[ITSv40]

I do not wish to stoke the flames of the oil debate, but these are my first hand observations over a long period of time:

I first started driving back in the days when it was either Duckhams Q or Castrol GTX - I chose Castrol and have used it until recently. I switched to Magnatec 10/40 when I was running my 360GLT bought at 7000mls and ran until 270,000mls. Changed the oil every 5-7000mls and always a genuine filter change. Throughout the cars life the oil was always black at changing time and it always needed about half a litre topping up in between.

My first V40 2.0lt petrol bought at 60,000mls run until 370,000ls, same regime as the 360 - changed at 5-7000mls depending on how busy I was at the time and again used about half to a litre of oil between changes. This never seemed to change during its lifetime. Oil always black on changing.

I then bought my current P2 92,000mls, full Volvo service history and since 50,000mls had had Wurth engine flush put through it at change intervals.

Used Magnatec 5/40 and changed at 5000mls, oil black and needed about a litre of top up between changes, a bit disappointed with the oil consumption but put it down to thinner oil and a characteristic of the engine. Surprised at the black oil as the engine had been flushed regularly before my purchase. Then I read on this forum about Shell Helix and how good it was.

Decided it was time to give it a go and change a habit of a lifetime - nothing like living dangerously.

The change regime is the same as before, every 5-7000mls and genuine filter each time and for the last 20,000mls the engine has been run on Helix Ultra 5/40. Oil comes out clean, just as it went in and no topping up in between.

My driving style and use pattern has not changed significantly over the years and the current P2 has been run on both Magnatec 10/40 and Ultra 5/40 with remarkable differences in oil consumption. I also run the C70 on Ultra 5/40, same regime and the oil comes out clean at changes and no topping up in between.

'er indoors '07 Mini Cooper used oil at an alarming rate when we first bought it at 52,000mls - but Minis do have a known drink problem. Now use 5/30 Ultra and no or very little top up needed between changes - again every 7,000mls or so.

I know this is not scientific proof, just my observation of my experiences.