Hello, 'Been maintaining an ever increasing fleet of turboed cars-3 Saab 9-5 2.3l to be specific. The manuals state that ACEA A3,B3 rated oil is preferred in these engines. It's been mentioned on this board before. I just read today on the Amalie oil site that they have an A3,B3 rated mineral oil under their Wolf's Head Super Duty brand. I assumed such an oil had to be a synthetic; GC (German Castrol 0W-30), Mobil 1 0W-40, Amsoil (whatever the "European Formula" oil is) or a Redline product. I've e-mailed the company to ask for particulars. Does anybody know anything about or have any experience with these products from Amalie? At the moment shipping to the US for orders over $19 is free. How can this not be tempting to a turbo owner? Kira
A3,B3 oils for turbocharged engines
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Originally Posted By: Kira
Hello, 'Been maintaining an ever increasing fleet of turboed cars-3 Saab 9-5 2.3l to be specific. The manuals state that ACEA A3,B3 rated oil is preferred in these engines. It's been mentioned on this board before. I just read today on the Amalie oil site that they have an A3,B3 rated mineral oil under their Wolf's Head Super Duty brand.
My observation: they play very fast and loose with manufacturer's specifications. Based on that alone, I'd stay away. They claim their Universal ATF is suitable for my Ford CVT? There's not another fluid out there, including specific chain drive CVT fluids, which claim they're suitable?
They basically seem to look up every published spec and claim to meet it. I'll pass.
Hello, 'Been maintaining an ever increasing fleet of turboed cars-3 Saab 9-5 2.3l to be specific. The manuals state that ACEA A3,B3 rated oil is preferred in these engines. It's been mentioned on this board before. I just read today on the Amalie oil site that they have an A3,B3 rated mineral oil under their Wolf's Head Super Duty brand.
My observation: they play very fast and loose with manufacturer's specifications. Based on that alone, I'd stay away. They claim their Universal ATF is suitable for my Ford CVT? There's not another fluid out there, including specific chain drive CVT fluids, which claim they're suitable?
They basically seem to look up every published spec and claim to meet it. I'll pass.
And remember, claiming to meet or exceed the spec is not the same as being officially tested.
Originally Posted By: dparm
And remember, claiming to meet or exceed the spec is not the same as being officially tested.
How does an oil get "officially tested" (and approved) A3, B3?
And remember, claiming to meet or exceed the spec is not the same as being officially tested.
How does an oil get "officially tested" (and approved) A3, B3?
I meant manufacturer approvals, not ACEA.
A3 is what matters for your Saabs.
B3 is for diesels.
Many reasonably priced oils claim to meet A3, like Maxlife SB or Valvoline Durablend, both in 10W-40.
GC and M1 0W-40 both meet this spec, as well as many manufacturer's specs.
Certainly Rotella T6 would meet A3, were it tested to it, as would any synthetic 5W-40.
What grades does Saab allow for these cars?
A 15w40 HDEO would certainly be sufficiently robust for these cars, if Saab recommends that weight.
Even if not, since most A3s are forty grades, a 15w40 would be fine for use above freezing.
I doubt that you'd find anything special in some oddball brand, although I could be wrong.
B3 is for diesels.
Many reasonably priced oils claim to meet A3, like Maxlife SB or Valvoline Durablend, both in 10W-40.
GC and M1 0W-40 both meet this spec, as well as many manufacturer's specs.
Certainly Rotella T6 would meet A3, were it tested to it, as would any synthetic 5W-40.
What grades does Saab allow for these cars?
A 15w40 HDEO would certainly be sufficiently robust for these cars, if Saab recommends that weight.
Even if not, since most A3s are forty grades, a 15w40 would be fine for use above freezing.
I doubt that you'd find anything special in some oddball brand, although I could be wrong.
Hi,
Pablo - The system has been in place since 1995-6 as follows - but you know that:
STARTS
CERTIFICATION and REGISTRATION
Claims against the ACEA Oil Sequences can be made on a self-certification basis. ACEA asks oil marketers wishing to use the ACEA claims to register their product with the registration system on the ACEA website.
All information needed for registration is requested on a form which is available in the appropriate section of the ACEA website (www.acea.be).
Engine Oils claiming any of the ACEA oil sequences should be registered directly after their launch into the market. After completing the form it will be saved on the ACEA server. If claims are no longer needed oil companies are asked to delete their registration.
If claims are continued to be used after three years re-registration is needed."
ENDS
I suppose the "dishonest" players simply disregard the formality of the system
I guess this is what makes OEM Approvals desireable for serious players
Pablo - The system has been in place since 1995-6 as follows - but you know that:
STARTS
CERTIFICATION and REGISTRATION
Claims against the ACEA Oil Sequences can be made on a self-certification basis. ACEA asks oil marketers wishing to use the ACEA claims to register their product with the registration system on the ACEA website.
All information needed for registration is requested on a form which is available in the appropriate section of the ACEA website (www.acea.be).
Engine Oils claiming any of the ACEA oil sequences should be registered directly after their launch into the market. After completing the form it will be saved on the ACEA server. If claims are no longer needed oil companies are asked to delete their registration.
If claims are continued to be used after three years re-registration is needed."
ENDS
I suppose the "dishonest" players simply disregard the formality of the system
I guess this is what makes OEM Approvals desireable for serious players
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Hello, To fdcg27: I don't know what grade oil is mentioned by Saab. By grade do you mean...
Grade I= Grandpa's smelly old oil
Grade II= Multi-vis, modern day oils
GradeIII= Re refined "fake" synthetics
Grade IV= Polyalfaolifins
Grade V = Ester based oils
I'm eagerly awaiting an answer from their HQ.
If their rep sounds legit I'm going to try their products.
Thanks to everyone for your input. Kira
Grade I= Grandpa's smelly old oil
Grade II= Multi-vis, modern day oils
GradeIII= Re refined "fake" synthetics
Grade IV= Polyalfaolifins
Grade V = Ester based oils
I'm eagerly awaiting an answer from their HQ.
If their rep sounds legit I'm going to try their products.
Thanks to everyone for your input. Kira
Given the history of the 2.3 turbo in the 9-5 I think it would be very foolish to skimp a few bucks per oil change by using a conventional oil regardless of what specs it's purported to have. I would highly recommend sucking it up and using a 5W-40 synthetic every 5k.
jeff
jeff
Grade=Weight.
What weights (grades) did Saab recommend for this thing?
Since they called for an A3 oil, and most A3s are forties, I'm thinking a forty would be ideal for this application.
If a forty is good, then a 15w40 should be fine for warm weather use.
A HDEO is intended for diesel turbo engines, after all, and a dual rated oil is fine for a gasser.
What weights (grades) did Saab recommend for this thing?
Since they called for an A3 oil, and most A3s are forties, I'm thinking a forty would be ideal for this application.
If a forty is good, then a 15w40 should be fine for warm weather use.
A HDEO is intended for diesel turbo engines, after all, and a dual rated oil is fine for a gasser.
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