40 weight oil for the workshop

Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
641
Location
England
How do folks,

Just trying to work out what's going to be best for our customer's engines here.

VW 502.00 primarily but product rationalisation is a thing.

I'm looking at M1 0w-40 or Mobil Super 3000 5w-40 (for the Mobil brand)

BP Visco 5000 C 5w-40 has all the OEM specs I want but it's as rare as rocking horse Sh 1 T

I've emailed Castrol to see if they do an equivalent.

What have you lads had a good experience with?
 
You just want recommendations from various people, yes?
It sounds like you're trying to decide on an everyday oil to stock. Is this correct?

Over here Mobil1 and Castrol's 0W-40 are very popular as is Valvoline (5W-40 AND 0W-40). Cheaper store brands (ST from Walmart, Amazon) are gaining popularity as are box (12 quarts in a valved bag in a box) oils. Alas, the 40's are last to be offered from cheaper sources or in boxes.

I'm not brand loyal. I've used Mobil1 0W-40 European Formula the most and never had a problem. People on this board claim it has great cleaning properties.
Turbocharged engines got me paying attention to oils about 20 years ago.

If price is paramount (when ISN'T it?) maybe drum delivery is what you need.

Is this what you seek or does every candidate oil need to cover the VW spec?
 
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You just want recommendations from various people, yes?
It sounds like you're trying to decide on an everyday oil to stock. Is this correct?

Over here Mobil1 and Castrol's 0W-40 are very popular as is Valvoline (5W-40 AND 0W-40). Cheaper store brands (ST from Walmart, Amazon) are gaining popularity as are box (12 quarts in a valved bag in a box) oils. Alas, the 40's are last to be offered from cheaper sources or in boxes.

I'm not brand loyal. I've used Mobil1 0W-40 European Formula the most and never had a problem. People on this board claim it has great cleaning properties.
Turbocharged engines got me paying attention to oils about 20 years ago.

If price is paramount (when ISN'T it?) maybe drum delivery is what you need.

Is this what you seek or does every candidate oil need to cover the VW spec?
Just looking for inspiration ;)
 
If I had a shop I'd stock Liqui Moly or Motul.

Euro dweebs love to see those big logos in the shop window. Could also upsell a ton of additives like MoS2, Ceratec, Jectron, etc.
I used a liquimoly engine flush in a Pug diesel once and the engine started squeaking as if a bearing was running dry.
Fine after the new oil was in and wasn't doing it before I put the flush in.
It's anecdotal but I've not really trusted the brand since.
 
How long have you been in business?
I ask because it would be interesting to hear what your customers have said/asked/demanded in oiling service over the years.
 
How long have you been in business?
I ask because it would be interesting to hear what your customers have said/asked/demanded in oiling service over the years.
30 years...

They're not BITOGers though, I suspect people will just gravitate towards the most recognisable brands which will track the marketing their exposed to.

I may have to swing towards the 5w-40 as this is usually the only viscosity recommended in the manual for fixed interval VAGs, maybe a 5w-40 VW502.00 and MB229.5 oil would be best for us.
 
You're in England so I'd look into Total Quartz 5W40 Energy.

German made wasn't as big a selling point as in the US the last time I was there, but this may have changed. Same comment for Motul and the made in France, but X-cess 5w40 is a possible choice otherwise.
Both oils above have VW 502 and MB 229.5 approvals.
 

copy and paste anything on this list and look for the biggest bulk discount.
 
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Quaker State isn't available in the UK. Generally, does it even make much sense
asking Americans if the OP is based in England? If yes, then to a limited extent.
That said, it shouldn't be any issue at all to find some 5W-40 coming with both
VW 502 00 and MB 229.5 approvals. That's pretty common on all the European
markets.
Btw, why VW 502 00? Very most VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda in the UK are run on
VW 504 00 and 504 00 tends to be superior to 502 00 anyway. Many VW 504 00
(LL 3/III) oils come along with MB 229.51 which is another demanding approval.
Again quite easy to obtain in the UK.
.
 
.
Quaker State isn't available in the UK. Generally, does it even make much sense
asking Americans if the OP is based in England? If yes, then to a limited extent.
That said, it shouldn't be any issue at all to find some 5W-40 coming with both
VW 502 00 and MB 229.5 approvals. That's pretty common on all the European
markets.
Btw, why VW 502 00? Very most VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda in the UK are run on
VW 504 00 and 504 00 tends to be superior to 502 00 anyway. Many VW 504 00
(LL 3/III) oils come along with MB 229.51 which is another demanding approval.
Again quite easy to obtain in the UK.
.
The correct oil recommendation in the UK is 5w-30 504.00 on variable service regime and 5w-40 502.00 on fixed interval on most petrol engines.
Most people who are on variable should be on fixed for best engine protection.
5w-30 ll3 is only recommended for light-duty long-distance driving as a rule of thumb.
It's just a throw out question as to what you would be happy to see on ;;your invoice at the end of the day.
I've just seen 5 litrs of M1 ESP at ECP for £93!!
 

copy and paste anything on this list and look for the biggest bulk discount.
I really wanna put AeroShell Oil Diesel Ultra in a car now.
 
The correct oil recommendation in the UK is 5w-30 504.00 on variable service regime and 5w-40 502.00 on fixed interval on most petrol engines.
Most people who are on variable should be on fixed for best engine protection.
5w-30 ll3 is only recommended for light-duty long-distance driving as a rule of thumb.
It's just a throw out question as to what you would be happy to see on ;;your invoice at the end of the day.
I've just seen 5 litrs of M1 ESP at ECP for £93!!

Dude, you're clueless. If you think you know better don't ask.
There's no reason not to use VW 504 00/507 00 (or VW 511 00
if anyone insists to run 0W/5W-40) and change earlier than VW
allows. How should it even be an issue? VW 504 00 is the more
demanding approval compared to old and outdated VW 502 00.
I'm quite certain you could find M1 ESP 5W-30 for ~ £40/5 litre.
.
 
Sounds very much like you do exactly what I do. Pick a *w40 oil that meets ACEA C3 with a few approvals and with a few minor exeptions just use it in everything.

What sort of quanitity are you intending on purchasing? Might be worth speaking to Opie Oils or Broughton Lubricants about your requirements and see what they offer.

I've also had good experiences with Millers Oils but they're a bt stingey with approvals.
 
Dude, you're clueless. If you think you know better don't ask.
There's no reason not to use VW 504 00/507 00 (or VW 511 00
if anyone insists to run 0W/5W-40) and change earlier than VW
allows. How should it even be an issue? VW 504 00 is the more
demanding approval compared to old and outdated VW 502 00.
I'm quite certain you could find M1 ESP 5W-30 for ~ £40/5 litre.
.
Clueless might be pushing it.

Flexible service​

Recommended if you:

  • Regularly drive more than 25 miles per day

  • Regularly drive long-distance

  • You drive at a constant speed with minimum vehicle and engine loading, such as hill climbs, towing, and driving with passengers

  • Fixed service​

    Recommended if:

    • You drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year

    • Mainly drive in the city, or if you make frequent short journeys

    • Often carry out high engine loading activities, such as hill climbs, towing, and driving with passengers

    • You often drive using a high rpm with heavy acceleration and braking
      1647334551683.jpg
 
.
So what? Just leave the ECU in 'flexible/variable interval mode'
and change oil earlier (e.g. annually) regardless. Again, what's
the issue with that? Thousands of VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda owners
are doing it that way for years, myself included.
.
 
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