Motul CLASSIC 20W-50

MotulMotul Classic linepassenger cars20W-50 data partly verified

Mineral multigrade 20W-50 oil to API SF and CC for the petrol and diesel engines of classic cars.

Classification
Product line Motul Classic 7 oils
SAE viscosity 20W-50What SAE means
Base oil mineral
Intended use passenger cars
API class What API means
Typical properties
Viscosity at 40 °C 155.5 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C 17.8 mm²/s
Viscosity index 126
Pour point -33 °C
Flash point 236 °C
Base number (TBN) 8.8 mg KOH/g
Density 887 kg/m³
Pack sizes 2 L, 5 L, 60 L, 208 L
Motul CLASSIC 20W-50

Description

Motul CLASSIC 20W-50 is a mineral multigrade engine oil from the Classic line. It is intended for the petrol and diesel engines of mid-twentieth-century classic cars, both carburettor-fed and fuel-injected. Its performance level matches engines of that kind, while the additive package is modern.

The oil is rated API SF and API CC; the data sheet lists no car-maker approvals. It can be mixed with mineral and synthetic oils.

Typical figures: kinematic viscosity 17.8 mm²/s at 100 °C, viscosity index 126, pour point -33 °C, base number 8.8 mg KOH/g. Available in 2 to 208 litres.

Application

Mid-twentieth-century classic cars with petrol or diesel engines, carburettor-fed or fuel-injected.

Worth knowing

The caveat about this oil comes from Motul itself: the CLASSIC 20W-50 data sheet says that, with API SF, it is unsuitable for most petrol engines built after 1988, and in a more modern engine it may fail to protect against sludge, oxidation and wear. It is meant for something else, engines from 1950 to 1970, and its medium detergency is designed for elastomer seals. API regards both of its classes, SF and the diesel CC, as obsolete. How SF differed from SE, and which classes it could replace, is set out in the article on the API SF class.

The diesel class differs between two Motul data sheets. The HISTORIC 20W-50 description, addressed to engines of the same 1950-1970 period, gives API SF/CF and other figures: 18.0 mm²/s at 100 °C, viscosity index 121, pour point -24 °C. The catalogue follows the newer CLASSIC 20W-50 data sheet, with API SF/CC. For engines built after 1970, Motul’s answer in this line is the semi-synthetic Motul CLASSIC 2100 15W-50, with API SH and API CF.

Data current as of data partly verifiedsome specifications could not be confirmed from an official sourceCheck the label and the current product data sheet before you buy.

Sources

Related articles

Other Motul oils

All 150 oils

  • Motul CLASSIC NINETIES 10W-30

    partly verified

    Semi-synthetic 10W-30 API SL engine oil for the petrol and diesel engines of youngtimers and modern classics.

    • API SL

  • Motul CLASSIC EIGHTIES 10W-40

    partly verified

    Semi-synthetic 10W-40 API SL engine oil for the four-stroke petrol and diesel engines of youngtimers and modern classics.

    • API SL

  • Motul CLASSIC 2100 15W-50

    partly verified

    Semi-synthetic multigrade 15W-50 oil rated API SH and API CF for the petrol and diesel engines of classic cars.

    • API SH
    • API CF

  • Motul CLASSIC SAE 30

    partly verified

    Mineral monograde SAE 30 oil for the engines and gearboxes of veteran, vintage and pre-war cars.

Other 20W-50 oils

  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Classic Motoroil SAE 20W-50 HD

    Mineral 20W-50 engine oil to API SC, SD, SE and CC for classic cars and motorcycles fitted with a full-flow oil filter.

    • API SC
    • API SD
    • API SE
    • API CC
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Formula Super 20W-50

    Mineral 20W-50 engine oil to ACEA A3/B4/E2 and API SL with Allison C-4 and MIL-L-2104E approvals, for mixed fleets.

    • Allison C-4
    • MIL-L-2104E
    • ACEA A3
    • ACEA B4
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly MoS2 Low-Friction 20W-50

    Mineral 20W-50 oil with molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) for turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, meeting ACEA A3/B4 and API SL.

    • ACEA A3
    • ACEA B4
    • API SL
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Touring High Tech 20W-50

    Mineral all-season 20W-50 oil for petrol and diesel engines without a particulate filter, with ACEA A3/B4/E2 and API SL/CG-4 and Allison C-4 approval.

    • Allison C-4
    • MIL-L-2104E
    • ACEA A3
    • ACEA B4