Questionhi i have a 2001 opel astra that needs an oil top up. i,m not sure what oil to use, it,s a 1.4 litre engine.please could you help me find a suitable oil. also not sure how much oil to use on a top up...
Answer10w/30 or 10w40 - Fully or part synthetic.
(Fully synthetic is more advanced, it tends to last longer and protect better, it has better dynamics, Part synthetic is cheaper, it lasts maybe 5000 miles instead of 7000 with fully synthetic)
To get the oil level from empty to full on the dipstick it takes about 1.2 Litres, so a 2 Litre oil will suffice.
When topping up add a little oil at a time and check the dipstick, give the oil time to run down the engine into the sump before you measure it, and wipe the dipstick clean each time, and make sure the dipstick is fully pushed into its hole, otherwise you get an incorrect reading.
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When was the car last serviced/had an oil change? the oil level shouldn't drop for "no reason", is there a leak (check under the engine/gearbox for black gritty oil), and check the top of the engine (rocker box) to see if the rocker box gasket is leaking.
If there is an oil leak this can be sorted for about £30 for rocker box gasket, and £50 to replace oil sump gasket.
If there is no leak then maybe your engine is burning a little oil, not serious in a high mileage engine - with an engine that burns oil you are better with 10w40 instead of 10w30, it is a thicker oil and not as much of it can get past the pistons and burn...
- products like STP oil stabiliser added to normal oil, or changing the oil to a proprietary high mileage oil like castrol high mileage or duckhams high mileage oil can improve things a lot, no more topping up between services.
