A5/B5 0w30 oil brands
 

I've used Millers Oils XF Longlife 0W-30 Fully Synthetic 0W30 engine oil for the last 40k miles or so, around £35 delivered for 5 litres. A list of alternative brands of A5/B5 0w30 might be useful:

Shell Helix
Castrol Edge
Valvoline Synpower
Unelite Ex
Exol
Comma Voltech
Volvo
MPM
Lukoil Genesis
Unipart
Technolube
Carlube Triple R
Mobil 1 Fuel Economy

I extend the Volvo extended 18k mileage change to 20k, the engine is noticeably quieter after an oil change, which suggests that Millers XF Longlife is at the far range of its capabilities at 20k miles. I probably try something else next time, Mobil 1?

Seems to me you are paying too much for your oil and changing it too infrequently - just my 2 cents.

Search for "7707 5W-30 Fully Synthetic FORD/VOLVO Engine Oil 20L GERMAN BRAND A5/B5 SN/CF" on ebay and you will find Mannol (german) oil for £51.25 for 20 litres.

Thanks for the reply. 5w30 is generally cheaper than 0w30. I've used Mannol 20w50 in a couple of bikes.

20k miles is not much further than the Volvo recommended mileage of 18k, also 90% of my mileage is m/way and dual carriageway outside peak hours, so the car is generally moving at 50mph+ . It's easier to remember 20k intervals!

Seems to me from your initial comments you already know your oil is degraded by the time you change is at 20k so I will resist the temptation to explain that a shorter interval is much better for the engine :)

Buy a dipstick oil pump and oil/filter changes take 10 mins with no mess if your careful.

What's cheaper and easier to change: oil or worn engine? If remembering what mileage to do the change is proving problematic, I would be tempted to use a sticky label with mileage written on and put somewhere prominent inside the car.

The mileage is not the most important factor, oil type and usage are more important. With the right oil I would be happy to run to 25k with a D5 before changing, as long as short trips were rare and warm up was quick (no idling on the drive clearing the ice off the windscreen). I've achieved similar with a couple of Ford Zetec engines, 150k+ miles on each using Mobil 1. But I don't think Millers is the right oil for 25k miles, so I'll probably return to Mobil 1 if I can find 0w30 A5/B5.

In a previous century, I ran a 240 for a couple of years with no oil changes. It used to burn oil and I'd top it up when the cam got a bit clattery going round corners. The engine was still running well when a seal on the autobox failed.

Anyone who falls for the 20k oil change con is barking IMO ...

When i had a beemer it had the same ridiculous interval had the approved bmw long drain oil anyalised after 10k and guess what, it showing quite marked degradation at that mileage

Every 7k is my norm

One not on the list is Liqui Moly Special Tea V 0w-30 A5/B5
I have used it for two oil changes so far. Managed to get it
for a great price early last year.




Colin.

Happy Mannol user here for engine,transmission, power steering, all to correct spec, from the agent Lubriagecarpartsaccessories(also on eBay) delivered within two days of ordering(sometimes next day)
All the best,JDmac.

You have your opinion, I have mine, supported by several hundred thousand miles of extending the manufacturer's extended mileage intervals on a variety of vehicles.

A quality fully synthetic oil shouldn't show meaningful degradation after 10k miles unless short journeys and/or fuel blow-by.