Best value/recommended motor oil for bog standard car?

Emuchops

Our car needs some oil and I noticed that Wilkinsons sells some basic oil for about £8 a gallon. I was wondering if anyone had tried it, or if anyone can receommend a good "budget" oil for petrol cars?

Hammyman

You want the correct grade for the engine. There is no "one suits all". Putting in oil too thick can damage the top end of the engine, especially this time of year. Putting oil too thin in can damage the bottom end. If your engine requires 5W/30 and the Wilkos stuff is 15W/40 then its no good no matter how cheap it is.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Wouldn't put that stuff in a sump, but it should be good enough for mixing 50/50 with creosote, used oil is dirty and is full of nasties.

You'll get covered in back splashes whilst painting the fence, clean oil is much safer.

andygb

You can get perfectly good semi synthetic 5W/30 or similar for around £18 for 5 litres from most motor factors. Most modern engines (under 15 years old) are designed to run on a certain grade of oil, and I would always follow manufacturers advice.

mikey72

Emuchops wrote: »

Our car needs some oil and I noticed that Wilkinsons sells some basic oil for about £8 a gallon. I was wondering if anyone had tried it, or if anyone can receommend a good "budget" oil for petrol cars?

What car is it.
Our cars either get 10w40 vauxhall semi synthethic, or 20w50 Halfords classic. Changed every year, or twice a year in the diesel.
But I've used wilkinson's cheap oil before as well, and it's ok.
Halfords have Castrol on offer for £17.50, I'd use that in preference though.

cyclonebri1

Look, just check the spec in the manual.
There will be a range of acceptable viscosities.
Check the sae rating and simply buy the cheapest oil that fullfills all the criteria, simples.

That's the budget answer.

For peace of mind, and if the car is a keeper, buy the best semi or synthetic oil that is recomended for the car.

I always buy from the net in 25 ltre drums, enough for a few years, works out cheapest for me. :money:

poppasmurf_bewdley

When I ran my old Astra W Reg, for the last eight years it ran with Halfords own brand semi-synthetic which was changed every year along with the filter and I never had a problem of any kind with the engine. My kids have been running it for the last 18 months still on the Halfords oil with no ill effects at all.

I would certainly recommend it.

Wilkinsons have some good stuff but I don't think I would trust my engine to its oil!

bevanuk

Is the car petrol or diesel? What engine size?

Emuchops

Mikey-its a 1400 VW Polo, petrol -"W" reg-a good reliable runner. From what I remember the Wilkinsons stuff was 20W-50 (whatever that means).

mikey72

I'd look at this one

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_254023_langId_-1_categoryId_165581

Weird_Nev

Either get the halfords castrol oil deal, in the correct spec for your car, or else try Euro Car Parts online - They do 'carlube' oil which is absolutely fine for bog standard oil and is £15 for 5 litres. The halfords deal is about the best deal you can buy on the high street at that price. I've had a look at the wilkos stuff, and decided no.... They're a bit vague as to what spec it actually complies to.