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Some basic oil advice from Opie Oils (currently 810 views)
oilman
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6th, 2007, 9:26:31am
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This post should help as a basic guide, for more detailed information contact us and we will be happy to help.
So, to be blunt about the subject, if a bottle of oil does not contain the following basic information then DO NOT buy it look for something that does!
1) The purpose for which it is intended (i.e. Motor oil, Gear oil etc)
2) The viscosity (i.e. 10w-40, 5w-30 etc for Motor oils and 80w-90, 75w-90 etc for Gear oils)
3) The specifications that it meets (should contain both API and ACEA ratings)
4) The OEM Approvals that it carries and the codes (i.e. MB229.3, VW504.00, FORD 913a/b, BMW LL04 etc)
Ignore the marketing blurb on the label it is in many cases meaningless and we will explain later what statements you should treat with skepticism.
So, what does the above information mean and why is it important?
THE BASICS
All oils are intended for an application and in general are not interchangeable. You would not for example put an Automatic Transmission Oil or a Gear Oil in your engine! It is important to know what the oils intended purpose is.
VISCOSITY
Most oils on the shelves today are Multigrades, which simply means that the oil falls into 2 viscosity grades (i.e. 10w-40 etc)
Multigrades were first developed some 50 years ago to avoid the old routine of using a thin oil in winter and a thicker oil in the summer.
In a 10w-40 for example the 10w bit (W = winter, not weight or watt or anything else for that matter) simply means that the oil must have a certain maximum viscosity/flow at low temperature.
The lower the W number the better the oils cold temperature/cold start performance. I.E. 5w is better than 10w etc
The 40 in a 10w-40 simply means that the oil must fall within certain viscosity limits at 100 degC. This is a fixed limit and all oils that end in 40 must achieve these limits.
Once again the lower the number the thinner the oil, a 30 oil is thinner than a 40 oil at 100 degC etc. Your handbook will specify whether a 30, 40 or 50 etc is required.
SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications are important as these indicate the performance of an oil and whether it has met or passed the latest tests or whether the formulation is effectively obsolete or out of date.
There are two specifications that you should look for on any oil bottle and these are API (American Petroleum Institute) and ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Europeens Automobiles) all good oils should contain both of these and an understanding of what they mean is important.
API
This is the more basic of the two specs as it is split (for passenger cars) into two catagories.
S = Petrol and C = Diesel, most oils carry both petrol (S) and diesel (C) specifications.
The following table shows how up to date the specifications the oil are:
PETROL
SG - Introduced 1989 has much more active dispersant to combat black sludge.
SH - Introduced 1993 has same engine tests as SG, but includes phosphorus limit 0.12%, together with control of foam, volatility and shear stability.
SJ - Introduced 1996 has the same engine tests as SG/SH, but phosphorus limit 0.10% together with variation on volatility limits
SL - Introduced 2001, all new engine tests reflective of modern engine designs meeting current emissions standards
SM - Introduced November 2004, improved oxidation resistance, deposit protection and wear protection, also better low temperature performance over the life of the oil compared to previous categories.
Note:
All specifications prior to SL are now obsolete and although suitable for some older vehicles are more than 10 years old and do not provide the same level of performance or protection as the more up to date SL and SM specifications.
DIESEL
CD - Introduced 1955, international standard for turbo diesel engine oils for many years, uses single cylinder test engine only
CE - Introduced 1984, improved control of oil consumption, oil thickening, piston deposits and wear, uses additional multi cylinder test engines
CF4 - Introduced 1990, further improvements in control of oil consumption and piston deposits, uses low emission test engine
CF - Introduced 1994, modernised version of CD, reverts to single cylinder low emission test engine. Intended for certain indirect injection engines
CF2 - Introduced 1994, defines effective control of cylinder deposits and ring face scuffing, intended for 2 stroke diesel engines
CG4 - Introduced 1994, development of CF4 giving improved control of piston deposits, wear, oxidation stability and soot entrainment. Uses low sulphur diesel fuel in engine tests
CH4 - Introduced 1998, development of CG4, giving further improvements in control of soot related wear and piston deposits, uses more comprehensive engine test program to include low and high sulphur fuels
CI4 Introduced 2002, developed to meet 2004 emission standards, may be used where EGR ( exhaust gas recirculation ) systems are fitted and with fuel containing up to 0.5 % sulphur. May be used where API CD, CE, CF4, CG4 and CH4 oils are specified.
Note: All specifications prior to CH4 are now obsolete and although suitable for some older vehicles are more than 10 years old and do not provide the same level of performance or protection as the more up to date CH4 & CI4 specifications.
If you want a better more up to date oil specification then look for SL, SM, CH4, CI4
ACEA
This is the European equivalent of API (US) and is more specific in what the performance of the oil actually is. A = Petrol, B = Diesel and C = Catalyst compatible or low SAPS (Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus and Sulphur).
