X300 Engine oil change

[Popsjag]

Just changed the engine oil on my X300 because it has now done 31,000 miles and has no service history - although the previous owner maintains he had it serviced regularly.

Left sample is old engine oil - yuk!!!
Right sample is sample of nice fresh 10/40 semi-synthetic going back in!

[naki]

Again the say so of a PO! The evidence speaks volumes there!

[PeterDavisX300]

The left sample although looking tired isn't exactly 'Dire-Straights'. The fact that it's black and horrible is more to do with the fact that the oil has been 'doing-its-job' than to show the condition of the engine. I'd run the new oil around the engine for a few thousand miles then change it again, all will be fine. Some people get a bit 'hung-up' about oil going black, it's just doing it's job.

[Popsjag]

I'm not getting hung up about it. I was just showing the difference in the new and old because the old was an unknown quantity. It had also lost a lot of it's consistency (compared to new oil).

Also, with running on LPG, the new oil will 'do it's job' and still stay a lot cleaner for longer than the old oil.

[PeterDavisX300]

I wasn't suggesting you personally were getting hung-up, just a lot of peeps do that don't have engineering experience. I always (maybe wrongly) assume that most people with 'older' cars know how to look after the car themselves, and therefore remarks like hung-up wouldn't apply to the owners on here.

Interested about the LPG, what sort of mpg do you get with the LPG and is there an annual check that needs to be done to ensure performance of the system? Is the tank in the wheel-well or where?

Peter

[Popsjag]

Hi Peter,

I didn't take your comments personally.

With regards to MPG on LPG, I average 17MPG as it probably needs fine-tuning as I don't have the knowhow to program it, so it is due to go to a Stag (that's the system make) specialist for that and a check over. It has a basic set-up program (because it has an ECU) when you first install it, then it constantly self-learns.

Most of my driving is local or with a caravan on the back - unless I'm on a jolly to a JEC event!

The tank is installed in the spare wheel well (so I carry a space saver in the boot) and the only maintenance I do is change an in-line filter (costs about a fiver) every 10,000 miles.

Therefore cost-wise I'm doing 32MPG if compared to the cost of petrol - once it is re-programmed by the specialist, I expect that to improve.

I have also just fitted one of Andy Stodart's crank sensor brackets - certainly sharpened up (in my opinion) the engine response a bit!

[Freebird]

Hi Pops

A words of warning regarding LPG.

I have had 3 LPG cars, an MG ZTT190 an XJ8 X308 4 litre and now I have just bought an X300 3.2, sold with a "lumpy running engine". I was hoping this was due to something simple - WRONG.

It turns out that the lumpy running is due to inlet valve seat recession (VSR) on No1 and No6 cylinders. It's done about 75000 miles since being converted.

It has got a flash lube system fitted to stop VSR which neither of my previous cars did. However, the flash lube goes into the inlet manifold in the middle and I suspect No1 and No6 are not getting enough lube or any at all.

It might be worth checking your valve clearances for piece of mind mate. It's easy to check them but a big job to adjust them. I'm thinking of fitting a replacement head instead......

If yours are getting tight (the limit is 12-14 thou) you should fit a decent flash lube kit that delivers to all cylinders ASAP. Even it the clearances are OK, it's not a bad plan to fit one.

Sorry to bring startling news, but better safe than sorry.

Glen.

[Popsjag]

Hi Glen,

Thanks for the advice.

I've had a Jaguar series 2 V12, Ford Mondeo, several Range Rovers, 2 x X300's all on LPG without flash lube and never had any engine problems - that's not to say that I wouldn't!!

I also tend to run mine at regular intervals on petrol to ensure all the injectors function. I also change the inline LPG filter cartridge every 8,000 miles maximum.

[PeterDavisX300]

Hi Pops

I have fitted one of Andy's advance mountings for the crank-sensor also. What a difference in power delivery, I'm very pleased with it. However, I wonder in hindsight why one just doesn't turn the 'dizzy-mount' in the appropriate direction to achieve the same result?

[Popsjag]

Hi Peter,

I believe the 'dizzy' only lets the ECU know when the engine is on the firing stroke (for initial start up). The crank position sensor and toothed wheel now do the job of the original dizzy function - hence the bracket modification (in basic layman's terms).