Oil recomendations for a 1990 RRC 3.9L?

[CSK]

Hi,

I have been having oil pressure issues on startup since I changed the oil to Penrite HPR30 with a Fram oil filter when I purchased the RR. Oil pressure wasnt an issue on the old oil, however, I am not sure on the grade the previous owner used.

The engine has 174 000kms on the clock and the oil level on the dipstick has dropped about 2-3mm in about 2500kms. Is this level of consumption normal?

In have been told that the 20-60W oil in the engine at the moment is too thick but I dont want to run an oil to thin that the engine becomes an oil burner (blue smoke etc).

Can anyone make any recomendations for a high quality engine oil suitable for me? Lots of highway driving.


Much appreciated!

[Blknight.aus]

I'd start out with nulon 10-40 non synthetic and see what happens. if it burns that up it to 15-40 or 15-50

[CSK]

I saw that someone on this forum uses Penrite HPR Diesel oil?!?!?!

Is this good/ bad for the motor?

[Blknight.aus]

wont hurt the engine diesel oil is close to normal oil in most respects but usually has a higher detergent and suspension blend.

IF you have things blocked up by carbon deposits or sticking lifters occasionaly running diesel grade oil in a petrol will shift them, theres a bunch of addatives that will do the same as will half a liter or so of auto trans fluid.

[PhilipA]

I have been having oil pressure issues on startup since I changed the oil to Penrite HPR30 with a Fram oil filter

If the red light stays on on start up and the tappets rattle, it is not the oil.

It is that the anti drain back valve in the filter is of poor quality or damaged/leaking. Try another filter. Ryco are good, so is Purolator .

Regard sPhilip A

[djam1]

I have used Penrite HPR30 or HPR Gas on the last 3 Rovers I have had with no issue.
I had a tired old Rangie towing over 2 Tonnes in 50 degree plus heat and ran HPR50 without issue. Wouldnt use HPR50 in cold weather though

[PAT303]

I always ran HPR diesel in my V8,with eight cylinders and lots of oil gallerys I think a bit more detergent's a good thing. Pat

[CSK]

I always ran HPR diesel in my V8,with eight cylinders and lots of oil gallerys I think a bit more detergent's a good thing. Pat


Hi.

How many KMs on your V8? How many KMs in total did you run the diesel oil in it for?

I really love my Range and don't want to ruin the motor!


Cheers.

[RoverP6B]

The defining factor for the type of oil to use in the Rover V8 engines of any capacity is the oil pump.

If your 1990 Range Rover has a camshaft driven oil pump which I expect it does, then the minimum weight oil you should use is 20W50. You can use a 20W60 oil as you are currently using and it will be fine. The suggestion that it is too thick is nonsence.

If your engine is fitted with a crankshaft driven oil pump, then you can use a thinner oil,..10W40, 10W50, 15W50, 15W60. Or continue using 20W50 or 60.

Thinner oils such as 10W...should not be used in the former type as the oil pump is not as efficient at circulating thinner oils through the engine.

A drop of 2 to 3mm in 2500km is perfectly acceptable.

Ron.

[PhilipA]

Er, so how come Land Rover recommend 15-40 for a 3.9 90 in the manual ????
Also most oil companies recommend a 40 oil.
I am looking at the "Driveway Service Data " in the back page of the folder that came with my 92.

Under Engine Oil
It says
Viscosity Grade 15/40
Topping Up: To raise level from "Low" to "high" on Dipstick; 1.4 litres (2.5 pints)
Note it does not say "or 20-50 or 30-60"
Page 140 of the manual gives a more detailed graph and says 15/40 is OK from -10 to 50C which is as high as it goes .
20w/50 and even 25W/50 are allowed with limits to the W temps
Mine loves it.
Regard sPhilip A

[RoverP6B]

The camshaft driven oil pump design dates from circa 1967 when used in the Rover V8 engine for the first time, and I dare say earlier than that when still with Buick. In 1976 the depth of the gears increased, and that design remained unchaned up until the early 1990s when the crankshaft driven oil pump was introduced.

The recommended oil by Rover and Land Rover for their engines during the 1970s was typically 20W50.

Of course you can use a 15W40 oil, but a 20W50 or 60 oil would be better.

Ron.

[justinc]

I've seen all weights of oils used in these engines, personally I use a 15w40 diesel oil in all customers V8's, and I would suspect that the poor oil pressure on start up is not viscosity related, more likely filter issues, worn pump OR a problem with the timing cover gasket leaking internally where it meets the block face gallery holes, allowing the gallery to empty overnight.

Blue smoke if excessive is a worry from a Rover V8, only ones I have seen doing this have had blown head gasket/s at the upper section of the fire rings and actually suck in engine oil returning from the heads on the intake stroke, producing smoke at idle and on overrun. Also produces a fair bit more crankcase pressure, and gives symptoms similar to a broken piston/ rings without any noises.

Your oil consumption sounds acceptable, most will use up to a litre every 5000km

JC

[CSK]

Hi.

Would a a diesel oil not remove sludge and block up other parts of the engine due to the high detergent levels? Or start leaks?


Cheers.

[RoverP6B]

My understanding is that is a very real possibilty. Oil consumption will also increase until such time as the inside of the engine is somewhat cleaner.

Personally I would stay away from diesel engine oil in a petrol engine. That is just my opinion given that oil manufacturers produce products for specific engine types, else they would make "one suits all" and they don't.

Ron.

[rick130]

<snip>

Thinner oils such as 10W...should not be used in the former type as the oil pump is not as efficient at circulating thinner oils through the engine.

<snip>
Ron.

Hmm, sorry, but that's a nonsense straight away...
If you check out actual kinematic viscosities above 0*C, some 15W-x oils are lighter/thinner than some 5W-x oils at the same temp.

Go and have a study up on how SAE oil viscosity ranges work, there's a ton of reference material IIRC in "The Good Oil" forum.

[rick130]

My understanding is that is a very real possibilty. Oil consumption will also increase until such time as the inside of the engine is somewhat cleaner.

Personally I would stay away from diesel engine oil in a petrol engine. That is just my opinion given that oil manufacturers produce products for specific engine types, else they would make "one suits all" and they don't.

Ron.

A very brief reply.

Most diesel oils are 'mixed fleet' oils, meaning they meet certain diesel and petrol engine specs.

Modern petrol specs, particularly the API SM spec and particularly GF-4 'fuel efficiency' brews have vastly reduced levels of certain additives used as basic EP (extreme pressure) and AW (anti-wear) additives in older blends, eg Phosphorous as ZDDP.

Mixed fleet/dual rated oils of CH-4 or better often use better, more expensive additives to replace these older EP/AW additives for heavy duty use, so generally speaking a diesel oil in the correct grade will protect an older design engine such as the older 3.5's thanks to the metallurgy involved, etc better than a modern SM rated petrol oil.

[loob]

Sorry to ressurect an old thread. What do yo mean by better than CH-4? Newer? I can get CI-4 and an older one, forget which std butnolder than CH-4. Would this be ok? Brand is Total Rubia TIR 7400.

[rick130]

Yep, CI-4 or CI-4+ or ACEA E4/6

A diesel oil sporting those specs would be my pick in a V8. ;)

[Davo]

Thanks! And there I was, about to use HPR30, which is fine, but diesel oil is easier to get.

[rick130]

Yep, CI-4 or CI-4+ or ACEA E4/6

A diesel oil sporting those specs would be my pick in a V8. ;)


Thanks! And there I was, about to use HPR30, which is fine, but diesel oil is easier to get.


I forgot to add a caveat.

Use an oil with those specs but only if it's dual rated with a corresponding petrol engine API SJ, SM or SL spec and/or an ACEA A3,4 or 5 spec too

My preferred (ATM) HD 10W-40 full syn diesel oil says not to use in Petrol engines.

[Davo]

Righto, thanks for that. It's funny, but I find you've really got to actually go to a shop and look at the container to read the specs. If you try to figure it out online, there's often something they leave out or the container has changed or similar.

[loob]

Mine says ACEA E5/E7 and API CI-4/SL.

I assume that's ok?

[rick130]

Mine says ACEA E5/E7 and API CI-4/SL.

I assume that's ok?

Yep, the API SL shows straight away it meets a petrol engine spec, but FWIW every one of those listed are superseded specs now.

It's not a problem, they were very good specs and it'd be a fine oil but some more up to date specs have replaced them.