It's the little things...

[Shant Fabricatorian]

...which make up life, and Beta ownership.

A couple of issues which I'm just wondering about other people's experiences with. The first is the average mpg I'm getting - over the last 5000km I've been averaging considerably less than 20mpg. Now I don't expect a Beta to be economical but worse than 20mpg is still on the worrying side, especially for a stock non-Volumex 2-litre with the standard 34 Weber. It gets used quite a lot in town, but even so it's averaging about the same as the recently-launched Ford Territory 4WD, which weighs more than twice as much and has twice the engine (four-litre straight six). It runs a tad rich but equally it's not pumping huge plumes of black smoke out the exhaust. Is this a cause for concern or just a bit worse than normal?

Secondly, it needs an oil change soonish and I'm wondering what other people use - any recommendations, any stay away from at all costs? It's currently using Penrite HPR 30 20W/60 mineral oil, which is a very good-quality oil, but a few other people I've spoken to have recommended Agip F.1 Supermotoroil 20W/50. I'm put off by lack of availability and probable expense, so Penrite will probably be my choice again, but any other experiences will be appreciated for future reference.

Finally, stupid question, is there an ideal tool to get the sump plug off?

[wellingtonvx]

Hi,

Not sure about your milage since I have a Volumex, but I usually get 22-24 mpg driving at 100kph on short trips using 4th gear, but always under 20 round town, the worst was 16.7. Have had over 30 using 5th gear on a longer trip.

As for the oil, I've only changed it once and used Valvoline Durablend 10w40 semi synthetic, seemed ok, but I couldn't tell you if it was good or bad!

I need to change the oil to, not sure what to try this time since Repco doesn't seem to have Durablend any more. I did look at Agip last time, but it was quite expensive and only came in a 4 litre, whereas the Durablend was a 5 litre and I needed more than 4.

I just used a 12mm allen key, it was a bit of a pain because I didn't have stands for the front wheels, so I had to reach behind my head lying on the ground. I couldn't see what I was doing and my hand got covered in oil, so this time I'm getting the stands :)

Maybe you could use a socket wrench with an allen attachment?

I assume the HPE has the same sump plug as the Volumex.

Colin

[andybeta]

If you've a high mileage car and make regular oil changes the choice of oil is more likely to be cost driven. I'm sure I'll be crucified for this but Castrol GTX Magnatec is as good as any. What's the point of putting a really expensive synthetic in if you change the oil regularly anyway?

If you had a new engine then maybe treat yourself and your engine.

Andybeta

[wellingtonvx]

In NZ Castrol Magnatec is $10 a litre, Valvoline Durablend is $6 a litre, so no way is what I used expensive.

Also it's not a full synthetic, and I was told not to put a full synthetic in such an old engine. I only used a semi synthethic (whatever that means) because the previous owner said he was using one and I wanted to keep the same type.

I suppose any well known brand 10w40 will do. But how can you measure a difference between oils?

Colin

[A1.6HPE]

Hello,
My HPE only does about 500 miles a year so for it I use Comma fully synthetic. The oil pressure is lower than with mineral oil but it doesn't sludge up when standing still for long periods.
My Montecarlo runs on 20/50 mineral oil - whatever comes to hand although I have an affinity with Esso products.
Sump plug tools are available from any self respecting motor accessory shop. I have two, both are hexagonal bodies, one has a 12mm hex at one end and an 11 at the other. The second one has a 12mm hex and a square bit at the other (never found a use for that). The thick bit of the main body takes a 19mm socket or spanner.

Fuel consumption sounds dodgy - are there any leaks/smell of petrol? How about the fuel cap seal?

Leo

[Shant Fabricatorian]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I asked about the sump plug simply because I wasn't sure what dimension key I would need - 12mm is the consensus then.

Regarding oil, Penrite 20W/60 is the equivalent of A$5.60 per litre, so considering it's an excellent oil that's pretty cheap. I was warned off full synthetics because they're too efficient, basically, but if you've had no problems with it Leo then I stand corrected. Penrite is also good because being an Australian company much of its range is specifically developed for Australian conditions, unlike any other company. 10W/40 just seems a tad thin to me - Lancia themselves recommended 20W/50, or around that. Probably not that it matters for an engine with more than 200k on the clock anyway.

(Side note - I've never quite understood the point of Magnatec. If the oil gets thrown up the cylinder walls on the first or second turn of the crank anyway, it's never made much sense to me to go to all that trouble to develop an oil which will stick for just those one or two revolutions.)

Fuel consumption? It used to have a leaky carb but that's been sorted now. Under hard acceleration there is the faint whiff of petrol but it's not "Oh my god the car's going to become a fireball" sort of stuff. As I say I think it's running a bit rich but not by any means outrageously so. Having said that, even running a tad richer than normal can chew up a lot more petrol so perhaps that's it.