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From: Mrcheerful on 2 Jun 2010 14:31
Fred wrote:
> On Mon, 31 May 2010 07:42:57 +0100, Cicero <sheldrake(a)hellfire.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> I had no idea either (about the oil designations) so I did a
>> quick 'google' and found this:
>>
>> http://www.driverstechnology.co.uk/oils.htm
>>
>> Part of the information seems to contradict Astra Manual
>> information since it appears that A5 oils are one of the
>> best grades:
>>
>> "Put simply, A3/B3, A5/B5 and C3 oils are the better
>> quality, stay in grade performance oils."
>
> Yes, I found similar pages from google and, like you found, they
> suggest A5/B5 is the best of the bunch.
>
> I wonder how many people don't know about these grades. I always
> though a 5w30 was 5w30. I'm going to look at the bottles in halfords
> and see what all those are.
>
> The advice seems to be to take this back and go to the dealer. I am
> happy to listen to your advice. I hadn't thought of doing to the
> dealer because usually they have the reputation of costing twice
> everyone else. What do independent garages do though? Surely they
> don't keep a barrel of Vauxhall oil, a barrel of Ford oil, etc.

I do, and a friend with a larger garage does the same. if you put the right
stuff in there will be less likelihood of faults developing that can be
blamed on you. Vauxhall oil bought through the trade club is very cheap in
any case.


From: Cicero on 2 Jun 2010 16:40
Fred wrote:
> On Mon, 31 May 2010 22:10:26 +0100, Cicero <sheldrake(a)hellfire.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Of course I'm picking up on the OP's use of
>>the word 'avoid' which may not be how Vauxhall have actually
>>worded it in their manual.
>
>
> It says: "use of engine oil grades ACEA-A1/B, ACEA-A5/B5 is expressly
> forbidden as they can cause long-term engine damage under certain
> operating conditions" but it doesn't say what these "certain
> conditions" are.

=====================================================================

Well that puts things in a very different light. It would be
tempting fate to use the wrong oil(s) when they're so
plainly forbidden.

I think I'll be having a closer look at the oil I'm using in
my 306 as I've been trusting my local dealer to supply the
correct oil since I started using diesels about 10 years ago.

Cic.
--
======================================================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
======================================================================
From: Fred on 4 Jun 2010 03:48
On Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:31:09 +0100, "Mrcheerful" <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk>
wrote:

>I do, and a friend with a larger garage does the same. if you put the right
>stuff in there will be less likelihood of faults developing that can be
>blamed on you. Vauxhall oil bought through the trade club is very cheap in
>any case.

Crickey, you must have a room full of different oils. I phoned my
Vauxhall stealer and my experience was much different to yours: they
want �40-odd pounds ex vat for 4 Litres. The next size up is 20L and
that costs over two hundred pounds; more than buying five four litre
bottles. How much discount do they offer the trade? At those prices
per litre, petrol begins to look cheap! ;)

Out of curiosity, I looked on the shelves at Halfords. Up to now I
have always looked at the "diesel oils" aisle rather than the "petrol
oils", so I was surprised to see that Halfords offer half a dozen
colour-coded 5w30 oils: one for Fords, another for Audis, another for
BMWs, another for Vauxhalls, etc.

I did buy some 5w30 oil once before but didn't notice it was one of
many. I don't know if the others weren't sold then or if I just didn't
see them! It was for a Ford and I do have a tiny bit left. It's a bit
of a waste really each make having its own oil; there must be many
part cans in people's garages that they cannot use when they change
cars.

Interestingly, the own-brand 5w30s that are A3 rated are synthetic and
the A1 oils are part synthetic, I think Castrol Magnatec did not
follow this rule though. To give credit to Castrol, they do print the
rating on the bottle "5w30 A1".

I think that with Castrol I needed "Edge" which is also �40-odd, so it
looks like I have no choice; it's going to cost some money.

I have never noticed a problem when shopping for "diesel oil". Have I
just been lucky with my experience that my cars have all wanted a
similar oil, or is it that for some reason diesel engines are less
fussy about their oil?