Unlike API the ACEA specs are split into performance/application catagories as follows:
A1 Fuel economy petrol A2 Standard performance level (now obsolete) A3 High performance and/or extended drain A4 Reserved for future use in certain direct injection engines A5 Combines A1 fuel economy with A3 performance
B1 Fuel economy diesel B2 Standard performance level (now obsolete) B3 High performance and/or extended drain B4 For direct injection car diesel engines B5 Combines B1 fuel economy with B3/B4 performance
C1-04 Petrol and Light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 low SAPS, two way catalyst compatible. C2-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible. C3-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible, Higher performance levels due to higher HTHS.
Note: SAPS = Sulphated Ash, Phosphorous and Sulphur.
Put simply, A3/B3, A5/B5 and C3 oils are the better quality, stay in grade performance oils.
APPROVALS
Many oils mention various Car Manufacturers on the bottle, the most common in the UK being VW, MB, BMW, Ford or Vauxhall but do not be misled into thinking that you are buying top quality oil because of this.
Oil Companies send their oils to OEMs for approval however some older specs are easily achieved and can be done so with the cheapest of mineral oils. Newer specifications are always more up to date and better quality/performance than the older ones.
Some of the older OEM specifications are listed here and depending on the performance level of your car are best ignored if you are looking for a quality high performance oil:
VW 500.00, 501.00 and 505.00
Later specs like 503, 504, 506 and 507 are better performing more up to date oils
MB 229.1
Later specs like 229.3 and 229.5 are better performing more up to date oils.
BMW LL98
Later specs like LL01 and LL04 are better performing more up to date oils.
FINALLY
Above is the most accurate guidance we can give without going into too much depth however there is one final piece of advice regarding labelling.
Certain statements are made on labels that are meaningless and just marketing hype, here are a few to avoid!
Recommended for use where
May be used where the following specifications apply
Approved by....(but with no qualification or specification)
Recommended/Approved by (some famous person, these endorsements are paid for)
Racing/Track formula (but with no supporting evidence)
Also be wary of statements like synthetic blend if you are looking for a fully synthetic oil as this will merely be a semi-synthetic.
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. The cheaper the oil the cheaper the ingredients, lower the performance levels and older the specs it meets so beware!
If you would like further advice then please feel free to ask here or contact us via our website http://www.opieoils.co.uk or email sales@opieoils.co.uk
Cheers Simon & Guy
Last modified Wednesday, June 6th, 2007, 10:03:22am by oilman
If possible could you modify the message and replace the 'smart quotes' with standard ones. I would do it but I'm not sure what they all are!
Drop me a PM if you would like to be added to the ClubCappo Member Map. More details can be found here. We now have an official Facebook group as well as a page! See here
I noticed you dodged the discount question Guy lol
Drop me a PM if you would like to be added to the ClubCappo Member Map. More details can be found here. We now have an official Facebook group as well as a page! See here
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Reply: 3 - 14
oilman
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6th, 2007, 5:39:37pm
Guest User
Not at all.
I can add the Club to our list and then you can obtain discounts.
Excellent! If you could email me all the details needed I can add links to our links and member offers/discount pages to draw members' attention to your company.
Drop me a PM if you would like to be added to the ClubCappo Member Map. More details can be found here. We now have an official Facebook group as well as a page! See here
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Reply: 5 - 14
oilman
Posted on: Tuesday, June 19th, 2007, 12:12:25pm
Guest User
Club now added to the list so discounts available and sale on this week!
I will be putting a proper link in the offers/discounts thread in due course.
Drop me a PM if you would like to be added to the ClubCappo Member Map. More details can be found here. We now have an official Facebook group as well as a page! See here
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Reply: 8 - 14
DickW
Posted on: Wednesday, June 20th, 2007, 10:08:19am
Guest User
They be Cornish as well........ I've still got my mother's recipe for real Cornish pasties if anyone's interested....
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Reply: 9 - 14
oilman
Posted on: Wednesday, June 20th, 2007, 11:35:12am
Guest User
I actually cannot stand pasites!
Cheers
Guy.
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Reply: 10 - 14
skinner
Posted on: Wednesday, June 20th, 2007, 11:59:41am
Guest User
How did the subject end up on pasties? Last time I made pasties they didn't taste of anything, so a recipie would be good Dick.
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Reply: 11 - 14
oilman
Posted on: Monday, August 23rd, 2010, 12:51:12pm
Guest User
Was just about to post this, but its already here!
Bump for those who have not seen it
Cheers
Guy
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Reply: 12 - 14
ycming
Posted on: Thursday, June 23rd, 2011, 8:56:53am
Guest User
So how do we use that access code?
Thanks Ming
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Reply: 13 - 14
ycming
Posted on: Thursday, June 23rd, 2011, 9:01:38am
Guest User
nevermind got it , will get the Fuch 5/40 when tiem comes for the next oil change.
Cappuccino Owners Club › Traders › Opie Oils › Some basic oil advice from Opie Oils (Moderators: , )
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Some basic oil advice from Opie Oils (currently 810 views)
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Male
If you could email me all the details needed I can add links to our links and member offers/discount pages to draw members' attention to your company.
I've ordered from Opie Oils before and everything arrived quickly so they get a thumbs up from me.
