T2 Bay Sluggish after oil change

we have a 1978 T2 Bay, which we bought last year, we had a few issues with it, but after changing the fuel tank, switching to electronic ignition and fine tuning the timing, it was starting first time and running very nicely. A couple of weekends ago i decided it would be a good idea to do an oil change to get it ready for the summer, I sourced what I believe to be the correct SAE30 oil, and changed the oil, strainer and filter. I did nothing else.

Since the oil change the engine is very sluggish, doesn't seem to want to turn over freely at all, it still starts OK though with a few more turns of the starter motor, but it stalls easily.

I did notice that the SAE30 was extremely viscous almost to the point of being a gel more than a liquid, I thnk the engine does need a higher viscosity oil. I am wondering where to switch it out for a lower viscosity

Any thoughts?

 

Where did you get the oil? SAE30 should be quite thin.

 

I mostly use Halfords classic 20/50 in the green tins, it’s only £20 so not an expensive experiment see if it makes any difference!

 

I hope it wasn’t mislabelled gear oil

 

...or hair gel

 

30 grade should NOT be like a gel in normal UK temperatures.
Multigrade is your best bet - so it's thicker when hot and thinner when cold .
Winter I use 10/40 and summer use 20/50

 

it was actually from Just Kampers in an oil change kit (I'm sure it's not gear oil) , but sounds like folks agree the oil may be too thick

 

I used to use SAE 30 from JK and it was really quiet thin and free flowing. Doesn’t sound like the right stuff. As mentioned maybe best to change that for Halfords Classic 20w/50

 

If anything, for a used engine SAE30 is getting on for too thin. Don’t go any lower.

Post a pic of the oil can.

 

What engine is it?

 

it's the 2 litre

 

This could also be a cold knackered battery because you probably left it unused for months...

The battery voltage should be at least 10 to 11 volts when its cranking.

Or the starter motor is having trouble because it has been disused for a while. It might all just need a good warming up.

 

Looks ok. Should be quite runny.

 

That’s the normal SAE 30 JK stuff

 

That looks like an image from a website are you sure your actual looks the same?

 

.. don't bother with the strainer next oil change, just filter will do strainers are best left well alone if not causing a bother.

Did you fill the new ilter with oil before fitting? Put too much oil in?

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

I would run it to get warm then drain it , could be batched up wrong if you say it was really thick....was it slow to fill ?
Get some said oil as the others have said and just change your oil filter too ...no need to bother with your strainer .

 

Thanks All

I'm 90% it isn't the battery or starter, it is kept in a dry garage plugged into a conditioner and I was running fine prior to the oil change.

there isn't too much oil, it's actually close to the bottom mark on the dipstick.

Odd though it seems, it feels like there was something wrong with the oil, bad batch? it was definitely very thick to the point it was tricky to pour.

I think I'll just change it for some 20W50 and see how it goes

I'll let you know