I have a 1988 998cc Auto. I am expriencing problems when the engine is cold. When going uphill ( which I need to do to as my house is at the bottom of an hill) the car stays in 3rd gear and I cannot go over 20 MPH. It is ok when I get over the hill but by that time i am leading a convoy.
I was also experincing the engine revving when changing up so took advice and flushed the engine and topped up with Halford 20W50 for classic cars. This seems to have help to gear changing to be slicker but not the revs. Contradicting I read a posting by MRA Minis stating that a good 10W40 will assist the engine when cold.
Can someone please advise on what I should do next 20W 50 or 10W40?
Presumably the car runs OK when the engine is warm.
Until recently I would alwyas have advised to use 20w50. But last Monday I met Martin from MRA Minis - during the course of our chat he mentioned that they use either 20w50 or 10w40. I bow to his greater knowledge! I can’t for the life of me remember exactly what the criteria is that he uses to decide but I do think that there is a bit of trial and error in it.
What I would do in your position is to make contact with Martin before splashing out more money on another oil change. You can PM him on here (mra-minis.co.uk) or get his phone number from the website (www.mra-minis.co.uk). He is a top man and is always happy to help with free advice.
If you start the engine and leave it for 5 or 10 minutes before trying to drive up the hill does it work OK? If it does then changing to the slightly thinner 10w40 oil may help (oil gets thinner as it gets warmer).
Have you tried driving up the hill manually selecting the gears 1-2-3-D or do you put it straght into D?
I know that the oil has been changed recently but has the engine been serviced fully? A poorly running angine could struggle to get the car up the hill.
Stick with it - I’m sure that a solution will be found soon. The trouble is it could be any one of many things.
Sounds like the problem is low power from the engine - nothing to do with the autobox or it’s oil! You could always hold it in second gear till you top the hill.
This is the start of something bad… forward clutch and or 2nd & 3rd clutch bands are failing this will lead to tears as the bill for repair will only increase
