ACEA C2 instead of A5?

[BobGoblin]

Hello. I drive Kia Ceed JD (2017; 1.4 petrol mpi kappa III engine, petrol).

In my user manual it is recomended to use 5w30 ACEA A5/B5 oil. My car is equiped with TWC (three way catalyst converter).

I am thinking why to use A5, would it be better to use ACEA C2 oil? (both have the same HTHS specs), but C2 has lower SAPS levels to protect TWC? I change my oil every 7.500 kilometers, so I dont mind lower TBN on C2 oil.

What are your thoughts?

 

[oil_film_movies]

You're right. Lower saps is fine with the usual low-sulphur petrol in Europe. Here in the U.S., I think we finally have low-sulphur petrol after many years of having to avoid mid-saps oils because of it.
Looks like Kia wanted the higher TBN of A5/B5 just to make sure engines didn't get problems from short tripping (cool engines, water/acid build-up issues, you know). I don't think TWC (catalyst) issues matter here since both C2 and A5/B5 oils have low phosphorus which is the main culprit in fouling catalysts in oil-consuming engines.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Agreed. As long as you have ultra low sulfur fuel over there in Bosnia, I'd say you're OK with that approach.

With that said, if the car is still under warranty, and there is a chance the manufacturer will give you trouble over not using the recommended oil, then I'd stick with what the owner's manual calls for, at least during warranty period.

Welcome to BITOG!

 

[Kamele0N]

I had the same engine in my 2011 Hy i30 FD... Mine was happy with full saps shell helix hx7 10w40 or ultra 5w40

Edit: Hx7 was also what they put in at my trusted Hyundai service under warranty

 

[BobGoblin]

I gave up the waranty, I do oil changes myself. 4x cheaper, and I know what I pour in the engine, and I do oil changes twice as often (they recommend service interval 15k Km). And here if they dont do services at dealer shop, you have no waranty. I feel lucky, we will see. I drove Hyundai IX35 before this car, also new, never had single problem in 6 years (150k Km).

Ok, I will use ACEA C2 then, 5w30, and continue with 7.5k Km intervals. Thanks.

I find this local oil from Croatia rafinery INA: INA ULTRA PC 5w30 (ACEA A5/B5/C2; API SN; PSA B712290; HTHS 2,97; TBN 8,65; Sulfated ash: 0,63%...). I dont trust major brand names, because there are a lot of counterfits here in Bosnia. I am sure this is original (they have their onw petrol stations and rafinery). And price is good too. (6 eur/L)

 

[Kamele0N]

If you dont have trust in your local suppliers...try to "inport"...

www.autodoc.com

 

[Kamele0N]

Moreover...Hyundai is in alliance with Shell...

But Kia swears on Total (in a same engine)... On Total ineo Mc3 5w30 in particular...

http://www.totaloil.com.au/automoti...cmo_engine-oil/quartz-ineo-mc3-5w30.html

https://www.lubricants.total.com/business/agriculture-business/partnerships/kia-recommends-total

But this oil is ACEA C3 and not C2/A5/B5!

 

[BobGoblin]

I know, my KIA has sticker under the hood which recommends total quarz, but when you go to dealership service they have Shell bottles all over the place.

I put in my second oil change Total MC3, and 3.000km later when I did the research I found out it is C3, and I drained it (changed the filter too!), and put Comma X-Tech 5w30 (A5) (Exxon grupation it appears to be, made in UK: TBN 10, suphated ash 1.1%), but for next change I plan to use INA ULTRA PC 5w30 (A5-C2; TBN 8,65, supphated ash 0,6%,), or Comma Pro-Tech 5w30 (A5-C2; TBN 7, sulphated ash 0,7%, ).

 

[Kamele0N]

There is no difference regarding "SAPS" level between C2 and C3... You are only battling your fuel consumption here with C2 (lower HTHS)...but you are also compromising protection of your engine with that

If you are afraid for your TWC...you will have to go either towards C1 or C4 spec...

https://www.oilspecifications.org/acea.php

 

[BobGoblin]

Thats true, but for my engine is recomended lower HTHS (ACEA A5) so I gues C2 is prefect substitution for A5 in my case, but you are right for even better protection of TWC I could use C1, but i think it is not necessery to go that far.

I will stick to C2. .

 

[Kamele0N]

Be sure that these "recommendations" are written only with fuel economy or longer TWC/DPF life in mind

For my ex 2011 i30 with exactly the same engine (internally)... A3/B4 API SM was "good to go spec"

Same story in my fathers ex i30 with 1.6CRDi (2008 pre DPF)... B4/ API CF....my ex girlfriends Ceed (2013 with DPF) with the same engine internally... ACEA C3....but there was also a statement.... For optimal fuel efficiency you can choose ACEA C2 also....

 

[BobGoblin]

I dont think it was the same engine as prior to 2016 year there was G4FA engine (1.4 cvvt mpi), and after 2016 there was Kappa III 1.4 (cvvt, mpi) engine in Kia and Hyundai. Maybe for that G4FA it was recomended A3, and for newer Kappa III A5.

https://www.automaniac.org/engine/hyundai/1687/hyundai-1368cc-petrol-1.4-kappa-iii-16v-100hp

https://www.automaniac.org/engine/hyundai/868/hyundai-1396cc-petrol-1.4-gamma-g4fa-16v-100hp

(G4FA engine is 1396ccm, and Kappa III is 1368ccm).

 

[Kamele0N]

Didnt know that! You are correct!

Atkinson cycle + GDi(?)...?

But nevertheless....A5/C1/C2 has nothing to do with better performances....but with fuel economy and TWC/DPF life...(lower HTHS + SAPS levels)

 

[BobGoblin]

No, newer kappa iii is also mpi (thank God - I hate gdi).