Engine Lubrication

Scheme of the Lubrication System - Series I Cars

Tav. 9 Engine Mountings

A black and white drawing of a car engine.

Series I Cars (Tav. 17)

Ref. in Tav. 17 Description of Series I System No. Used
1 Drive for oil pump & distributor 1
2 Dip-stick – 2 types, later type from B20-1797 (incl. B20-1795) 1
3 Oil filter, complete – gauze insert requiring cleaning 1
4 Flexible pipe supplying oil pressure gauge 1
5 Joint in oil supply to oil pressure gauge 1
6 Oil pump complete 1
7 Sump oil scavenger – 2 types, later type from B20-1797 (incl. B20-1795) 1
8 Oil filler caps in rocker covers 2
9, 10 & 11 Rigid oil pipes to oil pressure gauge – vary for LHD & RHD & in & between models 1 of each
12 Oil pressure gauge 1

Scheme of the Lubrication System - Series II Cars

A black and white drawing of a car engine.

Series II Cars (Tav. 18)

Ref. in Tav. 18 Description of Series II System No. Used
1 Drive for oil pump & distributor – same as Series I. Changes from B20-3511/B20S-1161 & for B24 1
2 Dip-stick 1
3 Oil filter, complete – Carello FHM-LAN disposable paper filter inside can. This item 11007877 is used on all Series II cars, B12, B24 and B24 1
4 Flexible pipe supplying oil pressure gauge 1
5 Oil pressure gauge – There is an error in the description of this part which is made clear in Tav. 69 1
6 Oil pump – changed from engine B20.4488 & also from engine B24.1202 1
7 Sump oil scavenger – similar to Series I 1
8 Oil filler caps in rocker covers 2
9 & 10 Rigid oil pipes to oil pressure gauge – vary for LHD &RHD & in & between models. For the B12 there are 5 versions of #9. 1 & 1
Oil Filters
A black and white drawing of a suspension system on a car.
Oil Filters
A black and white drawing of a fuel filter.

Series II Oil Filter (Tav. 20)

Ref. in Tav. 20 Series II Ref. in Tav.19 Series I Description of Oil Filter System No. Used
7 Rubber seal between filter holder & upper body. Usually supplied with filter. Take special care to fit this rectangular section ‘O’-ring properly into its seating as failure of this will result in oil leaks. 1
16 Paper oil filter: there are many fittings from various suppliers. Some of the following may be obsolete: Fram CH801PL, CH825PL, CH811PL, CH993PL AC 34A or B (2.4, 3.4, 3.8, 240, 420 Jaguars) Wix 902BP, Purolator MF 75A/4, GUD GP172, Thor F801, R200IP, AFL129, Tecalemit FG2344, FP3313, FP3300, FG2412, FG2303. Filters should be changed every 6000 km/4000 miles 1
12, 15, 18, 23 9, 10, 13, 17 Low pressure relief valve (the other relief valve is in the oil pump - see below). All parts are the same through Series II and the cap (#23, #17) and washer are same as Series I models. There are 3 types of spring: One for the B10/Series I but a B20 part for the 3rd Series B20 and B22. The complete oil filter B12 part 11007878 applies to all Series IIcars. 1 of each
Oils to be Used

The recommended oil was Mobiloil Special or Esso Extra 10W, 20W or 30W. Any good quality oil is fine, e.g. Castrol GTX 20W/50. All engines have oil capacity of 4.5 to 5.0 litres, which should be changed every 3000 km.


  • The following is extracted from an article by Martin Cliffe ‘Oils for Classics’ in Viva Lancia!magazine, August 1993, p17 & was written following contact with Penrite Oil Co. Ltd.
  • I have been through all the Lancia I could lay my hands on & with Penrite’s help have translated these into modern equivalents. It is unquestionably true that older engines, designed with large clearances when new& generally exhibiting some wear, perform better on thicker oils. A modern multigrade of say 10W/40 can result in leakage via the valve guides & oils seals, as well as past the piston rings. Using a straight oil is not a good idea, as it creates so much friction or viscous drag that starting can be difficult, so a ‘thick’ multigrade is the answer as it will be thin enough in a cold engine to allow a high cranking speed, & rapid circulation.
  • The Penrite approach has been to go back to the original oil thickness specification of the manufacturer. They produce a range of multigrades that meet these requirements, & which both match the original viscosity criteria & use the best additives available from today’s research. This has led to the introduction of the HPR collection, which is a range of full-bodied detergent oils in a multigrade format.
  • Three products are available, HPR 30, 40 & 50 (whose grades are 20W/60, 25W/60 & 40/70 & which respectively replace 20/50 & straight SAE30, SAE40 & SAE50). Straightaway the grade structure advantages are apparent: what many owners find is that oil pressure increases & engine temperature decreases.
  • Penrite’s recommendation is that HPR 30 is correct for newly rebuilt engines, with HPR 40 being better suited to hot running engines or high mileage engines, & competition use.
  • All these oils meet the API specification SG. This refers to the American Petroleum Institute tests for the performance of oils for spark ignition engines (hence the S), & G is currently the highest level possible. Not all high street oils come close, & it is still possible to find SE & SF oils. Read the label, most brands state the grade clearly, but not all.
  • For older engines that have not been rebuilt (including thorough internal cleaning) there will be almost certainly be some heavy sludge deposits & use of a detergent oil can be a mistake, as the accumulated deposits can dissolve & start to circulate with the oil. The best choice for such engines is a non-detergent multigrade (almost impossible to buy on a garage forecourt these days), but fortunately Penrite can provide it in three viscosities. These are known as the Shelsley range, available as ‘30’ (20W/50), ‘40’ (25W/60) & ‘50’ (40/70). These oils contain a full range of additives with the exception of the detergents & dispersants, & so provide a high degree of protection to wearing parts.
Oil Pump
A black and white drawing of a machine with gears.

Series I & II Oil Pump (Tav. 18 SI & Tav. 19 SII)

The pumps are very similar & many parts identical for all models

  1. Oil level dipstick
  2. Oil filling plug
  3. Oil ducts to rocker arm supports
  4. Oil ducts to rear camshaft bearing
  5. Driven gear for oil pump control
  6. Oil duct for lubrication of oil pump shaft
  7. Oil duct to rear main bearing
  8. Piping from pump to oil strainer
  9. Filtering element
  10. Piping from strainer to manifold
  11. Pressure regulating valve delivering under the pump
  12. Oil pump
  13. Oil duct to crankshaft & camshaft bearings
  14. Oil suction pipe
  15. Suction filter
  16. Oil delivery manifold
  17. Oil ducts to connecting rod bearings
  18. Oil duct to front main bearing
  19. Oil sump
  20. Oil duct to front bearings of crankshaft, camshaft & chain stretcher
  21. Oil ducts to valve control rockers
  22. Delivery pipe to oil pressure gauge
A diagram of the inside of a car engine

Engine Lubrication diagram from B20 6th series instruction book 001188 (1958)