D5 (2005 on) D5 (205bhp) Engine oil selection

[hh2sp42b9n]

Good evening,

I'm hoping someone can advise/clarify the following please?

I have a UK spec 2011 XC70 AWD D5 (205bhp) with the D5244T10 engine with 115000 miles on it.

I can see in the handbook that the recommended engine oil is 0W-30 ACEA A5/B5.

I use the car most frequently in a part of the world with fairly high ambient temperatures (40C+) and occasional trips to places with temperatures under freezing. The car works fairly hard, inclines and towing etc.

With all that in mind I am thinking I might be better using a fully synthetic 0W-40 engine oil, as specified acceptable in the handbook.

1) Are there downsides to a 0W-40 oil for this engine?
2) I cannot find anywhere a 0W-40 oil with ACEA A5/B5. I suspect this is due to a lack of understanding on my part of oil specs, can anyone shed any light on a suitable 0W-40 product?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[XCR]

I've just bought this....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20L-0w30-...72.m2749.l2649
Arrived next day.
Enough there for three changes, good reviews on this oil and great value too.

[37 RUBY]

Hello

Is there a reason you are limiting your choice to the 0w range of oils?



The above is a screenshot of your manual.

I run a slightly later 215bhp 2015 XC70 with nearly 90k miles and its on 5w30. Even with the recent cold weather I haven't noticed any difference. But then I'm a tad pedantic with my warm up procedures, no blown heat on until temp gauge begins to lift off the bottom & careful with how hard the vehicle is revved according to operating temperature.

Once the vehicle is up to temp the 5w30 oil is flowing the same as a 0w30 oil.

For me the recent winters in the UK don't warrant the 0w oil.

[37 RUBY]

Originally Posted by XCR

I've just bought this....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20L-0w30-...72.m2749.l2649
Arrived next day.
Enough there for three changes, good reviews on this oil and great value too.

Funnily enough I was just looking at similar today, albeit Castrol. Not dissimilar in price. Makes sense. Three changes a year will keep your engine good.

[AndyV7o]

There are no 40 grade A5/B5 oils, and yes a 0w40 would be suitable for your use.
Difference between a5/b5 and a3/b4 is the hths which is how the oil (for want of a better way of putting it) 'thins out under high load/high heat' and whilst you can get a high hths 30 nobody does a low hths 40. A 30 and a 40 with ssme hths value are effectively/behave the same under extreme high temp/load regardless of static viscosity.
A 0w oil typically requires a better quality base oil than a 5w, something important for oxidisation resistance in high temps.
A good oil which technically meets a5/b5 spec but is so high hths fuchs are recommending it for a3/b4 despite being out of range for that is Fuchs Titan Supersyn longlife 0w30, this is a halfway house between the two specs, so would be worth your consideration.
So you know, a5/b5 is hths of 2.9-3.5 and a3/b4 is hths greater than 3.5, just for reference.
Ill attach a chart I made for the a3/b4 oils for the older euro 3 D5 but shows values which are relevant as the rest have the same range/criteria.
You wont kill it using std oil, but in such high temps your thoughts are valid.
Hope this helps you decide how you want to go!

[37 RUBY]

Good explanation there from AndyV70

Your location and avg ambient temperatures will obviously be a key to your end choice.

Also worth bearing in mind that A5/B5 is a long life low ash formula to meet the extended service periods manufacturers have invented and also to lengthen dpf service life.

I have always changed oils twice a year, my average yearly mileage is 12k. Post Covid I towed the tin tent for a third of that mileage.
I always keeps an eye on the oil discoloration via the dipstick as I'm lucky to have one.

Now the mileage is getting closer to 100k and having found my oil of choice in a 20L at a good price I shall be upping that to three changes in 12 months.

[AndyV7o]

No, A5/B5 is not low ash!
A3/B4 and A5/B5 are both longlife extended drain full saps oils, only difference being hths.
Mid/low saps usually used for dpf cars are C spec.
A lot of people misconstrue a5/b5 as low saps as its use coincided with dpf on the P2's but its merely a coincidence and was infact used for emissions/economy purposes, Volvo deciding not to use a mid/low saps oil with the dpf which has actually proven a good move, but that's another story!...

[37 RUBY]

I'll grant you that at 1.1% Saps the B5 oil I use is not a designated low Ash product but its close enough when such as C3 are 0.8% Saps.

It's so complicated these days, you can see why the OP asked his question in the first place.

I can remember being a young parts man back in the day, marvelling at the apparent water like consistency of 10w30 oil, which was when 20w50 was the mainstay product!

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by 37 RUBY

Hello

Is there a reason you are limiting your choice to the 0w range of oils?



The above is a screenshot of your manual.

I run a slightly later 215bhp 2015 XC70 with nearly 90k miles and its on 5w30. Even with the recent cold weather I haven't noticed any difference. But then I'm a tad pedantic with my warm up procedures, no blown heat on until temp gauge begins to lift off the bottom & careful with how hard the vehicle is revved according to operating temperature.

Once the vehicle is up to temp the 5w30 oil is flowing the same as a 0w30 oil.

For me the recent winters in the UK don't warrant the 0w oil.

Agreed. I used Mobil 5w30 that meets A5/B5 spec... far cheaper than the recommended Castrol 0w30.

These 20L drums seem great value (I didn't buy one for my oil change though, but certainly worth considering). Castrol 0w30 was going to cost nearly £90 (for 6L's), Mobil 5w30 was £38 in a sale at Halfords.

[AndyV7o]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

[/B]

Agreed. I used Mobil 5w30 that meets A5/B5 spec... far cheaper than the recommended Castrol 0w30.

These 20L drums seem great value (I didn't buy one for my oil change though, but certainly worth considering). Castrol 0w30 was going to cost nearly £90 (for 6L's), Mobil 5w30 was £38 in a sale at Halfords.

Try Opieoils.co.uk cheaper than halfords sales generally and a really good company/guys. The mobil 3000 is their more basic oil and is usually about £30-35 at Opie for the a5/b5 stuff.