What engine oil do you use?

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KandJinmaine
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Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

What engine oil do you use?

Postby KandJinmaine » Mon May 01, 2017 4:46 am

It's time to do an oil change on the Fiat. I have for years followed the advice of our long time Fiat guru from Redwood City, Ca. And used straight w30, preferably Castrol. There have been a few advances in motor oil since then....
I know this may open a can of worms, but what do you use? Ours is a 1980 FI, if that matters.
Thanks ,
Jefff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland

klweimer
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Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby klweimer » Mon May 01, 2017 7:56 am

I use whatever dinosaur based name brand 10W-30 is on sale at auto zone and then add a zinc additive. Apparently most modern oils don't have the zinc content they once did, and the flat tappet valve system on our Fiats really needs that. I use this, https://www.amazon.com/ZDDPPlus-Engine- ... words=Zddp , but I'm sure there are other good additives around. I don't use synthetics, as I don't think the cost is worth it and our engines were not designed for them.
Kirk

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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby aj81spider » Mon May 01, 2017 8:08 am

You should check your owner's manual. The manual for my current 74 and my old 81 were the same and they recommend 15W-40, which is what I have been using (with a zinc additive).
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)

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stuartrubin
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Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: 44122

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby stuartrubin » Mon May 01, 2017 8:57 am

Can someone explain what the zinc does? From my very naive understanding of the engine, the oil is just sputtering around lubricating and cooling the parts. Why zinc?

My mechanic (and old school Italian guy) recommended 10w40 for my '75 124, but never mentioned additives.

Thanks!
Stuart
1975 FIAT 124 Spider
Il Mostro di Frankenstein

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kilrwail
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Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby kilrwail » Mon May 01, 2017 3:11 pm

Here's an article that explains as well as any the benefit of zinc (and phosphorus) in older flat tappet engines - https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2012/10/18/tech-101-zinc-in-oil-and-its-effects-on-older-engines/

I use Brad Penn (formerly Kendall GT) 20W50 in both my cars and have for years - it's over 1200 ppm of both.
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Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
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PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor

profcucchi
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 2:12 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 2000
Location: Toronto, On

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby profcucchi » Mon May 01, 2017 8:43 pm

I'm a convert to Shell Rotella Diesel 15w40

But I'm in Toronto, so there's a viscosity reason, too.
1979 Fiat 2000 "Luigi"

vandor
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Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby vandor » Tue May 02, 2017 12:00 am

It's hot in Texas, so I use 20w50 Valvoline VR1 racing oil, which has zinc content. If the car has a catalytic converter then the oil should not have too much zinc, or the converter could fail.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town

KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby KandJinmaine » Tue May 02, 2017 4:58 am

Thanks for all the responses. I learned something today!!
Jeff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland

KWL82
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Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby KWL82 » Tue May 02, 2017 9:43 am

Csaba, what is considered too much zinc? does vr1 have as much compared to rotella? ive been using rotella and havent had any issues but dont want to ruin my cat either.

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bulldog4444
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Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 2:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider 124

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby bulldog4444 » Sat May 06, 2017 12:18 am

I use Mobile 1 0W30 synthetic with Lucas ZDDP (4 ounces, 1 ounce per quart) and a WIX oil filter. My engine has never been so quiet and run so smoothly.

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Odoyle
Posts: 440
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Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby Odoyle » Sun May 07, 2017 12:48 pm

One of the last Fiat gurus in Los Angeles recently told me we should be using either 30 weight oil or even 30w/50 in hot weather such as in Socal as anything with a lower viscosity will score the crankshaft and bearings apparently. I currently run Castrol HD 30W Conventional Motor Oil with a zinc/cam guard additive.

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby RRoller123 » Sun May 07, 2017 1:13 pm

Using 4 qts of Rotella, then topping up with a little Mobil1. I run slightly over depth, but only slightly. It seems to like it.

NOTE:

If you rotate the dip stick 90 degrees, to allow for the Computronics installation behind the alternator (driver's side) you need to RECALIBRATE the mark on the stick. It won't read right. But it is easy to do so at an oil change. Just do oil and filter and add exact specified new oil amount, run the engine till warm, then let it set for an hour or so, pull the stick and make a mark across the new oil level location.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
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vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: What engine oil do you use?

Postby vandor » Sun May 07, 2017 7:28 pm

KWL82 wrote:Csaba, what is considered too much zinc? does vr1 have as much compared to rotella? ive been using rotella and havent had any issues but dont want to ruin my cat either.


I do not know how much zinc is too much. Since neither of my two classics have cats I never looked into it. A mechanic friend told me to not use the VR1 oil in cars with cats. I suppose it also depends on how much oil the car is burning.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town


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