TIA
From: Mrcheerful on 4 Jun 2010 03:59
Fred wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:31:09 +0100, "Mrcheerful" <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> I do, and a friend with a larger garage does the same. if you put
>> the right stuff in there will be less likelihood of faults
>> developing that can be blamed on you. Vauxhall oil bought through
>> the trade club is very cheap in any case.
>
> Crickey, you must have a room full of different oils. I phoned my
> Vauxhall stealer and my experience was much different to yours: they
> want �40-odd pounds ex vat for 4 Litres. The next size up is 20L and
> that costs over two hundred pounds; more than buying five four litre
> bottles. How much discount do they offer the trade? At those prices
> per litre, petrol begins to look cheap! ;)
>
> Out of curiosity, I looked on the shelves at Halfords. Up to now I
> have always looked at the "diesel oils" aisle rather than the "petrol
> oils", so I was surprised to see that Halfords offer half a dozen
> colour-coded 5w30 oils: one for Fords, another for Audis, another for
> BMWs, another for Vauxhalls, etc.
>
> I did buy some 5w30 oil once before but didn't notice it was one of
> many. I don't know if the others weren't sold then or if I just didn't
> see them! It was for a Ford and I do have a tiny bit left. It's a bit
> of a waste really each make having its own oil; there must be many
> part cans in people's garages that they cannot use when they change
> cars.
>
> Interestingly, the own-brand 5w30s that are A3 rated are synthetic and
> the A1 oils are part synthetic, I think Castrol Magnatec did not
> follow this rule though. To give credit to Castrol, they do print the
> rating on the bottle "5w30 A1".
>
> I think that with Castrol I needed "Edge" which is also �40-odd, so it
> looks like I have no choice; it's going to cost some money.
>
> I have never noticed a problem when shopping for "diesel oil". Have I
> just been lucky with my experience that my cars have all wanted a
> similar oil, or is it that for some reason diesel engines are less
> fussy about their oil?
>
> TIA

the trade club does have some good discounts, the oil you need is about 3
quid a litre trade.

I think they all started specifying super oils to get the customers back in
buying parts in dealers!!

The other problem is the makers have pressure to make longer service
intervals and that really does need larger oil capacity and super quality
oil.


From: Chris Whelan on 4 Jun 2010 04:28
On Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:48:39 +0100, Fred wrote:

> On Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:31:09 +0100, "Mrcheerful" <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>>I do, and a friend with a larger garage does the same. if you put the
>>right stuff in there will be less likelihood of faults developing that
>>can be blamed on you. Vauxhall oil bought through the trade club is
>>very cheap in any case.
>
> Crickey, you must have a room full of different oils. I phoned my
> Vauxhall stealer and my experience was much different to yours: they
> want £40-odd pounds ex vat for 4 Litres. The next size up is 20L and
> that costs over two hundred pounds; more than buying five four litre
> bottles. How much discount do they offer the trade? At those prices per
> litre, petrol begins to look cheap! ;)
>
> Out of curiosity, I looked on the shelves at Halfords. Up to now I have
> always looked at the "diesel oils" aisle rather than the "petrol oils",
> so I was surprised to see that Halfords offer half a dozen colour-coded
> 5w30 oils: one for Fords, another for Audis, another for BMWs, another
> for Vauxhalls, etc.
>
> I did buy some 5w30 oil once before but didn't notice it was one of
> many. I don't know if the others weren't sold then or if I just didn't
> see them! It was for a Ford and I do have a tiny bit left. It's a bit of
> a waste really each make having its own oil; there must be many part
> cans in people's garages that they cannot use when they change cars.
>
> Interestingly, the own-brand 5w30s that are A3 rated are synthetic and
> the A1 oils are part synthetic, I think Castrol Magnatec did not follow
> this rule though. To give credit to Castrol, they do print the rating on
> the bottle "5w30 A1".
>
> I think that with Castrol I needed "Edge" which is also £40-odd, so it
> looks like I have no choice; it's going to cost some money.
>
> I have never noticed a problem when shopping for "diesel oil". Have I
> just been lucky with my experience that my cars have all wanted a
> similar oil, or is it that for some reason diesel engines are less fussy
> about their oil?
>
> TIA

Most drivers would change oil once a year at best. The difference between
20UKP and 40UKP over a year is pretty small in terms of car running
costs; it's possible that the better oil might even improve fuel
consumption to the point that it works out cheaper to use it!

If you think "Vauxhall" oil is expensive, I would suggest you don't
consider running a VW on the extended service schedule...

Chris

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