The oil supplied by volvo will be decent oil, but manufacturer own bottled oils are made to spec to cost, not the same as a premium oil from a premium manufacturer. They will be made by someone like Total, Fuchs, Shell, Castrol etc and again is decent oil, but oil made to a singular spec for a singular end user for std road use is a different kettle of fish to a top-end oil. Further Volvo spec A5/B5 which is a base standard ACEA spec not a manufacturers extension and improvement thereof.
Again, just so you dont misconstrue what I'm saying, you are getting a decent quality oil in the volvo bottle so this is indeed a good route to take to ensure you aren't using crap 👍

Indeed , yes volvo don't MAKE the oil but Castrol and volvo work together on developing the oil , hence the unique formulation 0w/20 oil on cars from 2015 VCC RBS0-2AE 0W-20

I agree you cannot go wrong with Volvo branded parts and oil etc, it can make things easier for many owners.

However, when it comes to oil Volvo recommend a specification may it be ACEA A5/B5 or RBS0-2AE. As long as the oil meets the correct Volvo approval, viscosity and from a reputable brand it will be fine.

Cheers,

Guy

I agree many toll blended oils are done to a lower cost, but not all are. For example the VAG Quantum range is currently made by Fuchs and is not a special brew, it is re-bottled Fuchs product.

Sometimes it is cheaper to use one of their existing recepies than it is to create a new one that has to be blended in its own production run, may it be higher or lower spec/quality.

Cheers,

Guy

Yep!
An A5/B5 isn't going to be Volvo's special brew, could be magnatec, supersyn, or an oil with less additives required meet other vehicle approvals which differ from ACEA etc. We just don't know what, other than its decent.
I just get a bit vexed by this misconception that Volvo have exclusive unicorn oil...👍

(warning: some rant included)

I guess I had luck, because dealer wanted to charge me double per litre than what I could find directly in an oil shop retail. They quoted me 6 ltr of 0w20 (Castrol Edge Professional V) and when I gogled that I found it in 6 other sources for half a price literally. Between those 6 sources, all of whom offered it in bottles of 1 ltr, I chose the one closest to home, since the price difference among them was like 25 eurocents per litre, so nothing to worry about.

I halved the price, which came close to 100€ of "discount". But I never understood why? I mean, the dealer must have that oil in barrels, since it goes to so many engines. I am sure they get the price per ltr that I can only dream of, they've gotta be using 1000s of liters per year - so why pumping it up so much?
I got it at roughtly 12,7€ per litre, and they wanted to sell it to me at approx 24,2€ per litre - what the hell? Why? If I can get it in shop, walk-in and buy off the shelf, for 24,2 then they have to pay like 10-12€ per litre, right?* Pumping it up from 10-12 to 20 makes a good profit for them, and they stillk would come up cheaper than what I can get, thus making me buy it from them. Heck, even if they've put it the same as I can get, I'd take it from them, to save me the trip to the shop. But no, they had to pump it up incredibly.

It was a big service for me, belt and all, and the second most expensive thing in their offer was engine oil. 1st one was labor,m of course, counting 8 hrs for everything, and that is what it is. But for 6 ltr oil to be the 2nd most expensive thing on a big service bill? C'mon...

They are not known as "stealers" for nothing!

But you are correct they just add a big margin to it, and most customers do not bat an eye lid about it. Most just pay for the service and think nothing more of it.

We do oil and filter service packs, the right spec oil, the right amount and a filter all in one purchase. They are very popular with customers who have looked at what the dealer charges and is looking to take in their own oil to save on service charges.

Cheers,

Guy

RBS0-2AE 0w/20 Is volvo and Castrols unique formulation specification .. They developed the oil together for the New VEA Engines in 2014 . It is available from many oil manufacturers now .

Indeed, based around ACEA C5 if I remember correctly.

Cheers,

Guy

If people want to pay those insane prices for their indulgence of the volvo church, then they deserve the pain in the ass

Its the same with the covid cult , people want to belong to a group even with the insane price to pay afterworths presented by the incompetent corrupt polliticians