> Hi
>
> My 98 Excel has about 99,000 km's or 60,000 miles on the clock.
>
> I'd like to change the oil and filter.
I hope this isn't the first time you've changed your oil! ;-)
> I've been advised to use a semi-synthetic oil, with a grade of 15w40?
Advised by whom?
Unless you live in a very hot climate, there's no need to use a 15W oil.
If you live in an area where it gets cold, you definitely DON'T want a
15W oil. A 10W oil is plenty for most conditions. If you look in the
owner's manual, you'll find recommendations for oils for various
environmental conditions. If in doubt, it's hard to go wrong with 10W-30
or 10W-40. Lighter oils such as 5W-30 are recommended for most newer
engines.
As for semi-synthetic, that's up to you. It will provide better
protection than a natural oil, but not as much as a full synthetic. Many
people advise against switching to full synthetic in a car with high
mileage on it, which may be why a semi-synthetic was recommended.
However, 60K miles is not exactly "high mileage".
Natural oils work just fine as long as you change them at reasonable
intervals. Again, the owner's manual will provide you with change
interval recommendations that are based on the use of natural oil.