good oil for a 7mgte?

[Robbos_Toyotas]

hey all...just bought another ma61 powered by a 7mgte. Motor has done about 160k, 20 since head up rebuild. Now i want to try and look after the poor old thing whilst being able to hassle it when i want. It has a small tap in the upper of the motor somewhere - identical to my old 7mge i rebuilt...i can only assume its something to do with oil??

killer question is - what oil should i run in it? I figure something like mobil 1 will be too thin? do you think i should go mineral, semi or full synthetic??

thanks guys
Blake

[CrUZida]

IMO, for an engne you don't know the history of, pretty much any decent oil will do.
If it was my car, I'd be running Penrite HPR15

[Robbos_Toyotas]

IMO, for an engne you don't know the history of, pretty much any decent oil will do.
If it was my car, I'd be running Penrite HPR15

thats what i run in my 02 v6 hilux - do you think its good enough quality? My dad used hpr10 in mums 98 bmw 523i, and it made the engine noisy - he went to castrol edge sport (about 45 or 50/ 5l) and it is quiet as a mouse? Just makes me wonder about the semi syn penrite oils - the mineral ones are great...hpr30 etc...

[petergoudie]

I own a 7mge and if you search all the oil manufacturers websites they say to use 20/50. None of them recommend anything thinner and it's probably because of the engine tolerances used at the time. I use valvoline and just pulled my Hiace down at 200k and it was as clean as a whistle.

[Pimpin_1JZ]

The only reason that the castrol quietened down the BMW is because it seems to have alot of friction modifiers in the oil. Basically it fills your motor with like a black sludge. I have pulled down 4 engines which were running Castrol oil and it was not a pretty sight inside. I would recommend a synthetic oil of Penrite or Mobil.

[Javal]

The only reason that the castrol quietened down the BMW is because it seems to have alot of friction modifiers in the oil. Basically it fills your motor with like a black sludge. I have pulled down 4 engines which were running Castrol oil and it was not a pretty sight inside. I would recommend a synthetic oil of Penrite or Mobil.

I've also pulled down a number of engines running castrol oil, and you are correct, the friction modifies do sludge motors up like nobodys business IF they do not change it regularly. It will work fine and keep a motor quieter, however you must must must change your oil regularly. If the modifiers and detergents exceed their lifespan, sludging is the result.

Change it every 10k and you're fine. I do mine every 5. I've also pulled down plenty of motors running castrol oil which has been changed regularly, and they're clean as a whistle.

Not that i'm recommending castrol, just saying. All other oils have their traits.

[CELICASUPRA7M]

i just changed from 10w30 fuchs to 10/60 castrol edge sport, have more oil pressure now which is good.
i change every 5k.

[Robbos_Toyotas]

thanks for your imput guys...now the tap in the motor has not gone away - has anyone else got/ had this? sounds like its coming from the upper of the engine...its not a knock....

[BLACKCAT]

Have you checked the valve clearances (should be around 0.2mm intake & 0.25 exhaust)?

[Javal]

Check all clearances. And make sure everything is torqued to spec.

I recently had a motor come through with a horrible tick in the top end, sounded like a stuck lifter, everything checked alright.

Turned out to be a loose cam gear

[Robbos_Toyotas]

cheers guys yeah ill have to get the tappet covers n the feeler gauges out this week sometime....appreciate all your help
does it make a difference the noise seems to go when the revs increase? as in more oil pressure makes it go?

Blake