Which oil?!

[bundoodle]

I'm on holiday in the French alps and need to top up the oil in my camper. It's a jx td and the oil that was used at the last service was 20/50. Been in various places and can't find any of that grade. This might be a stupid question but what oil should I use? Is it better to get closer to the 50 ie 5/50 or would say a 15/40 be better?

Thanks

[vanisveryrusty]

15/40 mineral oil is the originally specified oil.
I dont know which is best to top it up with.
If I was out there i would buy some mineral oil and chuck it in.
Any mineral oil has got to be better than not enough oil , just dont mix synthetic with mineral.
Change it when you get back for a sumpfull of the same grade, ..............if it hasnt burnt or leaked out by then anyway

[Oldiebut goodie]

I am surprised that you didn't carry oil with you!

[kevtherev]

ditto

15/40 mineral is readily available in diesel spec too

[bundoodle]

Thanks for your help!

Oldie but goodie - I did carry about a litre but its gone though that in about 2000kms!

[vanisveryrusty]

Thanks for your help!

Oldie but goodie - I did carry about a litre but its gone though that in about 2000kms!

Why worry what sort you replace it with then
Will be gone soon whatever you use

[discipleofsketch]

Not trying to compete here, but I got through something like 10 litres over 2000km on our recent france trip. After getting through the 8 litres or so of 20/50 mineral I had with me in the van, I bought some 15/40 mineral from carrefour (as they didn't have any 20/50).

Yes, I know my engine needs sorting out, the consensus seems to be rings/bores, so rebore or replacement engine coming up when I can afford it

[Smcknighty]

Ha! I was going to post similar but thought better of it! I did 16 litres to 3200km - sounds like my van is running to standard and the op clearly has a problem where the engine isnt using enough oil..

My problem is a leak in the sump that only appears when v hot (repair of hole by previous owner) and a corner of rocker cover gasket that refuses to seal. Will have a go at these and then see what consumption goes like.. I didn't have enough run in time before going..

[Ian Hulley]

a corner of rocker cover gasket that refuses to seal.

We had this .. try a new spring, cover (GSF ones are fine) and gasket with a smear of grease.

Ian

[skippymoss]

Yep we had this too.
Found that a second hand original rocker cover was a far better fit than the new repro one and this fixed the problem.

[Ian Hulley]

The GSF ones I bought last time were VW/Audi stamped

[bundoodle]

Got back home with 3,600km on the clock and 2 litres of oil consumed. Topped up with 15/40 from Carrefour. Would you consider that normal consumption for a refurb engine that's 6 months old?

There's no smoke coming from the exhaust other than a small amount when first starting up from cold. This looks to be black in colour other than when we had driven up to camp on a mountain pass for night when it looked at bit grey the following day.

[purplecrocs]

we'll you're at least all making me feel better about my van! just been through 5L in about 3000km and starting to worry about it.... though it didn't used to be that bad so somethings not right....

[vanisveryrusty]

Light grey inside exhaust normally means the carburation is correct.

[bundoodle]

Looks like my oil consumption is not as much as some but would be interested to know if 2l for 3600km (2250 miles) is considered acceptable for a newly refurbed engine? Seems quite a lot to me but don't really know much about engines!!