Correct oil for Ransom Marquis
I have a Ransom Marquis bought new in 1975 and have always used Castrol GTX . I have recently tried to buy some more only to find that GTX is now partly synthetic. The mower is fitted with the sloper engine. I have been told that synthetic oil is not suitable for old engines. Has anybody any suggestions?
Forums
Thanks for the advice. The
Thanks for the advice. The machine was one of the last slopers. I think I originally used Castrol XL before GTX was available.
Sloper oil
"Thanks for the advice. The machine was one of the last slopers. I think I originally used Castrol XL before GTX was available."
Possibly but my manual dated 1970 mentions both GTX and XL plus Catrolite for cold weather running. So I think it safe to say that GTX was around when your machine was made.
Marquis oil
There's an old adage - any oil is better than no oil!
1975 - so do you have one of the last BSA/Villiers F12 "Sloper" engines or a Briggs and Stratton.
If it's a Briggs the only recommendation for UK summer use is a straight high detergent SAE 30 oil. If this is not available a 10/30 is permissible at the expense of a possible increase in consumption .
If you have a Sloper one of the original specified oils was the first generation GTX. I doubt if any harm will come from using a semi synthetic but I wouldn't mix the two. So if you wish to use it I would get the engine hot and drain all the existing oil before using the new brew.
I run several Slopers, all on SAE30 - controls consumption with no ill effects!