Thread: 156 Oil type
View Single Post
  #4  
Old June 8th 04, 06:31 PM
David C
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"Stuart Powell" > wrote...
> Pardon my ignorance but how can an oil give you extra bhp? Whats the
> difference between 10W60 and 0W40? As i understand it the 0W is thinner

at
> ambient temp but ive heard that thin oils can cause rattling?


It all depends on what grade of oil the engine was designed to use.
There has been a trend towards thinner and thinner oils to reduce drag
(increasing power very slightly) and apparently to reduce emissions too.
However this has backfired in some cases, most notably BMW M3 & M5 (I know,
I'm sorry but it is a very public example!) they were shipped with 5W30 full
synthetic (Castrol SLX longlife).
After many, many cases of excessive oil consumption and failed crankshafts
every single one was recalled, oil drained refilled with 10W60 full
synthetic (Castrol RS 10W60, also called Castrol TWS) and all under bonnet
markings changed to show the requirement for the new oil spec.

Current Alfa engines were originally spec'd with 10W40 Semi-Synthetic (cheap
for 1st fill) with a performance option of 10W60 Full Synthetic.
The cheaper 10W40 Semi-Synthetic option has now been dropped.
--
David C
156 Selespeed sp3 + Brembo conversion


Ads