0W30 or 5W30

[Clan]

Originally Posted by oilman

In some cars the manufacturers recommendation is the result of a commercial tie up and not really the optimal choice (petrol engined Alpinas, some Type R Hondas and some that I've just forgotten as the phone rang and I got distracted, basically the oil is a little thin and burns off at a high rate).

In others, the handbook spec is a basic, commonly available oil that you can get hold of easily. For example, the standard spec for my D5 is 15w-40, but I use 5w-40 to get better cold start protection. The same sort of logic can be applied to most engines.

More modern engines are made to very tight tolerances, with very strict emissions systems, so they need quite specific oil. With more modern Volvos, generally a 0w-30/5w-30 A5/B5 is the required grade and there isn't much leeway with that as it is required for the DPF.

Generally, manufacturers know what they are doing with oils and taking their advice is usually a good option.

Cheers

Tim

Volvo have never recommended 5W/40 for the D5
its 5W/30 ( or 0w/30 ) for the original D5 on 12000 service intervals (2002-2004), and only 0W/30 for 18000 service intervals after 2005 ...

The latest VEA engines must only use 0w/20 VCC RBS0-2AE. specification

[Billggski]

In the old days when I worked in a garage it was "a shot of redex sir?" (It was always a man). And then the moly and other additives came out with big claims about improved performance etc..
But I could never work out how these magic additives knew where to add an anti friction coating, and not clog key pipes and channels. So I trust the makers and oil companies to know what they are doing.

[oilman]

Mine is the 02 D5 and my data lists 15w-40 as the standard spec. I've had a look an the online manual and you're right, it does say 5w-30. I'm pretty sure the Volvo service shows 10w-40 all the way through. I'm not sure if there has been an update to the oil spec since the manual was printed though. I've been through a few oil checkers and they are listing 5w-30, 0w-40 and 5w-40 for it (although Castrol are listing their Volvo A5/B5 0w-30)

You're completely correct about the latest engines, I should have said 'except the latest'.

Cheers

Tim

[JimG]

Originally Posted by oilman

If you want the absolute best protection, an ester based oil like the ***hs Pro S, Millers CFS, Red Line, Motul 300V or Gulf Competition are the ones to look at.

Tim,

Can't find any of those when I search on your website for A5/B5 oils? Assume ***hs is ***hs?

[JimG]

⬆️⬆️⬆️ f. U. C. H. S.⬆️⬆️⬆️

[Clan]

Originally Posted by oilman

Mine is the 02 D5 and my data lists 15w-40 as the standard spec. I've had a look an the online manual and you're right, it does say 5w-30. I'm pretty sure the Volvo service shows 10w-40 all the way through. I'm not sure if there has been an update to the oil spec since the manual was printed though. I've been through a few oil checkers and they are listing 5w-30, 0w-40 and 5w-40 for it (although Castrol are listing their Volvo A5/B5 0w-30)

You're completely correct about the latest engines, I should have said 'except the latest'.

Cheers

Tim

The owner's manuals are notoriously either out of date or wrong or listing foreign market oils ., 5w/30 has always been D5 spec up to 2005 in this country since they came out .

Can you still Get Castrol R40 now ?

[oilman]

Originally Posted by JimG

Tim,

Can't find any of those when I search on your website for A5/B5 oils? Assume ***hs is ***hs?

Hi

No, those oils are not A5/B5, I was mentioning them as upgrade alternatives to the Shell 5w-40.

Cheers

Tim

[oilman]

Originally Posted by Clan

The owner's manuals are notoriously either out of date or wrong or listing foreign market oils ., 5w/30 has always been D5 spec up to 2005 in this country since they came out .

Can you still Get Castrol R40 now ?

Yes, here you go.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-77371-ca...e-oil-r40.aspx

Cheers

Tim

[JimG]

Originally Posted by oilman

Hi

No, those oils are not A5/B5, I was mentioning them as upgrade alternatives to the Shell 5w-40.

Cheers

Tim

Probably a bit OTT for my family wagon. 😂

[skyship007]

Originally Posted by oilman

Modern oils do contain plenty of anti-wear additives, it is often a misconception that because the level of ZDDP in modern oils is reduced to make them suitable for modern emissions systems that there has to be less protection. The ZDDP is replaced with other anti-wear additives and also the quality of the oil basestocks are so much better in modern synthetics than in older mineral oils that there is still plenty of protection. Also, ZDDP is only reduced in certain oils (API SM and SN spec) and there are current oils that are API SL and earlier that have a full dose of ZDDP.

The Shell Helix Ultra is a very good oil (it's what I use myself), but it's not the best on the market. If you want the absolute best protection, an ester based oil like the ***hs Pro S, Millers CFS, Red Line, Motul 300V or Gulf Competition are the ones to look at. I was hoping that one of those would get damaged in our warehouse before my service was due, but no luck, so the Shell was a good,
sensible option.

Cheers

Tim

Oils are made to a very specific price and only some of the OEM car oils contain enough anti wear additives to really reduce wear to a minimum and they are expensive (Dealer only in most cases) and restricted to mostly 0w30's.

I agree it's nuts to try additives not made by a real engine oil company, which is why I stick to Liqui Moly as regards oil additives. VW paid for the development of Ceratec and it produces real good used oil analysis results, which is why I use it.

The reduced Zinc additives required for DPF approval were not replaced by any new additives, just maketing hype. Some companies did adjust their base stocks and use more Moly or Boron Adds but most just accepted the extra wear figures.
I tested a C3 version of Castrol Edge 5w40 and it doubled the wear metals!

Ceratec is about the only option to reduced Zinc, but it's too expensive to include in normal oils at present, although the German VW dealers are advising customers with issues to use it and most of their forums will say the same as I do, that 30 weight oils are bad news in older diesels or newer ones with fuel contamination issues.
The Germans do their homework and no one has ever found any of their additives causing an adverse chemical reaction.

Oil leak and burn rates depend mostly on viscosity AND coefficient of friction.The latter is lower with most full synthetics, although it also depends on additives like Moly that sometimes help fill in crevice corrosion voids.

When buying oils I steer well clear of non major brand (Castrol, Mobil, Shell and Liqui Moly) oils, as the US API standards are not checked for oils sold in the EU and Acea is based only on self certification, so you have to rely on the good reputation of the manufacturer and their quality control systems.