Oil be there!

Okay guys I was looking to buy some oil for the Le Mans and wondered what you guys would advise? I had suspected it would be pretty much the same as the Venturi which according to the manufacturer’s documentation is in normal use recommended as Elf API SE 20W50, though I never use Elf.

So I began a bit of investigation work on the ‘net and became a little confused as most companies quoted 2 or more viscosities and I don’t understand which is best for examples see below.

OPIE website

Standard oil - 15W-50
Upgrades all 15W-50

Mobil website

Mobil 1 Extended Life 10W-60

Castrol website

EDGE 10W-60
Magnatec 10W-40

Valvoline website

VR1 Racing – 5W-50
Durablend – 10W-40
Turbo – 15W-50

I run my 610 on 10-40 having been sold 0-40 once and had the seals leak. Changing to 10 40 reduced the seepage to the point where I thought it was normal.
The grades are confusing as 20-50 isn't necessarily thicker in all conditions.
I think the engine would have been designed for 20w50 and Paul Sage advised me to use that too, so basically if you can find it 20w 50 is fine but 10-40 is ok too.....
Not very helpful was I!
Lee

Yes either or and see which shows best pressure when hot .
No need for high tech/price synthetics ,a boggo semi-synth will do the job well enough and change it every year .

I agree with the two Lee`s above.... 10W-40......I use Castrol Semi Synthetic Magnatec, I have been using it in the Alp (and others) for as long as I can remember. I also think it is the best especially for cars that are not used frequently.

[Alpineandy]

IMO If the engine mileage is over 60k then 20-50 is a wiser choice.
It leaks less and is better for 'filling' the tolerances.

I have used Mobil 1 racing 15/50 or Valvoline vr1 racing in my GTA turbo s for the last 20 years and found the oil pressure to be good even when hot both are fully synthetic

Hi Guys

Thanks for that.

I have found the Alpine GTA owner’s manual complete with the Le Mans supplement and have checked out what Alpine have to say on the matter and of course it is confusing. They state two viscosities, well they would wouldn’t they?
15W-40 and 20W-50! So that doesn’t make it too much clearer does it?

Right so it looks like either a semi-synthetic 10W-40 or 20W-50, in a decent quality but no need for the high tech fancy stuff. It also seems it will be fine to use the same oil in both the Le Mans and Venturi.

Thanks again.

I used Shell Helix Ultra fully Synthetic on my GTA Turbo.
15w/50.

A large 4L can can be had for £30 on the bay of evil.
If its good enough for a Ferrari, its good enough for a PRV

Also use the large Renault oil filter, as fitted to the 24v L7X engine.
Gives a much large filtering surface area compared to the little 2" deep filter normally recomended for the 2.5 L Turbo engine.
The WIX WL7086 is my fav filter. And generally under £5. WIX Make oil filters for NASCAR, and used in some F1 team engines.

I used Shell Helix Ultra fully Synthetic on my GTA Turbo.
15w/50.

A large 4L can can be had for £30 on the bay of evil.
If its good enough for a Ferrari, its good enough for a PRV

Also use the large Renault oil filter, as fitted to the 24v L7X engine.
Gives a much large filtering surface area compared to the little 2" deep filter normally recomended for the 2.5 L Turbo engine.
The WIX WL7086 is my fav filter. And generally under £5. WIX Make oil filters for NASCAR, and used in some F1 team engines.

Thanks Paul

Bigger oil filter is interesting.

Same as Turbodog really. My GTA has had Mobil 1 15/50 since 12k miles. Now changing to Mobil 1 10/60. 5l for £36.