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Correct oil for Ransom Marquis

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greengrass Sat, 24/05/2014

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?

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wristpin Sat, 24/05/2014

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!

 

greengrass Sat, 24/05/2014

Thanks for the advice. The machine was one of the last slopers.  I think I originally used Castrol XL before GTX was available.

wristpin Sat, 24/05/2014

"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.