Any issues with using 10W40 instead of 5W30?
- Thread starter NVP
- Start date
that fuchs stuff is what i used to put in GF's fester. GSF sold it for £13 5L
i'd trust the people who designed and built your engine over a domestic heating oil supplier and a high-street tat shop every time...
Thing is the sticker on the car says that it recommends Castrol, but castrol say they dont have anything to suit because the manual says it wants an A5/B5 approved oil, but none on castrols list have it !
so what part of the manufacturers recommendations do i ignore, the castrol recommendation or the A5/B5 specification ?
*edit*
Just got off the phone. Volvo Dealer says to use "Castrol SLX R tec oW30 or 0w40"
what the heck is SLX R tec ? , goes off to search ...
*edit 2*
Ok found this on the volvo forums
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpost.php?p=289444&postcount=13
So the only oil that volvo recommends is a castrol oil only available from them. Hence the website advising to contact the dealer as you cant buy it from anywhere else and is ... £100 for 5 litres.
What a surprise
Well the car has been serviced its entirel life by Kwik Farce using a different oil than what volvo recommends for it so it cant be that bad for the engine. Now to decide what oil is going to be nearest to what volvo recommends without getting stung by an exclusivity price inflating pact ...
so what part of the manufacturers recommendations do i ignore, the castrol recommendation or the A5/B5 specification ?
*edit*
Just got off the phone. Volvo Dealer says to use "Castrol SLX R tec oW30 or 0w40"
what the heck is SLX R tec ? , goes off to search ...
*edit 2*
Ok found this on the volvo forums
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpost.php?p=289444&postcount=13
So the only oil that volvo recommends is a castrol oil only available from them. Hence the website advising to contact the dealer as you cant buy it from anywhere else and is ... £100 for 5 litres.
What a surprise
Well the car has been serviced its entirel life by Kwik Farce using a different oil than what volvo recommends for it so it cant be that bad for the engine. Now to decide what oil is going to be nearest to what volvo recommends without getting stung by an exclusivity price inflating pact ...
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since ive been mucking about with VW they have changed their chosen brand oil company at least twice, it is effectively down to sponsorship etc.
just make sure the oil youre putting in meets the spec required for the engine. there will be various grades within that spec (in most cases there is) so you can tailor this to an extent to match the usage of your engine or the deepness of your pockets.
my old golf, as im sure youre all sick of hearing, is on 225k miles and Castrol is VW's current favourite. i dont remember castrol going in my car once
Ah, that's fair enough. I can't say i've seen inside a late BMW for a few years, I didn't realise they were putting three oil warning light on motors now! I'm perhaps a bit out of touch in that respect!
It seems daft that they haven't always worked like this..
Instead of a "your engine is now buggered" light that some cars have
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It seems daft that they haven't always worked like this..
Instead of a "your engine is now buggered" light that some cars have
Because it requires a system to measure the level which is quite expensive to do.
The your engine is screwed light is as a result of low oil pressure not level. Though Jon pressure usually comes from very low level.
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People are getting FAR too hung up on this.
Most of the time the first digit being a different viscosity is becase some are quoting fully synth and some are quoting semi synth.
Most of the time the fully syth has a lower cold start viscosity. If its just a top up, all that really matters is that the hot number is correct.
As for Opie oils, well LOL at this guy, really. Recommends the same stuff for everyone!
Still, that highlights the fact that the difference between a 0W40 and a 5W40 will be negligable.
It might make a difference in say Finland or Sweden where the temps will dip to -35Deg C, then you really will need a 0W oil, but over in our miserable, grey climate its not going to be critical by any stretch of the imagination.
EDIT:- Spot on Matt82, the manufacturers recommendation is mostly down to sponsorship and deals, and rarely about the absolute performance of the oil!
Most of the time the first digit being a different viscosity is becase some are quoting fully synth and some are quoting semi synth.
Most of the time the fully syth has a lower cold start viscosity. If its just a top up, all that really matters is that the hot number is correct.
As for Opie oils, well LOL at this guy, really. Recommends the same stuff for everyone!
Still, that highlights the fact that the difference between a 0W40 and a 5W40 will be negligable.
It might make a difference in say Finland or Sweden where the temps will dip to -35Deg C, then you really will need a 0W oil, but over in our miserable, grey climate its not going to be critical by any stretch of the imagination.
EDIT:- Spot on Matt82, the manufacturers recommendation is mostly down to sponsorship and deals, and rarely about the absolute performance of the oil!
[TW]Fox;17472753 said:
Fox what Oil do you use in your car ?
Volvo told me that they use volvo r-tec, but that was its old name its now been renamed
"Castrol SLX Professional Longtec 0W 30"
I seem to recall your BMW was factory filled with this stuff. Do you use it or do you source something else ?
So both Halfords and the petrol pump man have told me incorrect oils?!
