Halfords Classic Oil = Duckhams ??

IanT · Post by **IanT** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:34 pm

For Rover V8s I know you all recommend 20w50 - Valvoline or Duckhams.

I've heard rumours on other web sites that the 'Classic' 20w/50 Oil that Halfords sell in 5l tins looks like, smells like, and could actually be Duckhams oil. Anybody know for sure?

badger · Post by **badger** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:20 pm

As far as I know, it isn't!
Duckhams is a high-detergent oil which causes no end of issues if put into an older (dirty) engine. Fine if ran on it from day 1, though.
Halfrauds own oil is specifically a low-detergent oil, so can't be the duckhams stuff.
I wouldn't put Duckhams in any of my engines, I don't like the stuff as it froths way too easily for my piece of mind.

badger · Post by **badger** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:27 pm

Oh, and for what it's worth, the 20W50 rating only applies to the early style rover oil pumps (pre-serpentine) as they were designed to pump a heavy oil in volume at a relatively low pressure. Later engines can run 10W40 or 15W40, my preferred choice being Magnatec.
As well as Valvolene, Millars Oils and (if you can find them) Morris Oils and Silkolene, Halfrauds own brand 20W50 in the red plastic containers is pretty good stuff, I use both it and Castrol Classic 20W50 regularly on my own engines (4.7 pre-serp and 3.0 Stag) with no issues. A friend of mine is a Castrol rep, he seems to think that some of Halfrauds own brand oils are actually supplied by Castrol!

john 215 · Post by **john 215** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:28 pm

Would be intrested to know the origins of Halfords oil,makes sense what Badger says as i find it hard to beleive that Halfords has there owm refinery.Also dont know if any of you lads and lasses out ther have a Halfords Trade Card but if like me you do then a good discount on their own oils apply's

John.

AndyS2 · Post by **AndyS2** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:12 pm

I've heard that Halfords oil is re-badged Esso.

softdash3.9 · Post by **softdash3.9** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:51 pm

I use Castrol GTX in my V8's for what it's worth, based on my old nova SR (which I'm currently restoring) as that was what I used in her over 150k miles with no failures, not even a camshaft.

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:03 pm

I've used the Halfords classic 'green tin' oil in all of my cars, including the hard-working Sprint engined ones (2 litre 16 valves) and they've seemed to relish the stuff

SprintV8 · Post by **SprintV8** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:21 am

I wouldn't put Duckhams in any of my engines, I don't like the stuff as it froths way too easily for my piece of mind.

Used Duckhams for many years including being Sponsored by Duckhams when racing Mini's some years ago.

Still happy to put it in the older car's ive owned since then.