A Deep Dive into the Right Oils for Vintage Vehicles

Here we will touch on some (not all) of the things that help make Castrol Classic the right choice for classic vehicles.

Detergents: Inadequate detergent in your oils can result in gums and lacquers clinging to the hotter engine components, and blocking oil galleries. However, too much detergent can cause a build-up of metallic ash in the combustion chambers and piston crowns. In older engines with traditionally higher oil consumption, this can cause detonation and pinking.

In engines where the carbon has built up over a number of years, detergents can have a scouring effect, causing the carbon to flake off, this can block up oil galleries and spray jets. High levels of detergent can also “wash” traces of carbon from seals and gaskets, revealing oil leaks where the carbon itself has been  creating a seal.

Anti-Oxidents: If your oil has insufficient anti-oxidants the oil can quickly thicken during high temperature motoring, with large amounts of carbon, gum and varnish clogging oil galleries, filters and piston rings.

Anti-Wear Additives: can ensure that if the oil film between moving parts breaks down prematurely, metal to metal contact and irreparable engine damage is prevented.

Corrosion Inhibitors: Engine internals can become pitted with corrosion and rust from acids and water vapour formed during combustion or for that matter, from not being brought up to operating temperatures for a longer period like over the winter or in storage. With the correct corrosion inhibitors, the components remain well protected.

Special Dispersant Additives: These will help prevent soot, wear metals (floating in the oil) and the by-products of combustion settling down in the sump and other areas of the engine, and as we have all seen; forming a thick sludge that can block filters and oil passage ways.

Pour Point Depressants: If there is an inadequate pour point depressant, the oil ceases to flow at low temperatures, with excessive strain on the oil pump or in certain cases, oil starvation on start-up causing complete failure of the lubrication system.

Castrol Classic Oils are specifically formulated in the style of the original products, but using the latest, appropriate and carefully balanced additive technologies to provide the best protection and performance for your classic engine.

Have a read through the next article to get even more details about how we formulat Castrol Classic Oils for engines, Gear boxes & Axles.