Oil ?

EycplUK

I know this is a simple question .............. so just a simple answer will do !
Is there a difference between Oil for a Diesel and Oil for a Petrol engine ?
See , said it was simple

Weird_Nev

Many oils claim to be suitable for both!
In reality the operating environment in petrol and diesel engines is quite different, and ideally the two types of engine need different oils to perform at their best.

Check the specs on the bottle. If it meets the specs stated in your car handbook then you're good to go, whether it's "universal" oil or oil specifically aimed at diesels or petrols.

Trebor16

The answer is yes and no! Some manufacturers do recommend the same oil for both petrol and diesel engines, some don't. Vauxhall are one example but this applies to their current range of vehicles. Older diesel engines will probably need a diesel specific oil, which was the case with my Rover 45 diesel.

As Nev said, go with what is recommended by the manufacturer and find an oil that meets that specification.

Road_Hog

EycplUK wrote: »

I know this is a simple question .............. so just a simple answer will do !
Is there a difference between Oil for a Diesel and Oil for a Petrol engine ?
See , said it was simple

It varies on the type and age of the car. Some engines just want something wet and slippery and some are very temperamental if they don't get exactly the right oil.

mikey72

Trebor16 wrote: »

The answer is yes and no! Some manufacturers do recommend the same oil for both petrol and diesel engines, some don't. Vauxhall are one example but this applies to their current range of vehicles. Older diesel engines will probably need a diesel specific oil, which was the case with my Rover 45 diesel.

As Nev said, go with what is recommended by the manufacturer and find an oil that meets that specification.

The main difference is in sludge and cleanliness levels.

Some oils are better than others, and sold as A3, or B3/B4 for petrol or diesel.

Personally I use the Vauxhall oil in everything, it's an A3/B4.
B4 can generally be used in any older diesel that needs B3.
A3 in most petrol engines.

Newer longlife oils are speced for very new engines though.

jimbo_the_jetset

Use Halfords checker or Castrol if unsure

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/iframe.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7044829