What oil should go in my xr3i 1990 H reg?

Ive been told to use 5w30 partly synthetic!

Should i use a flush?

 

5w30 is for the zetecs only. Think you'd be after 10w40!!

Probably wouldn't bother with a flush. If its not been changed for a long time then could be worth changing oil/filter again after about 1000 miles or so.

 

Well halfords recommend 5w30 but everyone tells me different!

Help please!

 

If it was a nice new tight engine 5W30 would be fine, though it could use a little as it is very thin.
I would go for a 40 weight, ie 10W40 or 5W40 etc.
I always flush, some say not, I have been for 25+ years, my cossie has just hit 200,937 miles on the original engine, although I had rebuilt the head, the crank and shells look new, but they're not, have history since day one didn't even really need a polish, bore wear was present of course, but still doing 40+mpg on a run, co 0.97% and 137ppm at mot time, on greys this I put down a lot to the oil changes.
Prior to it drinking big time(last 1000 miles or so) it used little oil which was changed every 12,000 miles with a flush everytime, I use WYNNS, on every car.
tabetha

 

Cheers thanks for your info! I used 10w40 but was also told 15w40 is good for older engines. The engine is at 121k i have no service history with it but the first lad owned it 19 years so id imagine its been looked after!

I will use a flush i think as its been of the road and standing for 6 years!

 

15W40 is no better than 10W40, the first number is the thickness at a specific cold temperature, the 2nd number at a specific high temperature, so 15 is thicker when cold but the same when up to temp.
I use a 5W40 in me dads zetec mondy from "new" rebuild(by me) and it's been perfect.
tabetha

 

Okay then i will take your advice. I take it i should use a top quality oil and flush?

 

Autodata says 3.5 litres of 5w30 oil. But for a hot climate it takes 10w30 (i.e. spain or the med). Hope this helps.

 

Well im in England so no chance of it being hot too often! Im going to try 15w40 as my mate used that in his mk2 golf and my other mate talked to a lad at an oil suppliers and he said to use 15w40.

At the moment i put 10w40 in it but i will suppose whateve i try i won't stop the tapping

 

The oil is only a recommendation, the same they said for the cossie, but use it in the cossie and it drinks it faster than petrol nearly, totally unsuited to a cossie even when new.
If you can afford it a fully synthetic offers better protection, even at double the mileage change interval than mineral.
tabetha

 

Deffo 10w40 on a cvh mate