didja hear the one...

[Colin Cobb <cobmeister@domain.elided>]

Hey Guys,

One of the most striking things about having sports (or, if you insist,
"sporty") cars of several different marques is the way some questions
and themes run consistently through the various enthusiast Lists.

To my personal knowledge, engine cooling, cabin cooling, Lucas, fuel
quality, and, of course, engine oils are all discussed regularly on the
Alfa, Jensen, Morgan, Alpine, and Tiger Lists. The most interesting
thing is that the various lists often reach diametrically opposing
conclusions even when the discussion is of some chemical FACT or other.
The discussions are often led by Rocket Scientists, Chemists,
Metalurgists, and so are often pretty cogent. Generally I figure, well,
what the heck, when in Rome...

As a Tigerist, two of my key concerns have been engine cooling
(basically, they don't) and performance oils (basically, they need 'em).

Without, I hope, inviting flames, I want to invite my fellow Alfisti to
take a look at one POL engineer's info on engine oils and, specifically,
oil viscosity at >>>>>>>>>

http://bmwcca.org/tips/tiplube1.htm

The material is not a discussion of synthetics. Instead, it is primarily
an explanation of what the viscosity grading system means. I should note
that this material is contained in a BMW tips page and is written by a
Kendall Motor Oil employee. In a nutshell, the conclusion the author
reaches is, "Generally speaking, we should recommend single viscosity
oils for high performance except when low temperature startability is a
problem."

I mention all this because at the moment our newly acquired Spider is
currently running 20W-50 which seems wrong to me on both counts although
it is the recommended oil for the engine.

But which oil will be best for the engine?

- --Colin Cobb, Las Cruces, NM, USA
'89 Spider

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