0W40 Oil

[Mr T]

Just a quick question, what is the difference between mb229.3/mb229.5 0w40 oil & 0w40 oil without the mb standard?

The reason I ask is Tesco sell 0w40 fully synthetic @ £2.50 for 2 Litres.

I have been topping up my oil with this now for the last 6 months & wondered if I'm doing much damage. My engine uses about 0.5L/1000miles which it has done for the past 5 years or so.

[137699]

Re: 0W40 Oil

That is very high consumption & if the engine is that car gone then you may as well run it on cooking oil as the damage is already done!

All I can really say is that I on e ran my car on non-MB certified oil (but correct viscosity) and it consumed 2 litres in less than 1000 miles. I immediately switched back to Mobil1 and the consumption was gone.

[Mr T]

Re: 0W40 Oil

That's interesting about more usage for non MB certified oil.
So what's in MB cert oil that makes it different?

As for my 0.5L/1000miles usage, I don't consider it that bad (it's less that the max usage that Smart say is excessive) & it's been like that for about 5 years, so I don't worry to much about it.

[Thrumbleux]

Re: 0W40 Oil

So what's in MB cert oil that makes it different?

There are two elements to this.
Firstly, individual manufacturers specs are as much about compatibility with other elements of their cars. Exhaust emissions kit is an obvious one but a more esoteric example is a spec that shows compatibility with dashboard service indicators. GM had just such a spec and while using a non specified oil may have interfered with the operation of the dashboard service indicator there's nothing to suggest the engine would have suffered in any way.
The second aspect is that MB for one insist on complete product formulation details before granting approval. I know of at least one company who will not furnish MB with that data (and hence do not have MB approval) as the formulation details are proprietary and secret. MB don't hand over their knowledge of car building to all and sundry - why should a leading oil company?
(Said company produces Diesel engine oils with an API classification of CJ - while others eg Mobil are stuck on CF (a spec from 1992))

[Kapt. Q]

Re: 0W40 Oil

Saving money on oil is a false economy in the long run. Stick with something that at least makes the MB spec. If you do not do this then you should at least change it more often (then you are not saving anything are you?). Having seen my engine internals after over 55k extremely hard use on Shell Helix ultra compared to other engines on less miles and different oils I would use no other, besides which cheap oil from Tescos might contain horse fat .

Cheers!

[tolsen]

Re: 0W40 Oil

I always buy the cheapest oil I can source and have had no problems. Currently clocked just below 200k.

[Kapt. Q]

Re: 0W40 Oil

I always buy the cheapest oil I can source and have had no problems. Currently clocked just below 200k.

You have a lower revving CDI not noted for failing because of oil control ring problems and the lack of an oil cooler (which your car has), unlike the OP's car....

We are talking about apples, not oranges

Cheers!

[Evilution]

Re: 0W40 Oil

Use thicker oil.

[tolsen]

Re: 0W40 Oil

...The reason I ask is Tesco sell 0w40 fully synthetic @ £2.50 for 2 Litres....

I made a special trip to Tesco last night but regrettably could not find any oils for that price. Is it a local special offer or something?
£2.50 for 2 Litres is a wee bit expensive for a teuchter like me. I bought oil for half of that at Tesco in Banchory:

[Mr T]

Re: 0W40 Oil

Bloody hell you've got a few years worth there!

My local Tesco garage (Harlow) has all it's 2 Litre oils shelf priced at £2.50 & the 4 Litre ones priced between £16-£20.
Why anyone would buy the 4 Litre ones is beyond me.