Delvac 5w40, XD-3 0w40 or Petro 5w40 HD

[e36'n]

Hello all,

I'm going to be looking for a new oil soon for my 1992 BMW 325is Turbo. I'm currently on 3000kms with GC (mix of gold and green) and plan to run it a bit more before the first UOA.

I'm expecting GC to shear a bit due to the turbo aspect and am looking to replace it unless the UOA turns out extremely good.

I've narrowed it down to Delvac 1 5w-40, XD-3 Ow-40 or Petro 5w-40 HD. From my research I believe that the Delvac and XD-3 are Group IV or PAO oils and I'm not sure about the Petro HD. I was also looking at Rotella 0w-40, but there isn't much information on that oil at all and it might be a Group III.

Any advice/information about these oils in an aftermarket turbocharged BMW? Thanks in advance.

 

[SSDude]

The Delvac is Group IV/Group V. It is one of the best OC oils available. It is about 25% ester. Wait until the UOA. GC is a tough oil and does not have any VIs. It might not shear.

 

[e36'n]

VI's?

 

[Gary Allan]

VII's Viscosity Index Improvers

 

[e36'n]

Thanks.

Any other thoughts

 

[Patman]

I agree with SSDude, keep running GC and wait for the UOA report. With no VII in it, GC probably won't shear. It will definitely be more shear stable than the other oils you listed.

 

[e36'n]

Thanks gents.

Gary - You wouldn't use Delvac 1 as it's too expensive? I'm trying to go to a cheaper oil as well since GC is $8.99/qt. Rotella 0w-40 is $25 for a 4L jug, though I don't know it's compound.

What about the flash point of the GC? I know the oil temps of my car are going to be much higher than pre-turbo. Is that something I'll have to worry about?

 

[Gary Allan]

I don't know how much Delvac 1 is in Canada. Here it's quite expensive ...like $30+/-/gallon US$.

As far as oil temps, I wouldn't worry too much. It will age the oil faster. Do you intend to install an oil temp gauge?

If you're looking for cheaper ..I imagine XD-3 is your oil of choice. I have no personal experience with it. I don't know how it compares to GC in either the 0w-30 or 0w-40 flavors.

One of the other members may be able to link you to GC's PDS

Here's XD-3 PDF file from Imperial Esso

 

[Gary Allan]

I'll say that GC would be the choice if you get a favorable UOA report. It appears to be about the king of sub 40 weight oils. In some apps it's a little weak in TBN retention ..but not in all.

Delvac 1, imo, is about the most bullet proof oil available. I've only ever seen it beat up by one user here on the board and he had some unique issues, IIRC. I don't think, given the price, that I would use this oil in any other situation then extended OCIs. If I needed a 40 weight, and lived in Canada, XD-3 0w-40 would probably be my choice.

You get the 0w-40 Rotella in Canada. I don't know if it's the XHVII proprietary formula that we get in the States which is a 5w-40. You're right. Not one mention of it on the Shell Canadian site or the SOPUS US site. 0w-40 produces references to Ultra-Helix 0w-40.

There's no reason to go heavier then you have to. If GC works out. Stick with it

 

[pitzel]

Basically, get the UOA done on the GC mixture whenever you feel like it. XD-3 0W-30 is functionally identical to GC in terms of UOA's, but XD-3 retains its TBN better for long drains. Because of the cost difference, it pretty much is a no-brainer to use XD-3 whenever you can.

In all fairness, I doubt there will be significant differences in performance between any of the oils you mentioned, whether XD-3 0W-30, XD-3 0W-40, Rotella 0W-40, PC Duron 5W-40, Castrol 0W-30, or Delvac-1. But the Esso/Imperial Oil product is by far the least expensive, and has proven top notch performance (at least equal to Delvac-1 and GC) in every application tested thus far in the UOA section.

 

[68882]

If you live in canada you can buy delvac 1 from your local esso agent in 20 liter pails, this is a bit cheaper than what you'll find elsewhere.

 

[e36'n]

I'll be installing an oil temp gauge in the future, but I still am looking for that "perfect" one for my car. I might go with one of those dual guages that display pressure and temp.

Thanks for the insight on the oils everyone. I'll look into the prices and I'm waiting for a reply from Petro and Shell regarding their base compounds.

I figure any of the oils will be a good choice, but most of the people with similar setups seem to go for a Mobil 15w-50 cut with M1 0w-40. I've had great luck with GC, so I figured why change.

I'll check the prices out and post back.

 

[Drivebelt]

The Petro-canada 5w-40 is a Grp III. But the pour point is so low (-48C) I wonder sometimes if there may be some PAO blended in there too.

P-C also makes some Synthetic blend HDEO’s. The 0w-30 is a thick 30wt -- 12.1cST, like GC. This might be a good oil to try for year round use depending on the OCI.

 

[TooSlick]

I'd use the ESSO 0w-30 instead of their 0w-40 for wintertime use and run Delvac 1 in during your two weeks of summer weather.

The PC Duron 5w-40 will shear considerably in this application. I managed to shear it in my 130 Hp Audi 100...

TS

 

[e36'n]

quote:

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Originally posted by TooSlick:
I'd use the ESSO 0w-30 instead of their 0w-40 for wintertime use and run Delvac 1 in during your two weeks of summer weather.

The PC Duron 5w-40 will shear considerably in this application. I managed to shear it in my 130 Hp Audi 100...

TS

---

Alright so the PC Duron 5w-40 is out then. I read that Rotella 0w-40 is not as good as their 5w-40, so unless I hear otherwise that's out too.

Why do you suggest the 0w-30 over the 0w-40? With all the global warming going on our summer has been hot so far and the past winter was extremely mild by our standars. I'd like to find an oil I could run for more than a year straight, but who knows if that will ever happen (unless it's GC of course).

Still haven't gotten replies from any of the reps, but will post when I do.

 

[e36'n]

I've got some prices:

Delvac 1 5w-40: $7.80/L if I buy (4) 4.0 litre jugs or $8.26/L if I buy it by the 4.0L jug.

Esso XD-3 0w-40: $5.58/L when buying a case of 12 and $5.41/L when buying 16. The XD-3 0w-30 costs a bit less.

GC Syntec 0w-30: $8.99/L

Rotella 0w-40: $7.49/L


I'm leaning towards Delvac 1 right now unless XD-3 is 99.5% as good as the Delvac or GC.

 

[pitzel]

quote:

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Originally posted by e36'n:
I'm leaning towards Delvac 1 right now unless XD-3 is 99.5% as good as the Delvac or GC.

---

I'd say 100% as good as Delvac 1, and probably better than GC because of the higher TBN for longer drains.

Also, your XD-3 prices appear to be inclusive of taxes and environmental surcharges, while the GC prices probably do not contain any tax.

 

[e36'n]

quote:

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Originally posted by pitzel:
I'd say 100% as good as Delvac 1, and probably better than GC because of the higher TBN for longer drains.

Also, your XD-3 prices appear to be inclusive of taxes and environmental surcharges, while the GC prices probably do not contain any tax.

---

You really are partial to the XD-3, can I ask why? I've looked for UOA's and haven't found any spectacular ones.

Also, both the oils are plus GST, but I believe the XD-3 included the environmental surcharge.

 

[e36'n]

Bump.

Anyone know why the XD-3 is one of the best oils available?