the 'lubricants and fluids' section. Further on in the same manual, where it goes through the oil change procedure, it says to fill up the engine with 10w40 oil.

There are quite a few British manufacturers who sell 'Mini-Specific' oil. Such as...
All of these specific oils appear to be mineral based and in 20w50 guise.
This car will be a 'weekend' toy. And won't be going out in the rain and unlikely at all during winter. Probably will only do a couple of thousand miles a year or between OCI's.
What would you do? I'm thinking one of three options...
1. Run the specific Mini oil. It's reasonably cheap and easy to get hold of.
2. Go modern. Thinking Mobil1 0w40 or 5w50.
3. Look for a 'universal' tractor oil/HDEO that has API S* and GL-4