Hi,

Could someone please recommend a good oil filter and oil for my XK140?

Fram is advertising a filter but it doesnt look right.

Also, I was thinking of 5W40 oil but I guess synthetic would just blow out of the back end.

Thanks for any and all help

 

Best for the filter to buy from a reputable Jaguar supplier for a car as old as this. The engine is worth a lot more than trying to get by with cheap filters. OK, if the Fram filter fits, its probably OK, as filtration is far better than it ever was in 1954 !

However, for oil, I would avoid the modern "thin" oils. The XK engine was built on well-used machinery, (second-hand from Standard), to tolerances that were much wider than today. I would use a good brand of something like 20W50, or a 15W40. However, what condition is your engine in ? If it has had a fairly recent overhaul, you'll be pretty safe with a 15W40 as that is what was recommended for the XJ saloons using the same engine 30 years later !! I don't think anything changed in the production line, the machinery was just a lot older by then.

 

Thank you very much for these suggestions.
They make a lot of sense

 

Hello,

For the older Xk engines like the xk140 and mK2 Etc.
It is recommented to use 20W50 mineral oil only.
Preferable Classic oil, it will contain the right additifs
Your oil pressure will be far to low using 15w40.


Regards,
Peter jan Rusch
Xk140, Xk150, S-type 1967

 

Peter, that is great advice

Thank you very much

 

Peter, I just called Castrol and the Classic oils are not imported to North America.
They weren't able to recommend one of their oils for my Jag, so I guess I will try and hunt it down at the classic car parts importers.
Is there a second place product you would recommend?

many thanks.

 

Someone has recommended this for classic cars even though it is a synthetic.
Will it work do you think?

AMSOIL Z-ROD® 20W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

 

Hello,

I would not recommand any Synthetic oil, only for a fresh rebuild engine.
There are a lot of Brands out there, selling Classic Oil.
A few , Millers , Kroon, Valvoline, duckhams, etc.
regards,
Peter jan

 

Check out Ratblog540 for more than you ever wanted to know on eng oil and oil filters. Very good empirical comparisons on a lot of different brands of oil and of the various oil characteristics with explanations as to why one is better than the other.
You can also as the blog questions and he will answer.

One of the top performing oils is Valvoline VR! mineral Oil. Silver bottle labeled Racing but with the characteristics you need for flat tappet street drivers. It's high ZDDP if you're into that.
Available in the US in 20w50 and 10w30. Summit Racing, Amazon, others including your local auto parts store carry it. Other geographic areas may have the 15w40 they make available as well.
Don't get confused in buying because they also make a VR1 Racing oil in a black bottle which is strictly racing oil, and a VR1 Synthetic.

Just to be clear, I have no affiliation with either RatBlog540 or Valvoline.

 

Just bear in mind this thread is 5 years old, so the people may have moved on.

 

Yeah, thanks, didn't notice. Course still applies. What’s funny is it popped into my email so i linked to it and posted.