1965 E Type FHC, Best oil to use??

Edited on 2005-04-29 10:53:06

I personally run Mobile One in all of my cars, including the '66 E-Type. I am also currently restoring a '51 Ford flathead engine, and a lot of the "old guys" (including my machinist) say to run the car for 3000 miles on conventional oil to seat the rings, then switch to a synthetic. However, Corvette and Vipers are shipped full of Mobil One out of the factory, so go figure.

In regards to leaks, I sincerely doubt that an oil's viscosity has anything to do with it; more likely a bad or dry seal.

The "range" of you oil (15w-50w) depends on where you live, and if you start and drive the car in cold conditions, or if you run it in hot weather like here in the South. 15/50 sounds abit thin to me for the South, but is probably okay in the North. You might do some research for your area.

My 2 cents.

Patrick McLoad
1966 E-Type, Right-hand Drive Roadster
#1E1445

Steve Weinstein and Glenn Ray

Thank you both for your detailed explanations.

I have had very positive results in industry using synthetic lubes, where I was running 100 year old machines along side of new machines with the latest technology.

This is the first Jag I have owned in 45 years (I had a 120 FHC & a MK7 in the 50's) Thanks for bringing me up to date

I will be using one of your reccomended motor oils.

Thanks
Pete Collins

Not an endorsement, just a satisfied customer: I use Valvoline "MaxLife" 10W40 in my '66. It has extra additives/conditioners for older, old tech engines. I make sure to keep all the nuts/bolts torqued to spec. No leaks, no exhaust smoke. Can't go wrong with Castrol either. Have heard same issues with Mobil 1 and leaks in older engines. I know a lot of engineers who put Mobil 1 in their modern "high tech" engines, but put conventional fluids in their older toys -- tolerances, seals, gaskets, etc, in older engines were designed before synthetic oils were invented.

Glenn Ray
'66 E-Type OTS

Pete,

"Best" is a relative term. You'll hear a lot of different opinions on what is best to use in an old XK engine. I've used Castrol GTX 20W50 in my cars and have been very happy with it. I change the oil often enough that wear really isn't an issue. I also run the engines fairly regularly, so internal parts are not sitting for long periods of time without lubrication.

I just complete a restoration on a '69 OTS and Terry Lippincott who did the work and did a complete rebuild on the engine, swears by Mobile One. He uses it in his race engine (a modified Jaguar 6 cyl.) and his "daily driver" which is a '66 OTS. I asked him what to use in the new engine and he said, after it breaks in, to switch to Mobile One, 15W50. I may or may not. He says the GTX is fine, as long as the engine is run and oil changed regularly.

One of the big issues I've heard from others with older XK engines who tried Mobile One is that it is more prone to leak. Seals that hold regular, nice thick GTX or similar 20W50 seem to develop leaks with Mobile 1. YMMV, but it is something to keep an eye out for. And don't be tempted to use Slick50 or anything like that. YOu don't need it and it can gunk up the inside of the engine, from reports by others who've experienced problems.

Hope that helps.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'70 XKE FHC
'69 XKE OTS