oil
 

yes i know its been asked a thousand times, but im due an oil change and dont know if im to put 5w or 10w in the motor.

its done 180k and i was thinking 5w/40 but im no expert and thats why im asking..

so guys.. 2003 v70 d5 with 180k on the clocks.... whats the best oil for the old girl


TIA

Al.

The range of opinions will be exactly the same as every other oil thread you've read.
There will be no definitive answer and you'll have to decide for yourself.

5w30 or 5w40 it doesn’t really matter, personally I’d go 5w40. I wouldn’t be using 10w however

im going to put 5w40 in.

Al.

0w/30 A5/B5

Same for me 0w/30 A5/B5 in my D5.

0W/30 A5/B5 is not viscous enough when the engine is up to operating temperature. 5W/40 A3/B4 is the better grade of oil for these engines.

https://www.commaoil.com/products

http://www.mpmoil.nl/products/recommendation.php?1=1

What does this site say?

The recommendations of Volvo are based moreso on emissions and economy rather than engine protection. Many aftermarket suppliers of oil simply follow OEM recommendations, which can lead to oil being recommended for the wrong reasons. At 180k, I'd say with absolute certainty that the wear on the engine is such that it would be madness to use a thin oil such as 0W/30. The ACEA spec is great for fuel economy and emissions, but in terms of actual engine protection and preservation it's just not up to the job.

Of course it is , It is what Volvo recommends as the premium oil for D5 ! They specifically said do not use a 40 grade oil in their oil charts 13 years ago ...

13 years is a long time, and oil quality has vastly improved since then. Volvos' priority is mitigating their environmental impact as a company, which is why they continue to recommend oils that prioritise a reduction in negative environmental impact over engine protection.

What does Volvo know................... but I here the theory.

Volvo doesn't make their own engine oil, so you'd expect the companies who do make engine oil to know a lot more about its capabilities. Send an email to Castrol asking them what oil they recommend for the D5 engine. Volvo recommends Castrol oil, but Castrol will tell you to use a different oil to Volvos' recommendation of 0W/30 A5/B5 because of its inability to properly protect the D5 engine.

Volvo work with Castrol from the very start of the project on the dynamometer , extended running periods under full loads and conditions , stripping engines checking for wear etc , No volvo cant be expected to make engine oil but they now have their unique specification for their engines since 2015 (RBS0-2AE 0w-20 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil) anyway where are all these failed prematurely worn old D5 engines ? They will be the ones which have been using the wrong oil , neglected oil changes and on their 3rd or 4th owners .

Why do you think vehicle manufacturers work with oil companies? Their obligation to protect the environment far outweighs their desire to obtain maximum engine life. It's not in their best interests to produce cars that can last 15 years+ or 200k miles+. Volvo like any other vehicle manufacturer are in the business of selling cars. Why would they want to squeeze every last mile out of their engines using premium oil that actually offers maximum engine protection? It's just not in their interests.

When Volvo are working with Castrol, they're trying to find a happy medium between lubricity, engine wear rates, exhaust emissions and engine efficiency. All of these factors need to be considered to satisfy Volvos legal team. They don't want engines failing during standard warranty periods, nor do they want an onslaught of dissatisfied customers complaining that the mpg is nothing near what was advertised at the time of purchase. Using such thin long life oils allows Volvo to satisfy their efficiency and environmental obligations, but at the expense of engine wear.

The point has been made before asking where all the failed D5 engines are that have been using the incorrect spec of oil. We would hardly hear about them on here, as the vast majority of Volvo owners aren't forum members. As reliable and sound as the older D5 engine is, it's simply a reciprocating amalgamation of metallic compounds that requires suitable lubrication to prevent wear, and thinner oils that have been manufactured to increase efficiency and reduce emissions are simply not the best choice when it comes to maximising engine protection. You can even hear the difference at tickover between an engine using 0W/30 and one using 5W/40. It's night and day.

A5/B5 was specced on euro4 and later engines, post 2005/6
A4/B4 was specced for the euro3

I dont know whether Volvo made any internal alterations on the euro4 to safely allow the use of a B5 oil, or whether they thought 'sod it, they're renowned to outlast the bodyshell, even if they do 1/3 the miles before dying, itll be long after its our problem',
BUT
You Do Not want to use a B5 oil in an engine specced for B4! They have differing HTHS values (dynamic viscosity, the actual body of oil that parts 'float' upon to prevent metal to metal contact) meaning that a B5 oil cannot bear the load placed upon it unless the engine is specifically engineered to make use of its properties, whilst a B4 can. Thus you risk metal to metal contact under load in using a B5 in an engine that isnt dedigned for it. You may, however, use oils to C3 spec as this is the equivalent to B4 but with lower saps (the dirty by-product that clogs dpf's and sometimes cats).
It isnt quite as black and white as I make it sound, but to elaborate further gets into deep bewildering science that can confuse more than clarify!

Furthermore I have read elsewhere that volvo changed the requirement from 0w30 to 5w30 following a bulletin they sent ti dealerships, though seriously 0w is fine.
0w30 5w30 0w40 5w40 to B4 or C3 will all be fine for a euro 3, same grades but B5/C2 for euro 4. If using a C spec, ensure its from one of the big names (mobil, castrol, shell, millers, fuchs, motul, gulf) and dont run extended drain intervals, stick to 12 month/10-12k max. (Though extended oci's are best avoided anyway)

A5/B5 does not supercede A4/B4. A4/B4 (kind of) supercedes A3/B3, whereas A5/B5 (kind of) supercedes A1/B1. A5/B5 is not a newer spec following on from A4/B4 but an inherently differing oil in its functionality and behaviour.

Hope this helps!

It’s also been thousands of times answered… Volvo specification.

Modern Volvo engines are very long lasting.

Indeed and mileage makes no difference to the grade of oil required of course👍

No the tolerances will go way tighter over time and 300k miles further instead of wider :tongwink:
And that dpf oil dillution thing is just a minor problem to the already low viscosity, a problem they werent even aware of when designing it after biodiesel was added to save the planet and polar bears:tongwink: