What Oil Grade To Use

[davidnormanuk]

Hello,

 

I have a Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel which has just been in for a service and has developed a ticking on startup until the oil pressure gets up then everythings fine. I think the wrong grade oil has been used but need to double check with people on here. It has about 15,000 miles on it so far.

 

What grade oil should've been used?

 

Cheers

Dave

[stimulator]

My C3 HDi SX 92 runs on fully synthetic oil. Shell Helix

 

there are two ways of looking at this problem.

 

the tappets are hydraulic and use the engine oil to fill the gap between the bucket and the cam. If the oil is too thin it drains out from the buckets when the engine stops and they rattle when the engine starts. If it's thicker they may stay filled and not rattle. Synthetic oil is better a sit retains all its properties thru ots life.

 

However there is another possibility, it's not the tappets but anoisy fuel injector that is the cause, natrally both the tappets and the injectors are in the same place.

[AlanFC]

Does it matter what oil cars use?

 

If you take it in for a service, god knows what cheap rubbish they stick into it, even though thay'll charge you for the most expensive oil that you specify.

 

Remember that to many garages your car is a cash cow.

[Johndouglas]

Does it matter what oil cars use?

 

Depends on how long you leave it in. If you're happy to change oil & filter every 6000, then a semi-synth is fine. Leave it longer, then use full-synthetic.