According to the charts in Halfords my current car:
Has a paint colour that was never offered on the model
Uses bulbs that don't even fit
Uses different engine/gearbox oil to what is required (if you use the ATF they recommend it will wreck the box)
Uses wiper blades that if fitted would clear the screen
Uses OAT coolant (it uses IAT)
You don't wanna know what info they had on the supe ^^
The guy who worked in my local Shell station owned a stock Mitsubishi FTO and used to brag about the kick he got when his turbocharger kicked in (I know, that's the point)
I wouldn't trust either for important advice
Thing is the sticker on the car says that it recommends Castrol, but castrol say they dont have anything to suit because the manual says it wants an A5/B5 approved oil, but none on castrols list have it !
so what part of the manufacturers recommendations do i ignore, the castrol recommendation or the A5/B5 specification ?
*edit*
Just got off the phone. Volvo Dealer says to use "Castrol SLX R tec oW30 or 0w40"
what the heck is SLX R tec ? , goes off to search ...
*edit 2*
Ok found this on the volvo forums
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpost.php?p=289444&postcount=13
So the only oil that volvo recommends is a castrol oil only available from them. Hence the website advising to contact the dealer as you cant buy it from anywhere else and is ... £100 for 5 litres.
What a surprise
Well the car has been serviced its entirel life by Kwik Farce using a different oil than what volvo recommends for it so it cant be that bad for the engine. Now to decide what oil is going to be nearest to what volvo recommends without getting stung by an exclusivity price inflating pact ...
Well according to that link, "The ONLY oil Volvo recommend is "SLX Professional Longtec for Volvo cars A5/B5 0W-30" excuse me if im missing something here but the way I thought it worked was if the SLX stuff Volvo recommend meets the A5/B5 standard and has a viscosity of 0W-30 then what's wrong with the Fuchs/Castrol oils that that Opie site recommended as they both meet the A5/B5 standard, I know they are 5W not 0W but that shouldn't make a difference in this country should it?
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In theory yes, But Castrol Edge 0W30 doesnt meat A5/B5 so in theory isnt suitable
Castrol advise it should be fine as it meets ACEA A3/B3 which in theory is just an older version of the ACEA A5/B5 grade
The castrol oil they recommend is not A5/B5, the Fuchs one that is, is 5W30 which wont offer the same level of cold protection as 0W30
Volvo said to use 0W30 or 0W40 as required, but 5W30 isnt suitable.
heres the Fuchs that meets ACEA A5/B5
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-991-fuc...rmance-fuel-economy-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx
But its 5W 30
they do offer
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-985-fuc...0w-30-fully-synthetic-super-fuel-economy.aspx
0W30 fully synthetic
but its ACEA A3/B3/B4 the same as the Castrol Edge stuff !
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Im confused now, I followed the link you posted to the oils for your car and the "Castrol Magnatec 5W30 A1" that they recommend says in its description "Magnatec 5W-30 A1 is also suitable for use in other manufacturers fuel efficient modern petrol and diesel engines including inter-cooled and turbo-charged and where the manufacturer recommends ACEA A1/B1, A5/B5 or API SL or ILSAC GF-3."
Also I always thought that 0W and 5W offer the same protection in the UK, its only in a Scandinavian winter that 0W would perform better.
Im not trying to argue with about your own car Im just interested myself now lol
Also I always thought that 0W and 5W offer the same protection in the UK, its only in a Scandinavian winter that 0W would perform better.
Im not trying to argue with about your own car Im just interested myself now lol
[TW]Fox;17473535 said:
this is as i thought
but the consumer version doesnt meet the same ACEA A5/B5 spec as the SLX Longtec
i'm thoroughly confused too. I know nothing on this subject, i only know what im told.
Both halfords and opie oils say 5W30 are fine, but as people have already said these people arent the people who built and tested the engine and should be ignored.
Volvo say the only suitable grade oils are 0W30 or 0W40.
But then as you say, opie oils say it will be fine. I dont know who to believe !
They've made the requirement for the car an oil that can only be obtained from them !
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thats my fault for asking about oil for my engine. Didnt want to start a whole new thread so whilst discussing appropriate grades it seemed an ideal thread to tag onto
this is as i thought
but the consumer version doesnt meet the same ACEA A5/B5 spec as the SLX Longtec
Thats a bit weird, I've never even noticed that. I wonder if Simon can shed any light?
It's been made better by your reply, though.
[TW]Fox;17473685 said:
recommended oil for my car, available as a 1L top up bottle
http://www.volvopartshop.com/castrol-slx-pro-longtec-a5b5-0w30-1-litre-775-p.asp
or as a 1000 Litre drum
And heres Castrol Edge 0W30
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/productdetailmin.do?categoryId=9014073&contentId=7027066
ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4
Castrol have specificly avoided testing their consumer oil to the relevant spec required by volvo, to push everybody to buy their oil directly from dealers at £100 for 5 litres.