Loosing my mind 😅 LL-01 0w30 equivalent

[carfanatic786]

Hi All,

my name is Shawn and this is my first post.

ive read through countless threads and am just confused .

so I have a 2015 n55 motor which I’ve always been using dealer motor oil which is bmw 0w30.
However it’s a long drive to the dealer and I just wanted to go after market.

now I know Pennzoil is the official motor oilfor BMW so I was thinking of running Pennzoil euro spec 0w30 however two issues , the oil is NOT LL-01 nor is it ACEA A5/B5 it’s actually ACEA c2/c3

my oil changes have always been 6 months or 5 thousand kilometers.
So do I have a legitimate concern or am I over thinking it and I should use the Pennzoil 0w30

thank you again

 

[oggb]

Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5w-30
Castrol Edge L 5w-30

 

[edyvw]

Hi All,

my name is Shawn and this is my first post.

ive read through countless threads and am just confused .

so I have a 2015 n55 motor which I’ve always been using dealer motor oil which is bmw 0w30.
However it’s a long drive to the dealer and I just wanted to go after market.

now I know Pennzoil is the official motor oilfor BMW so I was thinking of running Pennzoil euro spec 0w30 however two issues , the oil is NOT LL-01 nor is it ACEA A5/B5 it’s actually ACEA c2/c3

my oil changes have always been 6 months or 5 thousand kilometers.
So do I have a legitimate concern or am I over thinking it and I should use the Pennzoil 0w30

thank you again

What you using currently is not LL01, it is LL01FE.
Use LL01. You have Catsrol Edge 5W40, Valvoline Euro Vehicle 5W40 and Castrol Edge 5W30 A3/B4 in Wal Mart.
My choice would be Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40 that you can find in Advance Auto Parts for $33 for 5qt with filter.
Now, if car is out of warranty, get Mobil1 0W40 or Castrol Edge 0W40 in Wal Mart.
You can find much more info in Euro Vehicle section.

 

[carfanatic786]

Really wow I wasn’t aware there’s a Euro section I’m on my phone right now when I’m on my desktop I’ll definitely look it up , but I live in canada and it’s freezing which is why I’d prefer a 0wX oil

 

[kschachn]

How cold? A winter rating of 0W or 5W won’t make a difference until you’re below -30F or so.

 

[carfanatic786]

It’s approximately -40Celcius on some days also I’ve been using 0w30 for the longest time since I’ve owned the car

 

[edyvw]

It’s approximately -40Celcius on some days also I’ve been using 0w30 for the longest time since I’ve owned the car

Castrol Edge 0W40
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Pennzoil Euro 0W40
Castrol Edge 0W30 (probably best Euro oil. hard to find, very expensive).
Motul X-Max 0W40
Ravenol 0W40

You could go Pennzoil Platinum Euro 0W30 LX. But make sure your gas in low sulfur.

 

[OilUzer]

Does a 5000KM (3105 miles) oci need any LL oil?

 

[edyvw]

Does a 5000KM oci need any LL oil?

Yes, or MB229.5.

 

[edyvw]

Also, OP, any oil approved for MB229.5 will do it.

 

[carfanatic786]

Also, OP, any oil approved for MB229.5 will do it.

The oil I was thinking was Pennzoil 0w30 Euro, it a MB229.5 approved just has ACEA C2/C3 and NOT A5/B5 which is what worries me

 

[edyvw]

The oil I was thinking was Pennzoil 0w30 Euro, it a MB229.5 approved just has ACEA C2/C3 and NOT A5/B5 which is what worries me

Nothing to worry.
That oil is MB229.51 not MB229.5.
ACEA C3 is equivalent of ACEA A3. Difference is in SAPS level. ACEA A5/B5 are "thinner" energy conserving oils. ACEA A3/B3 B4, ACEA C3 are more robust and more appropriate for N55 engine. N55 originally was only specified for LL01. Later, to improve fuel efficiency LL01FE was introduced to dealers.
There is a lot on this subject in Euro section.
But, if I had N55, I would use ACE A3/B3 B4 or ACEA C3. What you want is oil to have MB229.5 approval. LL01 is desirable, but it is not as stringent as MB229.5.
C3 oils are good, but if gas has a lot of sulfur, not the best choice. I think in Canada you guys should have ULSG.

 

[Impatient]

Castrol Edge 0W40
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Pennzoil Euro 0W40
Castrol Edge 0W30 (probably best Euro oil. hard to find, very expensive).
Motul X-Max 0W40
Ravenol 0W40

You could go Pennzoil Platinum Euro 0W30 LX. But make sure your gas in low sulfur.

