Motor oil availability in africa - Horizons Unlimited

**Erik D.** · #1 24 Aug 2002

As our departure from Norway to RSA grows nearer, I was wondering about what types of motor oil is generaly availible in africa.
We have 5W-50(full synthetic) in our LR Defender at the moment and plan to bring a couple of oil changes with us. Eventually though, we will have to buy what we can.
Can you get 5W-50 synthetic oil or will we have to change to "lesser" stuff (10W-40)? Can we get anything synthetic at all? I'm guessing that we would have to look in major cities...

Any advice is of help!

Erik D.

www.dunia.no

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**Yves** · #2 24 Aug 2002

You certainly will find some 15W40 or 10W40 mineral oil but not everywhere. When I did oil changes in Algeria this spring SAE 40 was the most available there.
But so far as I know no garantee for synthetic in 5w.. as required for e.g. Land Rover TD5 engine. It might be available in some of the bigger cities like Lagos.
You will have to take all the oil you need (2 Oil changes + one spare ~30L with you if you don't want to take any risks in shortage.

Have a good trip, Yves

**Sam Rutherford** · #3 24 Aug 2002

You should contact the manufacturers (ie Castrol, Texaco, Esso) in Norway, ask them for their overseas dealers/depots, and see if there they:

have what you need generally in stock
can get it for you

Your second option is to contact the British embassy in the country where you want to do your change. They use Discoverys, and now probably are using TD5. Ask them if you can buy some oil off them - always worth an email...(they might even give it to you for free in exchange for a

and some good stories)

Sam.