A quick question about oil

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet)
12/19/2015 at 12:36 • Filed to: None

I need more oil for the Defender, and it’s now to the point that I’ve been dreading. The Landy has been run on OMD90 (Oil Mineral Detergent), a military grade severe duty engine oil, since it was built in 1997, and my supply of said oil is now down to two litres. I need oil for an oil change, and while I can actually buy OMD90 directly from Fuchs, it’s £170 for 20 litres. Its closest match off the shelf is a part synthetic 10W40, which for Castrol Magnatec will cost me £5p/l, or Chevron ‘Supreme’ which will cost me £2p/l.

My question is twofold. Should I be considering changing to a different spec oil after almost 20 years of running OMD90, and if so, is Chevron ‘Supreme’ absolute shite or not?

Pic for reference.

DISCUSSION (34)

bob and john > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 12:42

check to see what standards the landi needs. our A3 TDI needs VW 507.00 spec oil, which that particular one doesnt meet.

DrScientist > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 12:46

Www.bobistheoilguy.com

You guys are great around here, but not sure I’d trust you on an obscure oil question like this. (Prove me wrong.)

My gut would say go with what’s been used for the last 20 years of the engines life. If it ain’t broke...

At~$12-14 per liter, doesn’t sound HORRIBLE. There was a time when mobile only made 0w40 in 1qt bottles. And prices were ~$8-9. Which made an oil change immediately $70+ not even with the filter

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > bob and john
12/19/2015 at 12:47

As far as I know Land Rover don’t have any standards. Just chuck it in and if it leaks, that’s normal.

bob and john > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 12:50

*shrugs* at the end of the day its your car, but personally, id just run whats in it already.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > bob and john
12/19/2015 at 12:59

My thoughts too, but I’d rather not have to order oil from Germany when I can pop to CostCo instead. It’s either that or I raid a military base.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 13:01

According to this link:

http://everyspec.com/DEF-STAN/downl…

OMD 90 = 10W30 diesel engine oil.

So I’m guessing if you get any old diesel engine oil from a reputable brand that is 10W30, you should be fine.

Berang > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 13:09

Just get the right weight. There aren’t many bad oils today.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
12/19/2015 at 13:10

Awesome link! Thanks

d15b > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 13:11

Raiding a military base. I like your attitude to get shit done!

RallyWrench > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 13:16

We have a chevron heavy duty diesel oil here called Delo 400, not sure if that’s equivalent to your “supreme”, but it's generally regarded as the gold standard for old diesels, and i wouldn't at all be surprised if our military used it. I'm sure the Rover would perfectly happy on it, so it's worth looking out for, if the OMD90 is hard and expensive to get.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > RallyWrench
12/19/2015 at 13:30

I’ll check it out once I’m home. The Chevron in CostCo is silly cheap, so I can’t say I’m holding high hopes, so fingers crossed it’s actually OK.

For Sweden > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 13:46

Just Land Rover Things

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > For Sweden
12/19/2015 at 13:52

One worries more when there isn’t a single leak or dribble to be found. You get the feeling that it’s building up to something.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > DrScientist
12/19/2015 at 13:56

My gut is saying, ‘stay with the OMD90, you daft bugger’. My wallet, and my need for instant gratification, says, ‘don’t wait 3 weeks for delivery from Germany, just go and buy off the shelf and Save £££s.’

Also I’m in the UK, so Bob the Oil Guy probably isn’t cost effective :)

Birddog > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 14:47

Bring a Gopro!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Birddog
12/19/2015 at 14:50

If I dress in fatigues and take the plates off the Defender, I’ve got a chance! I even still have the TransFlo key for free fuel courtesy of Her Majesty’s coffers.

Birddog > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 14:56

You popped in my head this morning during my morning Craigslisting.

I found this ExMOD in Indiana of all places!

https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/532360…

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Birddog
12/19/2015 at 15:00

Holy buggery that’s expensive! But it looks in good order, especially if what the seller says is true. Not sure about those rear lights though, I’ve never seen anything like them before.

P.S. Send more US Rovers

Birddog > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 15:09

There are a few nice old timers around here. Pricey though.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/532980…

DrScientist > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 15:46

oh, no...

bob’s site has one of the most extensive and knowledgeable forums dedicated specifically to motor oils. didnt even know you could buy stuff there.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > DrScientist
12/19/2015 at 15:48

I missed that. I’ll have a look when I’m on a computer! Cheers

DrScientist > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 15:51

no problem! definitely do take a look. you’ll find much more informed opinions than us loonies over here.

BorkBorkBjork > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 15:57

Call Royal Purple customer service and ask one of their techs. Alot of heavy industrial sites I frequent use Royal Purple for various pieces of equipment. If it’s good enough for a 350-ton 2000 horsepower coal pulverizer, then they probably can meet or exceed your requirements.

AndyG_UK > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 17:03

A 1977 Defender? They were only called Defender from ‘91, will be a series 3 surely?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > AndyG_UK
12/19/2015 at 17:06

‘97 you loon.

AndyG_UK > AndyG_UK
12/19/2015 at 17:14

Ignore me I’m drunk, you said 1997 not 1977!! lol

AndyG_UK > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 17:18

I know, just noticed, too much vino watching the Strictly final! BTW I’d go with the Castrol Magnatec in her, I hear it's great in older engines, maybe flush it with some cheap stuff first.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > AndyG_UK
12/19/2015 at 17:27

Me too! Thanks for the Magnatec vote, I think I’m swinging OMD90 though as it does turn out to be a pretty bloody good oil.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 20:47

Clicked on the ad. Looked through pics, what’s so weird about tho... OH WHAT ARE THOSE!?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 20:52

Damn it! A [non-series] rover question I don’t know the answer to!

If memory serves, we always just ran either Rotella or Delo. But we saw very few rover diesels compared to Buick powered ones.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/19/2015 at 21:19

TFritch mentioned Delo too, but it’s only available Stateside as far as I can tell. The good news is that I’ve managed to find OMD90 at £177 per 25l barrel, meaning just over £7 per litre. That brings it much further in line with the Magnatec price, so I think I’m just going to buy a whole bloody barrel. The R380 gearbox uses the same oil, so it’s probably worth it just so I don’t have to piss about with different fluids.

Now i just need to find some 0x 220 gear oil and al39 coolant at a good price.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/19/2015 at 21:55

Sounds like an excellent price for that oil.

RWS Motorsport > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
12/20/2015 at 04:50

Surely that just means it’s run out of oil all together?

The proper oil is what? About £8.50/l. To be honest if the landie works with that I’d play it safe and stick with a know and working oil. Or could you ring the head office / archive and see if they can offer any advice?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > RWS Motorsport
12/20/2015 at 05:13

I’ve since found it for £7.08 p/l on an amazing website called Sil-Mid, so I think I’m gonna stick with the military stuff.