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Hi folks, I've been running a 20/50 comma sonic oil in my mini since I had the engine rebuilt and need to give it an oil change. I've since used all the comma sonic oil so was wondering what new stuff I should get.

The gearbox took a battering at the track day and I wondered if the oil wasn't up to the job.

Is the standard millers classic mini oil in 20/50 flavour ok or should I fork out more and go for the Ctv? I used to run Trans-M sport in the other mini but they don't make it anymore.

Cheers folks

P.s. It's got a straight cut box and is a 1380

I'm using Valvoline 20/50 VR1 race oil (mineral) seem to keep pressure well and I believe the mineral version is zinc rich which helps the gearbox

CTV or VR1

Road&Stage on Whitelund are about the cheapest I've ever found for CTV too.

GraemeC wrote:CTV or VR1

Road&Stage on Whitelund are about the cheapest I've ever found for CTV too.

Any ideas what you paid? I'd sooner pay £20 delivery than drive to white lund... absolute hell hole of a place to get to!

Only cos you live on the posh side of town.

I can't remember - it's a while since I bought it. I might be heading that way this week though so I could pop in and find out.

Think they will deliver too, but don't know how much they charge.

GraemeC wrote:Only cos you live on the posh side of town.

I can't remember - it's a while since I bought it. I might be heading that way this week though so I could pop in and find out.

Think they will deliver too, but don't know how much they charge.

Cheers G, I'll give them a call tomorrow

Remember that race oils are not formulated the same way as road oils.
They don't have the same sludge controlling properties, for example. So oil changes would need to be much more regular.
-I would say at least a couple of times a year, for a 'Summer only' car.

I recently re-built a Lotus twin-cam road engine that had been running Valvoline race oil and it had 1/4" of sludge/tar in the sump....
(It had done approx 5000 miles since it's previous re-built. -Number 1 big-end had gone)

The zinc additive in oil is more for the cam lobes (the area of highest surface pressure in an engine)

I have previously had discussions with Castrol engineers about oils for Minis.
I suggested that a good motorcycle oil would be more suitable (as they also share the oil with the transmission). They confirmed that this would be a good option.

Oils are one of those things that people have very strong opinions about....
(I think we all have our favourites...)
For the record.. I haven't used Valvoline oils (but have nothing against them), and have tended to use Castrol, Mobil, Miller, Duckhams.
(And in an old Jag I had, that was using more oil than petrol, I used super-cheap B&Q oil... -well, it wasn't in there long enough to be a problem.... )