After experimenting with many oils and OCIs during the last years i finally went through my stash and decided that i will probably focus on buying exclusively MB229.5 synthetics since they can be had at a good price nowadays with all the sales and skip the lesser stuff i used to buy (10w40 mainly). My question is, does the viscosity difference really matter with specs such as MB229.5, Porsche A40, BMW LL-01 etc? I know HTHS will be somewhat similar (3.5 to 3.7 or 3.8). I used oils at both end of the spectrum (11.7 up to 14.7 100c cSt) and didn't notice any difference in throttle response, engine noise, gas mileage or oil consumption as long as oil level is right in the middle.
MB229.5 : 5w30 vs 5w40, does it matter?
- Thread starter OM605
- Start date
There will be difference. Do not forget that approvals are minimum requirement, not maximum. There will be difference between Castrol 5W40 and 0W40 mainly bcs. 0W40 is around 50% PAO.
The oils i am interested in will be Shell Helix Ultra 5w30 and 5w40 (thin) as well as Total Quartz 9000 5w40 (thick). They are often on sale. Here's some TDS, they are in french but they are more representative of what i can get on the shelves here.
Topic is from 2013...but be adviced that there are minor differences between Shell HX7/HX8/Ultra brands...you can often get MB 229.5 oil wich is labeled as 229.3...
Oil-club.ru Shell HX7 5w40
Oil-club.ru Shell HX7 5w40
Interesting, from what i understand oil manufacturesr will only stamp "MB229.5" on their jugs if the oil is officialy approved and is on the bevo list while 229.3 doesn't need to be an approval and can be written as a spec. One example that comes to mind is the Tech9 5w40 i used to buy : Porsche A40, BMW LL-01, PSA B71 2296, RN 0700/0710, VW 502.00/ 505.00, GM LL-B-025, FIAT 9.55535-H2/M2/N2/Z2, MB 229.3/226.5. It has the exact same specs/approvals as the more expensive Shell and Total oils but just lacks 229.5.
Last edited:
229.3 is a current approval just like 229.5, where did you see it was different? If the oil has that approval it should be printed exactly as described in the Bevo list. Any deviation from that exact wording should be regarded as suspect. Just listing the approval number is not correct.
If an oil lacks an approval, it lacks the approval. And as always, grade is nearly irrelevant with these approvals.
If an oil lacks an approval, it lacks the approval. And as always, grade is nearly irrelevant with these approvals.
If it has MB226.5...than it is also 229.5
www.oilspecifications.org
Regarding Tech9 (previous labeled as Extralube)....I peraonally think that it is rebotled Shell...
Same colour scheme between jugs....same approvals....
Mercedes Oil Specifications - oilspecifications.org
Regarding Tech9 (previous labeled as Extralube)....I peraonally think that it is rebotled Shell...
Same colour scheme between jugs....same approvals....
Here, Tech9 is currently made by Avia, looking at the EMB code on the jugs it comes from an Avia plant and i found the TDS.If it has MB226.5...than it is also 229.5
Mercedes Oil Specifications - oilspecifications.org
Regarding Tech9 (previous labeled as Extralube)....I peraonally think that it is rebotled Shell...
Same colour scheme between jugs....same approvals....
Their vw 504/507 has approvals written like that...
Fabrication and obfuscation in listing approvals, specifications and licenses isn’t a substitute for the real thing.
Last edited:
One cannot account for sloppy nomenclature regardless of brand.
Read it somewhere on bitog, 229.1 and 229.3 can be both approvals or just specs unlike 229.5 which has to be approved by MB to be legally printed on an oil jug.
I’d love to see some documentation from Mercedes-Benz that confirms that.
Me too, that's my observation, not sure what it's worth but i'd like to have the official answer.
The official answer is what’s printed in the Bevo list.
Good one! That's why i trust 229.5 more, at least in the case of buying oil without consulting the bevo list.
EDIT : after looking at the 229.5 list again, Aviasynth 5w40 is on it but not on the 229.3 and 226.5 lists as stated in the TDS. Go figure.
EDIT : after looking at the 229.5 list again, Aviasynth 5w40 is on it but not on the 229.3 and 226.5 lists as stated in the TDS. Go figure.
Last edited:
Is there an oil easier to get and cheaper than Total quartz 9000 in France. They have an offering on the 229.5 bevo list in every viscosity.
A store near me has Repsol Elite Evolution 5w40 full synthetic for only 17€ which is dirt cheap but the specs look kinda weird and outdated to me : API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B3-04,A3/B4-04, C3, MB 229.31, BMW LL-04, VW 502.00 / 505.00/ 505.01, PORSCHE A40, FORD WSS-M2C917-A. Should i pass?
Similar threads
- Locked
