Looking to either service it myself, or have it serviced soon, and been wondering what brand, type and viscosity would be best for my usage?.
Re viscosity, I'm inclined to go with 10w40 because that is the only oil offered by the Italian Piaggio Porter specialist I have used a few times now for parts (BTW, this was Castrol GTX Ultraclean). I'd assume they should know best, but when I Googled oil type for a Piaggio Porter 1.3 petrol, 10w40 was coming up in the results, but so was 5w30. When I put the reg number into Halfords website, 5w30 was recommended over 10w40 (which "may not be suitable").
My usage is a mixed bag. I start and end the day driving as much as 45miles to and from where I am working at a fairly constant speed (though revs are higher than you would expect due to the low gearing). But once there, lots of stopping and starting, maybe just round the corner to the next street.
I want to use the best oil I can, but there is so much choice out there, it is difficult to make a decision!. On Halfords website there was two different 10w40 Castrol choices, the aforementioned Ultraclean, but also Magantec (three Castrol options for 5w30), plus whatever other brands were being offered in both viscosities.
While oil is a good topic to geek-out on (and I have) the chances of anyone having a strong reason for a recommendation, and of you being able to validate that reason, are very slim.
I'd bet even your specialist doesn't really know, and I'd bet A LOT that Halfords has no clue whatsoever..
"May not be suitable"? = "May be suitable"? = May as well shut up if thats the most specific statement you can come up with.
Of the options given I'd go with 10W40 because it'l,l have less viscosity improver in it than 5W40 , which is (slightly) a good thing, because VI isn't really a lubricant , it can shear down, and its degradation products can contribute to sticking piston rings.
On a wee engine like that fuel economy wouldn't be much of a factor for me, (but then I'm not used to UK fuel prices lately) so unless you have cold -starting issues that downgrades the main reason for 5W30. I like Castrol oil, though, oddly to a Brit, it has a fairly downmarket image here in Taiwan
(TBH here I might use CPC straight SAE40 with no VI at all, but thats not a match for a UK winter morning)
In any case you are only committed for an OCI so its a less-than-momentous decision. Maybe carefully monitor fuel consumption and compare? You could even do a used oil analysis if really geeking out, but its likely to be inconclusive, since it probably doesnt matter with you choose,
Edited by edlithgow on 12/11/2023 at 02:49
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