? -- 1989 XJS, 70M, stored in garage in mild/warm, dry climate (SoCal).
Currently using Castrol GTX Conventional 20w-50.

Is there any advantage to using any one of these lubricants for a stored vehicle that rarely gets driven?

Thanks in advance.

 

Having read so many posts, forums and articles on oil- the most important thing about oil is to use a good quality detergent one, and change it regularly- annually or 5-6 K miles. Only place where I think you really have to use a full synthetic is if you have a turbo. Since we don’t your current oil is fine. I use Castrol GTX in a couple of my sports cars and am very happy with it.
One note on oil though is oil doesn’t work as well when it has fuel or water contamination. You get that by not warming up your engine enough when your drive it. Starting it and not driving it, or really short trips don’t get the oil hot enough to burn off any water for fuel.

 

Nope.

Oh, there are surely volumes of technical and chemical explanations of how and why synthetic could or should be better. And I reckon they're correct from a purely technical standpoint. But I can't see how any of them would translate into any measurable or tangible benefit for the owner or the engine in a real world sense.

If you'd feel better using synthetic, well, there's nothing wrong with that. But your engine won't really know or care.

Just my opinion There are many others !

Cheers
DD

 

Hi Michaem 101

I use 10/40 Semi Synthetic

Which the last time I bought some was £36 for 20L including a New Oil Filter

10/40 Semi Synthetic Oil is all I ever use

 

Can't go wrong with 100% syn!

 

+1 with Greg! Even synthetic oil is dirt cheap compared to any engine consequences. Just change it every year regardless and sleep sound in the (maybe naive) belief that you're treating the engine every time it starts up!

..light blue touchpaper and retire....

Paul

 

The kindest thing you can do for your car is to drive it long enough to get it fully warm. ( about 30 minutes ). That will help evaporate the water that condenses inside your engine. Change oil every year at an absolute minimum ( regardless of how few miles ) Your Castrol 20w50 is fine.
Keep adding fresh gasoline to your car to replace the light ends that evaporate off.
Finally flush the coolant system every 2 years. Don’t let it sit in there longer. I use 50% distilled water and 50% coolant to prevent the corrosion that comes from tap water.