OILS AND FILTERS

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 19 Sep 2007, 22:48

What oils and filters do you guys use for your xantia xud's? Do you use genuine or pattern filters? Semi - synthetic or mineral oil? Your views would be appreciated.

slim123 · Post by **slim123** » 19 Sep 2007, 22:56

Years and years ago, a guy from Castrol told me that there was no need to use different oils for petrol and diesel cars, then a few years later Castrol brought out GTD for diesel cars, I reminded him of the earlier statement and he told me that it was just a marketing ploy as they were loosing out to the diesel market, he still insisted that one oil will do both.

(I was working in a garage and needed to know what to stock for servicing)

Even now I use Castrol magnetech for everything and change the oil and filter every 6000 miles I have never had any problems.

As for filters I tend to use fram or mann, whatever the local factors have in at the time.

Regards
Slim.

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 20 Sep 2007, 17:30

I usually go for Fram as well.

Or an Purflux filter from a stealer if I'm feeling flush...

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 20 Sep 2007, 18:46

MANN filters on mine, good price and good quality. Used to use WiX filters on my other cars where i used to live and they were fine too.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 20 Sep 2007, 22:11

Generally older diesels would benefit from an oil type leaving a heavier (thicker) oil film to aid keeping up the compression.

I would never go lower in viscosity index than 10W40 on a diesel, being semisynt or mineral.
Otherwise always go for the highest API index (highest alphabetic code), which is the true indicator for the oil's quality and duarability against heat and mechanical wear.

Finally remember that it is a fact that modern oils can withstand higher mileage in use, but on a diesel the oil is also a medium to remove combustion residues, which amongst others is carbon soot. Soot is a very effective GRINDER to the internals of your engine. So keep up the short oil service intervals

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 20 Sep 2007, 22:34

Thanks for the feedback - personally I use either a mann or purflux item ( the mann is half the price of the purflux) and a 15/40 diesel oil (carlube) changed at 4000 mile intervals. Incidentally, the oil is £7.99 in morrisons, the same stuff in Motorworld is £15.95. What a rip off! It pays to shop around.

alan s · Post by **alan s** » 20 Sep 2007, 22:52

Be a little wary when you decide to go for a different breed of oil filter.
Reason I'm a bit paranoid about this is that a while back I called into an oil and filter supplier, bought some oil and asked for a filter.
He had a brand I'd never heard of before ("Sakura" I think it was; made in Asia) and asked me what I normally used. I gave him 2 models for 2 different brands that I had used in the past.
He then produced a chart and advises me that the specifications for the two I had quoted were poles apart.
Like everything, it seems these days there are so many variables in filters, it pays to double check that the filter you're using is actually suitable for your cars specs.
Besides the usual back drain valve (which these days most seem to have anyway) some of these specs sheets also give the capacity, surface area of filter material and most importantly, the psi at which the by pass valve clicks in. Cits operate on a fairly high oil pressure and it seems that one of the filters I was using was so low in that department, that there was a real possibility that at certain stages of operation, the oil was by passing the actual filter medium.
I tried to point this out on a forum over here but was hit with the ligic that "I buy mine at the local dealers and at A$45 a time, I know I'm getting the best money can buy." I didn't like to upset him by telling him I bought the same ones for A$7.50 at the time.

Alan S

Post by **Peter.N.** » 21 Sep 2007, 13:18

I have always changed my oil every 5k = four times per year. I use the cheapest 'CF' rated oil I can get, usually around £7.00 per 5 litres and the filters that GSF supply at about £2.50. I have had engines last in excess of 250k still with little apparent wear.

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 21 Sep 2007, 16:30

These filter finders might be useful to some:

Fram: http://www.sogefifiltration.com/on-line-service.aspx
Mann: http://www.mann-hummel.com/mf_prodkata_eur/index.html
Purflux: http://www.filtrauto.com/catalogues/FO/ ... hp?lang=GB
Wix: http://www.wixeurope.com/catalogue/index.asp

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 21 Sep 2007, 16:32

alan s wrote: Like everything, it pays to double check that the filter you're using is actually suitable for your cars specs.

Alan S

We've had four family PSAs for a lot of years, and currently they all take different oil filters. GSF's part nos. 12047 and 12045 are identical in appearance, and both would fit the Pug or Xsara, but internally they must be different. So much so that one is £3.50 and the other's £5.

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 21 Sep 2007, 23:24

I had heard "mumblings" about the quality of some oil filters, particularly Fram - I visited an american website which slaughtered them. This coincided with the removal of a Fram item from a Rover 600 that I owned, after being left overnight the oil had drained from it - it was the last time I used a Fram item.

alan s · Post by **alan s** » 22 Sep 2007, 00:32

JohnD wrote:
alan s wrote: Like everything, it pays to double check that the filter you're using is actually suitable for your cars specs.

Alan S
We've had four family PSAs for a lot of years, and currently they all take different oil filters. GSF's part nos. 12047 and 12045 are identical in appearance, and both would fit the Pug or Xsara, but internally they must be different. So much so that one is £3.50 and the other's £5.

As an example John, the one I used to occasionally use in a BX I discovered had a by pass relief pressure at around 8/10 psi. The one recommended had from memory around a 30 psi by pass. The reaction of the guy at the place where I got the correct one was wondering how often unfiltered oil was being pumped through the engine due to the by pass valve cutting in.
This guy produced a specs sheet on oil filters and it was a real eye opener.
I've never seen one before but they must be around and after the episodes we've had involving auto trans fluid where cross referencing was proven to be incorrect, you have to wonder how accurate cross referencing of oil filters might be, given their internal complexities that go far beyond whether they just "fit."

Alan S