Your opinions please guys on this UK antique oil

[Euro]

Just checking out an oil a friend of mine is using http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/262

Comma oil are a long established blenders at the budget end of the scale here and owned by ExxonMobil. A lot of guys use this oil as its also the house blend for Halfords who are our motor supertore over here.

CLASSIC 20w50 MULTIGRADE MOTOR OIL
APPLICATION
• Specially blended for Classic Cars from the 60's, 70's and 80's where an oil of this quality and
viscosity is recommended by the manufacturer.
SPECIFICATIONS:
• SAE 20w50
• API SE CC
TYPICAL INSPECTION DATA:
Specific gravity at 20°C 0.880
Viscosity @ 100°C 17.5 cSt
Viscosity @ 40°C 150 cSt
Viscosity Index 120
Viscosity CCS @ -15°C 8000 cP
Flash point > 200 °C
Colour Green
Sulphated Ash 1.1%
Zinc 0.07%
Calcium 0.11%
Phosphorus 0.06%



Aren't those ZDDP numbers a bit on the weak side? Or have I just been misunderstanding it this whole time? A lot of classic guys over here with flat tappet engines will use this oil.

 

[eljefino]

How's it price out compared to its competition? It looks a little like the "Accell" stuff sold in the states: "SF grade for pre-1988 cars".

The VI is pretty terrible too.

The only redeeming feature IMO is its cool can, but pouring oil out of that and into your engine looks like a dribbling mess.

 

[Euro]

I think I saw that the can has a plastic pour spout inside the screw cap, worst oil for mess is the 5 litre bottle if amsoil I have, shallow cap + no spout = mess.

Price wise its cheaper than the premium classic oils such as Millers, Penrite or Castrol.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Euro
Aren't those ZDDP numbers a bit on the weak side?


Yep, that's pretty awful. Surely XOM has much more suitable products available in the UK. The can is very cool, I agree, but that's as far as I'd go with it.

 

[Euro]

They do of course sell Mobil 1 and Mobil Super, Comma is I would guess their UK budget arm and this oil in particular is for the classic market. The general feeling here is the 'modern' oils can harm classic engines. I disagree but a lot of people believe this here hence the market for 'classic' oils being quite large.
That I use Amsoil AMO 10w40 in my 42 year old VW insights much discussion I can tell you

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Euro
The general feeling here is the 'modern' oils can harm classic engines. I disagree but a lot of people believe this here hence the market for 'classic' oils being quite large.
That I use Amsoil AMO 10w40 in my 42 year old VW insights much discussion I can tell you

I can understand the feeling that modern oils might at least be not optimal for classic engines. Your choice of the Amsoil 10w-40, if you ask me, is much better than this low ZDDP 20w-50.

 

[Euro]

Those levels are what, about on par with a more modern SM oil?

 

[tommygunn]

700 PPM of Zinc in a flat-tappet engine -?

I'd be looking for something better.

 

[NVJ157G]

I can imagine that this oil will be used almost entirely for flat tappet engines. This friend of mine has been pouring it into his V8 Rover, think I will have a word with him before its too late.

 

[ac_tc]

Thick and weak...

 

[OpelFever]

Any good 15w-40 HDEO would be better than that stuff. Mobil Delvac MX 15w-40 has a higher VI and a HTHS of 4.3 that should be sufficient for old engines requiring thick oil. It also has much more ZDDP.

 

[NVJ157G]

Nobody really uses diesel oil for petrol applications here dude. besides which, petrol rated 15w40 is still very common.
What I think people want is a period oil for their period car. I'll bet a lot of Comma Classic sales are down to the can it comes in alone.
If I were really wanting to use 20w50 I would personally opt for either Valvoline VR1 or Millers Classic Performance which are SL and SJ rated respectively and I'm not sure about the Valvoline but I know for a fact that the ZDDP in the Millers comes in at 1200ppm.

 

[Silk]

If I was a Comma oil user, I'd use the super diesel 20-50.

http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/252

 

[ammolab]

Originally Posted By: NVJ157G
If I were really wanting to use 20w50 I would personally opt for either Valvoline VR1 or Millers Classic Performance which are SL and SJ rated respectively and I'm not sure about the Valvoline but I know for a fact that the ZDDP in the Millers comes in at 1200ppm.


VR-1 also runs 1200-1300ppm ZDDP.

Castrol has a Syn 5W-50 Classic car oil with 'flat tappet' levels of ZDDP as well.

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=82915470&contentId=7032644

 

[Euro]

Check the location dude, we don't have Syntec in Europe, Castrol over here do their own XL 20w50 mineral for classic cars.

 

[ammolab]

Originally Posted By: Euro
Check the location dude, we don't have Syntec in Europe, Castrol over here do their own XL 20w50 mineral for classic cars.

So sorry chap. Did know the location..didn't know the entire oil stock available in Europe.

 

[NVJ157G]

I remember envying the old 20w50 Syntec for Classics you used to have

 

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted By: Euro
Check the location dude, we don't have Syntec in Europe, Castrol over here do their own XL 20w50 mineral for classic cars.

All I can imagine is a little old chap in a tweed suit vest checking his glasses before carefully pouring this into a vintage British sports car and carefully brushing a drip from the top of the engine away.

A fine auto my good chap.

 

[Euro]

Your not far wrong guy, I wish I lived in France