WM now carrying the M1 5W30 ESP for $27 per jug in stores (same price as the 0W30 ESP at WM in stores).
M1 0W30 ESP vs. M1 5W30 ESP ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
- Start date
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
It's my understanding the 0w-30 has a bit of a better base stock than the 5w-30.
Could you provide a source on that? Genuinely curious.
Since no one has replied yet, it's from VOAs showing there are esters in the 0W-30 but not in the 5W-30. It is suspected (not by me, can't take credit) that this is because the BMW LL04 certification requires a low oxidation, so they can't use esters.
It seems to me that, if a spec has the effect of disqualifying an entire class of extremely useful lubricating chemicals, it is quite poorly written.
If indeed the speculation is true. It seems unlikely to me that someone at BMW wouldn’t see that unintentional effect, but I’ve seen worse nonsense make it way out the door due to corporate dynamics.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
I see I got here a bit late. @tired pretty much got it. The 0w has a high oxidation number on VOA which suggests a good ester amount.
“Better”…
Eh…
Not sure if you can truly say “better” unless the 0W-30 meets tougher approvals (it doesn’t), or you’ve independently verified results through multiple UOAs.
But if the presence of esters gives you warm fuzzies, then I understand that.
Only ESP 5W-30 on the shelf currently at my local Dickson, Tennessee Walmart.
I bought a jug for the Odyssey’s next OCI. It’ll be getting a couple of quarts of the 0W-30 mixed in since I have a couple on hand.
I bought a jug for the Odyssey’s next OCI. It’ll be getting a couple of quarts of the 0W-30 mixed in since I have a couple on hand.
Patman
Staff member
I must admit that knowing that the 5w30 no longer uses esters in its base oil has me wondering if I should switch my Corvette to 0w30 ESP. But then another part of me feels like they know what they’re doing with the formulation of these oils and it’s not as if they have lost any of the manufacturers approvals on the 5w30. And the 5w30 is more likely to hold its viscosity (and HTHS) better than the 0w30, which is especially important in my case because my oil change intervals in the Corvette are usually around 7000 miles.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
It’s only natural that a larger spread has to have a better base stock. That’s been touted here for years.“Better”…
Eh…
Not sure if you can truly say “better” unless the 0W-30 meets tougher approvals (it doesn’t), or you’ve independently verified results through multiple UOAs.
But if the presence of esters gives you warm fuzzies, then I understand that.
So yes, esters give me warm fuzzies, and my engine smiles when I start it!
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
ESP 5W30 had a similar base stock. ESP 5W30 is updated, ESP 0W30 is still previous generation base stock.
ESP 5W30 that had esters had Noack 7.1%, now it is I think around 9%.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
So which one is now stouter?
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I think we are trying to find needle in the haystack here.
Amsoil ss 0w-30, maybe a better choice in many applications, go for the preferred customer pricing deal.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Why would it be better?
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
Then why a difference in base stock?
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
As I mentioned before, in every topic about these two oils, ESP 5W30 is newer version. Previous ESP 5W30 had same base stock composition as current 0W30. Perhaps they will soon update 0W30? Perhaps they can achieve in 5W30 whatever they want with those stocks but in 0W30 they can’t?
Small world. I'm in Franklin but we are buying a home in Fairview so we stopped by their Walmart for some stuff recently.
it is a better oil.