Sorry if this has already been raised and I missed it.
I see that Tesco is selling 'Fully Synthetic', 5W - 40, oil in 2 litre quantities for £12. 'Suited to cars using infrequent oil changes' and it states the specifications it meets. Presently I pay £30 for four and half litres (+P&P) so it looks about the right price for a good quality synthetic oil in small quantities. Anyone know more?
Please, let's not get into a discussion of oil changing.
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If the spec meets your spec requirements, then go for it
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Some engines are easily satisfied, others are more pernickety for OEM warranty. It all depends on how much it matters cash-wise. IMHO "Suited for" is much the same as "Recommended for" in ad-speak. Which specifications, and crucially in some cases, "Approvals" does it say it meets? And, does it matter, if you drive an older vehicle?
Edited by nortones2 on 24/05/2009 at 23:16
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buzbee
look at my other post cheapest i seen for 5w30 is Morrisons for 5litres
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Tesco normally uses known quality manufacturers for its own brand products.
However, it could be worth checking the prices at your local motor factors first (or buzbee's recommendation) as some useful savings can be made; the majority are perfectly happy to serve the general public and the one I use allows me trade prices on air filters, oil etc.
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IIRC when I looked at a bottle at Tesco, there was only very basic info - API spec IIRC. This is not sufficient to ascertain its suitability for most modern engines. It certainly didnt carry any approvals.
Most modern longlife oils are 5W-30.
It is also expensive.
Using the right specification oil is vital for engine longevity.
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Yesterday, I paid £14 for 5 litres of GM/Delphi Longlife synthetic. The only catch is that I have to buy 4 x 5 litres for £56.
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I asked an oil expert for his reco. for a fully synth. and then sent away for it each time. Cost is not a problem, it is just less convenient. At Tesco tomorrow I will note their spec.
"[OK] if you drive an older vehicle". It is me that is the old vehicle!
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I'm sure that this Tesco oil is fine.
An earlier poster mentioned Havoline 5W-30 from Morrisons which is very good value for money. Rumour has is that Ford use, or used, Havoline under their own name.
How about a bit of an informal poll.
How many backroom contributors, who have more or less kept to manufacturers' oil change intervals, regardless of the oil used, suffered an engine failure related to lubrication problems?
I suspect that the numbers who reply positively will be very low.
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What about the mental stress that can arise from not halving the intervals though, Chris.
;-)
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I suspect that there are some very deep-seated psychological issues amongst BR drivers regarding the release of sticky fluids from their vehicles that I don't care to analyse just now.
Or, maybe, they're just bored at the weekend.
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I use the vaccuum pump out on the drive - a lot better than crawling underneath and risking being crushed.
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Oilrag, I don't want to even think about your use of vacuum devices!!
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Best not to Chris. One of the probes for it is 5ft long....
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OK, here is the spec. from the container:-
"Meets or exceeds:-
SAE 5W/40 API SM/CF
ACEA A3, B3, B4."
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Not suitable for VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda PD engines for a start.
API specs are largely ignored nowadays
ACEA specs are fine, but generic.
THis is not a longlife oil as OP stated.
Edited by brum on 25/05/2009 at 19:05
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The CF spec is rather old, it is CI now. I wouldn't use it in a diesel.
You get what you pay for, Tesco don't make record profits by giving anything away.
Cars cost a lot, the expensive stuff is the cheapest in the end.
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As I understand it, European oils refer to API CF only as a nod to American standards - CF comes with any ACEA classification in the diesel (B or E prefix), but ACEA don't track the later versions. CF's a truck standard anyway, as the API don't have a system for diesel cars. ACEA classifications, and where relevant, makers requirements which are more stringent than ACEA, are the specs to follow, usually, as brum said earlier.
Edited by nortones2 on 25/05/2009 at 20:16
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The oil I have used for the last 40,000 miles has the spec:
Says 100% Synthetic
ACEA A3/B3/B4
API SL/CF
and states:-
Approvals: Opel GM-LL-B-025/MB-Approval 229.3
VW 502 00-505 00/Porche/BMW LL-98
should be OK for your lawnmower brum, hope I got that right ;-)
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If you're refering to VAG PD engines then no it nots suitable, as 505.01 is the minimum spec reqd. This is peculiar requirement to VAG as the the PD injector design on their diesel engines requires a special high shear quality oil to prevent camshaft wear. This is an extreme case, but manufacturers approvals are there for a reason. If the appropriate approval is not there, its a risk whether the oil is suitable or not.
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Here's what oilman said on the subject of oil specifications and labelling some time ago. www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=42671&...f
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