2.5 TD oil recommendations?

[Rob]

I'm looking for some insight into other's experiences regarding motor oil for a 2.5 turbo diesel in a Defender as I try to decide whether to use synthetic or regular oil. I use Delo 15w40 in my daily driver with good results (mercedes turbo diesel) but the defender is a weekend rig that doesn't get a lot of hard use. I have only put 2500 miles on it in the past year so the mileage doesn't warrant change even though the time period between recommended changes (i.e. 6 months) has elapsed. For the cost of the synthetic I could change using regular 15w40 oil twice a year for the same cost as one synthetic change. Is the protection of synthetic really that much better to warrant the added cost considering the mileage and use pattern for this defender or is it just as good using regular oil and changing it more often?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts

Cheers, Rob
D130 2.5 TD

[red90]

I doubt the wear rate differences between a good 15W-40 will be high enough to matter if you are not racking up real mileage. The best reason to switch to a 5W or 0W-40 synthetic would be if you are doing cold starts below -10 C or if you want to push extended drain intervals. If not then stick with the 15W-40. At 2500 miles per year, you will die long before the engine wears out.

[Rob]

"At 2500 miles per year, you will die long before the engine wears out."

Yikes, I have the notorious 19J motor... suddenly I don't feel so well :?

[red90]

"Wears out" and "fails" are different things. :mrgreen: