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From: Fred on 29 May 2010 15:26
Hi,

My OH drives a Vauxhall Astra (1.4L petrol, 56 plate), which she has
owned for a year, so it's time to change the oil for the first time.

I've run into two problems, eurocarparts lists two oil filters; one is
slightly longer than the other; which do I need?

But my main concern is the oil. I saw some big drums at costco and
figured that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy one of these.
But I have since read the service booklet that came with the Astra and
it says to avoid oils ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5. The drum I bought is
A5/B5.

What does all this A/B stuff mean and why is A5/B5 so bad? Should I be
taking it back for a refund?

I also bought a drum of their "diesel oil" for my car and that appears
to say it is A3/B3/A3/B4. What does all that mean?

TIA
From: Mrcheerful on 30 May 2010 07:21

"Fred" <fred(a)no-email.here.invalid> wrote in message
news:o3q206939t45sie2sp0s13mp2le55t4bjm(a)4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> My OH drives a Vauxhall Astra (1.4L petrol, 56 plate), which she has
> owned for a year, so it's time to change the oil for the first time.
>
> I've run into two problems, eurocarparts lists two oil filters; one is
> slightly longer than the other; which do I need?
>
> But my main concern is the oil. I saw some big drums at costco and
> figured that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy one of these.
> But I have since read the service booklet that came with the Astra and
> it says to avoid oils ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5. The drum I bought is
> A5/B5.
>
> What does all this A/B stuff mean and why is A5/B5 so bad? Should I be
> taking it back for a refund?
>
> I also bought a drum of their "diesel oil" for my car and that appears
> to say it is A3/B3/A3/B4. What does all that mean?
>
> TIA
>

genuine vauxhall oil/filter is the way to go (and cheap too)


From: Cicero on 31 May 2010 02:42
Fred wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My OH drives a Vauxhall Astra (1.4L petrol, 56 plate), which she has
> owned for a year, so it's time to change the oil for the first time.
>
> I've run into two problems, eurocarparts lists two oil filters; one is
> slightly longer than the other; which do I need?
>
> But my main concern is the oil. I saw some big drums at costco and
> figured that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy one of these.
> But I have since read the service booklet that came with the Astra and
> it says to avoid oils ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5. The drum I bought is
> A5/B5.
>
> What does all this A/B stuff mean and why is A5/B5 so bad? Should I be
> taking it back for a refund?
>
> I also bought a drum of their "diesel oil" for my car and that appears
> to say it is A3/B3/A3/B4. What does all that mean?
>
> TIA

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

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."

Cic.

--
======================================================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
======================================================================
From: Chris Whelan on 31 May 2010 03:25
On Mon, 31 May 2010 07:42:57 +0100, Cicero wrote:

> Fred wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> My OH drives a Vauxhall Astra (1.4L petrol, 56 plate), which she has
>> owned for a year, so it's time to change the oil for the first time.
>>
>> I've run into two problems, eurocarparts lists two oil filters; one is
>> slightly longer than the other; which do I need?
>>
>> But my main concern is the oil. I saw some big drums at costco and
>> figured that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy one of these.
>> But I have since read the service booklet that came with the Astra and
>> it says to avoid oils ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5. The drum I bought is A5/B5.
>>
>> What does all this A/B stuff mean and why is A5/B5 so bad? Should I be
>> taking it back for a refund?
>>
>> I also bought a drum of their "diesel oil" for my car and that appears
>> to say it is A3/B3/A3/B4. What does all that mean?
>>
>> TIA
>
> =====================================================================
>
> 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."
>
> Cic.

The fact that an oil is "better" does not mean it meets the
manufacturer's specification for that vehicle.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: John Henderson on 31 May 2010 05:08
Cicero 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."

A "better" oil might not be a suitable oil, for a number of
reasons. ACEA A5/B5 oils "may be unsuitable for use in some
engines" - http://www.lubrizol.com/EuropeanEngineOils/A5B508.html

John

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