frankyknuckles Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 I searched the archive yesterday but could not find the definitive answer. So I called CC today and they canfirm that at 500 miles, you can use a 5W/50 Fully Synthetic Oil. Caterham now use Caterham Motorsport Oil. I think I'll start reviewing my options. I've got 8 litres of Redline fully synth in the garage at home, just can't remember what grade it is. I will also be doing the first service myself, CC charge £150 (inclusive of VAT). Build Diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 I have said it before and someone will be along to disagree with me in a minute. It is designed for the car and it is the best that is available so I use it! I put it in for the last oil change and it seems fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Barbie Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 I use it now as well, I change the oil a lot and I got this for £25 for 5 litres - enough for my car. I used to use Mobil 1 MS 15W50 but I had very high initial oil pressure until the oil was up to temp and that's not great for the K. shrewdcookie - my Caterham site - UPDATED ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Forgot to mentiont that very important point that Count made! Lots of people use Mobil1M in the blind belief that it will endow them with formula 1 performance it truth it cannot be that great for the engine. The Caterham/Comma motorsport stuff will be great especially for those mid summer track days where temperatures can get very high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 franky, YHM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Why not post the information here so that everyone can benefit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankyknuckles Posted March 17, 2004 Author Share Posted March 17, 2004 no mail yet fordy? Build Diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 edited post removed, discussed with CC and will produce a factual article for low flying Edited by - fordy on 19 Mar 2004 09:01:56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Barbie Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Thanks for that, it should be in the 7FAQ. shrewdcookie - my Caterham site - UPDATED ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankyknuckles Posted March 17, 2004 Author Share Posted March 17, 2004 so any xW/40 for an R300? so CC are talking bollox and ripping all of us off? Build Diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Woods Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 That was a very interesting post Fordy , I agree with Count that it ought to be in the FAQ If I read your post correctly, Rover reckon that anything over x/40 is bad for the tappets but Caterham are supplying 5w/50. It seems a strange decision, especially as the previous recommended oil was synerG which is a 5w/40. So, either Caterham have got it wrong or Rover have. I wonder if they know what Rover have said ? In the meantime I think I'll stick to my Halfrauds 5w/40 fully synth Nick Red and Black 1.6K supersport Edited by - Nick Woods on 17 Mar 2004 17:43:10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Comma as far as I know didn't and don't produce any other 5W50 oil. Why would they develop something specially if it would be crap for the engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Interesting post none the less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobuy Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Fordy, excellent piece, really informative. Seeing how you may have an informend opinion and I do not have an owners manual, what would you put in a 226bhp 2.0l Duratec that will be run in ambient temps up to 40 degrees here in the middle east. Not to mention being run on the track as well without a dry sump. Oil is quite cheap out here, but the high temps do cause a few worries. Any suggestions would be greatfull received. Thnaks Duratec Se7en, built in Dubai, pics here! Keep it sunny side up and out of the kitty litter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Excellent Fordy, YHM 😬 BRG Summertime Brooklands SV 😬 It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 edited post removed, discussed with CC and will produce a factual article for low flying Edited by - fordy on 19 Mar 2004 09:02:36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ade Ray Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 This is so spooky, I was standing in the local supermarket talking to Peter Steer about this very thing. I have a 1600 Xflow with a metal plate in the engine bay that says stick Mobil 1 in the car. Peter told me to check the specification and get a matching oil. So the question is, what do you stick in a dry sumped xflow that is going to do the odd track day but plenty of road miles? Ade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodoo Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 FORDY: I am running a zetec of about 200 HP in southern California using Mobil 1 5/50. It slightly lowered my oil pressure when I made the change. The K guy's recommendation causes me to wonder if that oil would have a deleterious effect upon my zetec. Do you have an opinion on that 🤔 Thank you for any response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodoo Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 FORDY: I am running a zetec of about 200 HP in southern California using Mobil 1 5/50. It slightly lowered my oil pressure when I made the change. The K guy's recommendation causes me to wonder if that oil would have a deleterious effect upon my zetec. Do you have an opinion on that 🤔 Thank you for any response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobuy Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Fordy, Thanks a lot for that, there is so much brand loyality and so little informed opinion. Cheers, Neil. Duratec Se7en, built in Dubai, pics here! Keep it sunny side up and out of the kitty litter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YellowSeven Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Fordy, What a super post, full of useful info and not the usual claptrap that Caterham feed us - "You must use Caterhams own 5w-50, or you engine will die" "Even though we only started recommending it a month ago and we have had no problem with the now superseeded 5w-40 product!!" This, Caterham recommendation (5w 40 to 5w-50), seems to be the same scenario as the 'Coldstream' to 'X-Stream2' they can give no reason why the old product was replaced, nor did they ever have a problem with it, but if you dont change dont expect your car to start in the morning!! I now intend to run a 1.6K which will be raced on 5w-40, as recommended by the engine manufacturer and not 5W-50 as recommended by the marketing man at CC. Cheers Fordy PS Fordy whats your veiw on Mobil 1? Is the 15-50 or 0-40 better suited to a K? Or are neither particularly good? I appreciate you stated x-40w but is 0-40w to thin? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Fordy, Thanks for an excellent post Philip. D. Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Fordy, many thanks for taking the time to offer up such a balanced post - much appreciated. JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 222bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Comma is a part of Exxon-Mobil and therefore probably has access to quite a lot of research capability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 A very interesting piece, and I would love to see an article in Low Flying on this subject. I have always felt that there is so much rubbish spoken about oils, that it is useful to hear the facts. I amazes me how many people waste oil. I have seen many people change Mobil 1 Motorsport every track day. I KNOW this is a waste of time - ECR only changes his oil when the engine comes out of the car (mind you, his being an old Vx, that is quite often... 😬). I only change my car's oil once a year, and have never suffered problems as a result. Please, however, don't make comments that are inaccurate. As Dino points out, Comma has access to Exxon-Mobil's research capability and their products shouldn't be questioned as a result of ignorance. Similarly, why do Caterham recommend particular oils? Because they have carried out their own testing in conjunction with their engine suppliers (Rover and Minister) to come up with the best solution. They have never said that you 'must' use Comma oils, but theirs are considered suitable and are recommended. If you use an equivalent quality oil, no-one will complain nor will warrenties be voided. If you would like to establish the facts, speak to Andy Noble at Caterham - he will tell you the story. When it comes to things like Caterham gearbox oil or Differential oil, are they 'ripping us off'? NO - they are responding to customer critisism from people like me who were irritated at the amount of effort it takes to find the right stuff. It is much better to sell us packaged oil that is the recommended specification for the cars. Do they make a profit on it? I hope so - that way they are likely to survive. I had quite a bit of involvement with Minister when I first bought the R500, and I can assure you that they put a great deal of thought into their engines' requirements for oil before they made their recommendation - which was Mobil 1 Motorsport 15W/50 at the time. Edited by - Chairman Keith on 18 Mar 2004 10:10:47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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