best oil?

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: best oil?

Post by RRoller123 »

This may be a dumb question, but do you guys use the diesel oil?
'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
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
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bradartigue
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Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: best oil?

Post by bradartigue »

RRoller123 wrote:This may be a dumb question, but do you guys use the diesel oil?
Rotella T is marketed an oil for diesel and gasoline engines, but the specifications for it exceed FIAT's requirements. So yes.
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RRoller123
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Re: best oil?

Post by RRoller123 »

Got it. Thanks. I have been using Castrol with a zinc additive. No additives needed for the Rotella?
'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
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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KidDingo
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Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:32 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider 2000 FI 5-spd
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

Re: best oil?

Post by KidDingo »

I haven't been using any additives.

Yesterday I came across a statement in a third-party manual for the Bosch L-Jetronic FI system which very clearly said to not use fuel additives in the fuel tank because they will pass through the fuel pump and cause damage to it.

I know oil additives don't pass through the fuel pump, and modern additives have evolved a lot, but I prefer to not use them for that reason - you just never know. Others have experienced great benefits from additives with no harm done, though.
_______________________________________________
Michael
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 FI
Leonard124
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Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Montreal,Canada

Re: best oil?

Post by Leonard124 »

Don't know if best oil but using 15W40 Rotella most of the time
Leo
1980 Fiat spider 2000 f.i.
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Nanonevol
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Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
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Re: best oil?

Post by Nanonevol »

Just changed oil using Shell Rotella as advised by some here on the forum but read elsewhere that it may have been reformulated and doesn't have the required zinc anymore. Valvoline was recommended. Anyone using Valvoline?
1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
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ORFORD2004
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Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: best oil?

Post by ORFORD2004 »

Valvoline VR1 20W50 for me
Frog2Spider
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Re: best oil?

Post by Frog2Spider »

Google 'Kieth Ansell on Zinc in oil' and read what this man has found and re-searched fully on the subject of oil, zinc and flat tapper engines. He's been in the auto restoration business for over 40 years. Then decide for yourself.

I use Cheron 10/40 with 4oz. of ZDDPlus. Likely bad for the Cat, but we don't need to EPA test our old cars here, and even if we did, a Cat is a lot cheaper than an engine rebuild.

Dave
Always looking for curves under blue skies!
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'81 - 2000 Spider
baltobernie
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Re: best oil?

Post by baltobernie »

Hemmings Classic Oil for me. The amount of zinc and phosphorus are stated. $9 per qt. delivered to my door.
http://www.hemmings.com/classic-oil/20w50
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