Is Castrol 0w30 still “best?” I’ve been using it for years in a Subaru turbo, but it’s has become hard to find a good price, and I’m down to 2 qts. I’ve been willing to spend more to get “better” oil, but curious if Castrol 0w30 EU (A3/B4) is what it used to be? Changed formula? Walmart now has Castrol Euro 5w30 LL01, but it appears to be “different.” Castrol 0w40 “appears” more similar to 0w30, but you seem to draw a distinction. I’ve had a couple 0w30 UOA’s and the formulas appear different (Ca/Mg mix, Mo, amount of Ti). Previously posted, here it is again. Pretty **** good, don’t you think? Subaru recommends 3750 change interval. Time for oil change. By the way, the Walmart Castrol Euro 5w30 is LL01. Appears from MSDS (which I barely understand...or mostly don’t understand), the 5w30 is more Grp III, 0w30 & 0w40 more Grp lV. Need to look again to see if 2019/2020 0w30 is still largely Grp IV. Some will say who cares? But maybe wear metals, viscosity, detergent mix don’t tell the whole story. Maybe Grp III vs Grp IV don’t tell story either. All that said, Subaru doesn’t recommend any of these, but hard to argue with results.

 

[bbhero]

Castrol Edge 0W40
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Pennzoil Euro 0W40
Castrol Edge 0W30 (probably best Euro oil. hard to find, very expensive).
Motul X-Max 0W40
Ravenol 0W40

You could go Pennzoil Platinum Euro 0W30 LX. But make sure your gas in low sulfur.

If you have a fancy vehicle.... This is one of the best guys on here with knowledge on them.


If I ever get a car that is like that 2019 Audi A5 I drove last year on vacation... Edyvw is someone I'd listen to.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

The Pennzoil Euro LX 0w30 is probably the best choice for you. There are no aftermarket LL01FE oils available outside of the dealership.

The Quaker State and Motomaster Euro LX oils are the same oil as the Pennzoil in a different bottle, for less money. All are available at Canadian Tire.

5k kilometre oil changes are also mega overkill, 8-10k is still conservative.

 

[edyvw]

Is Castrol 0w30 still “best?” I’ve been using it for years in a Subaru turbo, but it’s has become hard to find a good price, and I’m down to 2 qts. I’ve been willing to spend more to get “better” oil, but curious if Castrol 0w30 EU (A3/B4) is what it used to be? Changed formula? Walmart now has Castrol Euro 5w30 LL01, but it appears to be “different.” Castrol 0w40 “appears” more similar to 0w30, but you seem to draw a distinction. I’ve had a couple 0w30 UOA’s and the formulas appear different (Ca/Mg mix, Mo, amount of Ti). Previously posted, here it is again. Pretty **** good, don’t you think? Subaru recommends 3750 change interval. Time for oil change. By the way, the Walmart Castrol Euro 5w30 is LL01. Appears from MSDS (which I barely understand...or mostly don’t understand), the 5w30 is more Grp III, 0w30 & 0w40 more Grp lV. Need to look again to see if 2019/2020 0w30 is still largely Grp IV. Some will say who cares? But maybe wear metals, viscosity, detergent mix don’t tell the whole story. Maybe Grp III vs Grp IV don’t tell story either. All that said, Subaru doesn’t recommend any of these, but hard to argue with results.

0W30 is 25-50% PAO. Considering pour point of -57, it is close to 50%.
Yes, 0W40 and 0W30 are similar, but 0W30 has lower Noack, it is kind of in the sweet spot for cold climates, urban driving where you need thinner oil but at the same time robust oil.
On that note, I forgot to say that BMW TPT 5W30 is very good oil, but bit on heavy side, almost 10W30 as was pointed by Gokhan once. But it looks really, really good. You might try that. It has excellent additive package and Noack of 6.2%.

 

[edyvw]

The Pennzoil Euro LX 0w30 is probably the best choice for you. There are no aftermarket LL01FE oils available outside of the dealership.

The Quaker State and Motomaster Euro LX oils are the same oil as the Pennzoil in a different bottle, for less money. All are available at Canadian Tire.

5k kilometre oil changes are also mega overkill, 8-10k is still conservative.

I would not run it that long. N engines in BMW are running super hot and they tend to be hard on oils (not as some VW though).

 

[SlavaB]

Would M1 ESP 0w30 work?

 

[carfanatic786]

Nothing to worry.
That oil is MB229.51 not MB229.5.
ACEA C3 is equivalent of ACEA A3. Difference is in SAPS level. ACEA A5/B5 are "thinner" energy conserving oils. ACEA A3/B3 B4, ACEA C3 are more robust and more appropriate for N55 engine. N55 originally was only specified for LL01. Later, to improve fuel efficiency LL01FE was introduced to dealers.
There is a lot on this subject in Euro section.
But, if I had N55, I would use ACE A3/B3 B4 or ACEA C3. What you want is oil to have MB229.5 approval. LL01 is desirable, but it is not as stringent as MB229.5.
C3 oils are good, but if gas has a lot of sulfur, not the best choice. I think in Canada you guys should have ULSG.

Wow that’s awesome so your saying I could use my Pennzoil euro LX 0w30 as long as it has the MB.229.5 and is ACEA C2/C3 which is exactly what it says on the bottle , also what does ULSG mean ? Thank you

 

[Italia64]

ULSG = ultra-low sulfer gasoline