Classic car oil - engine oil and transmission oil
Classic cars have special demands on the lubricant to be used. Many of the older engines and transmissions do not tolerate the addition of modern additives in the oil. Material incompatibilities can occur, e.g. with seals or non-ferrous metals, which damage the engine or transmission. Certain additives solve deposits inside the engine with their cleaning properties. In classic cars, however, they cause blockages in the oil ducts. This can result in serious engine damage. Oils without additives or mildly alloyed oils are therefore often required for classic cars.
ADDINOL not only offers engine and transmission oils with the latest specifications and approvals. For the 85th anniversary of the company, universal and special lubricants were developed with the ADDINOL Legends series, which are tailored to the needs of classic cars.
Engine oil for classic cars
Classic cars differ from modern passenger cars in many aspects and have different demands on engine oils. They are driven less and often have a mileage of less than 5,000 kilometres per year. Nevertheless, the oil should be changed annually. This prevents wear and corrosion damage caused by oil ageing, water ingress or other environmental influences when the classic car is parked for the winter. Classic cars are usually only registered in summer to enjoy driving in fine weather. For driving in relatively constant outside temperatures, a higher viscosity monograde oil is sufficient. The engines of the classic cars were designed for this anyway. This was the state of the art. Multigrade oils were developed later. Modern, low-viscosity oils would cause oil losses. Vintage cars need lubricants with a higher viscosity, at least equivalent to the SAE 30 standard.
ADDINOL LEGENDS M 50
Classification:
SAE 50, SAE 90
Specifications / Approvals:
API CA, API SA
Many older engines (from the pre-war period), for example, do not have an oil filter. Impurities and suspended matter do not end up in the filter, but are supposed to settle at the bottom of the oil pan. Modern engine oils with additives such as detergents and dispersants solve these impurities and keep them in suspension to transport them into the filter. In a classic car, this leads to increased wear in the engine and costly repair work. The first oil filters were installed in the 1950s. This marked the beginning of the era of dirt-dissolving additives, which became increasingly important over time. The formation of sludge in the oil pan was prevented. The manufacturers attached importance to the best possible engine cleanliness.
From the 1970s onwards, engines became more and more complex and powerful. Engine oils also had to evolve and meet higher demands. Oils with stronger additives were needed.
2-stroke oil for classic motorcycles
A two-stroke engine oil for vintage motorcycles is now available with the ADDINOL Legends 2T MZ 405. The proven formula of ADDINOL Super Mix MZ 405 finds its place in the Legends range. The oil is suitable for air- and water-cooled two-stroke engines with high thermal loads and mixed or separate lubrication like the cult mopeds of the brand SIMSON.
ADDINOL LEGENDS 2T MZ 405
Specifications / Approvals:
API TC
ISO L-EGB, JASO FB
Transmission oil for classic cars
Transmission oils for classic cars must match the design of the classic transmissions and be gentle on the materials. For example, no additives may be added that attack white metals, non-ferrous metals and sealing materials. In some cases, no additives are added to the oils at all (unalloyed oils). Until the 1940s, unalloyed engine oils were also used in transmissions. Special transmission oils for passenger cars were developed later. Like the engine oils, the transmission oils mostly had a single-grade character and are therefore still used today.
ADDINOL LEGENDS M 30
Classification:
SAE 30, SAE 80/85
Specifications / Approvals:
API CA, API SA
ADDINOL LEGENDS GL 90
Classification:
SAE 90
Specifications / Approvals:
API GL-3
ADDINOL LEGENDS GL 250
Classification:
SAE 250
Specifications / Approvals:
API GL-3
ADDINOL LEGENDS ATF
Classification:
SAE 80/85
Specifications / Approvals:
Fulfils the requirement acc. to:
Allison C3, Allison C4, ATF TASA, Caterpillar TO-2, Chrysler MS-6704 A, Ford Mercon, Ford ESP-M2C138-CJ, Ford ESP-M2C-166-H, Ford SQ-M2C-9010-A, Ford SQ-M2C-9010-B, GM Dexron II D, Komatsu Dresser B22-0004, MAN 339 V1, MAN 339 Z1, MAN 339 L2, MB 236.1 and more...
Classic car specifications
In the owner's manual of many classic cars, you will find various oil specifications that are no longer familiar today. Like the oils, the regulations and institutes that define them have also changed. The viscosity of engine oils, for example, was still classified in Engler degrees until 1950. Currently, the classification according to SAE classes is the common practice. Also, the API classes for engine oils and transmission oils had other designations. The ADDINOL Legends series fully meets these specifications.
If you would like to delve deeper into the subject of classic car specifications or are interested in conversions, you will find more information in our classic car brochure in the download area on the right.