Oil Weights VS. Countries

[ewetho]

Was looking around and found that my car recommends 5w30 or 10w30 here in the US. In UK the recommend 10W-40 or 15w40. In AUS they recommend 20W-50.


All from Shell. HUH!!! Why....

Heck Australia seems to have only a Syn listed down to a 30 and all others are 5W,10W,15W-40 or higher even up to 20W60. YIKES!!!!

And after looking around the world you have people wonder if 5W-20 really works???

On a modular V-8 from Ford is sure seems to but dang is that confusing in the end.

 

[BuickGN]

Same thing I've noticed. That's why I have no problem running Amsoil ACD 30wt in my TL being that I'm always bouncing between Bakersfield, Vegas, and Phonenix.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
ewetho - The Neon here in OZ generally has a 5w30 or 10w30 recommendation from both Castrol and Mobil (Charts). In each case they are a Group 3 or Group 4 product

Many Euro engines have a preferred WW oil viscosity. In the case of Porsche this is 0w-40. 5w-40 or M1 5w-50 are also on the Approvals List (not Cayenne V6) which contains around 100 lubricants. Not all lubricanst are available World Wide however

The operating proviso with Porsche is;
0w-40 below -25C (-12f) (preferred)
5w-40 above -25C (-12f)
5w-50 above -25C (-12f)

One reason why variances occur is the un-availability of certain lubricant viscosties in various Countries

In Australia we have a splendid range of lubricants - in both Brands and viscosities

I hope this helps
Doug

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: ewetho
Heck Australia seems to have only a Syn listed down to a 30 and all others are 5W,10W,15W-40 or higher even up to 20W60. YIKES!!!!


You mean that you haven't come across 25W-70 and 40W-70 yet ?

 

[sprintman]

20W60 is machine oil. 40W70 is a better choice for most engines.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
C'mon fellas - ya know that Amsoil 45w-75 has been down here for a while now. It was released to combat M1 35w-80 (Group 6)!

Good for use in flooded areas like here in Airlie to combat dilution!

Regards
Doug

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
ewetho - The Neon here in OZ generally has a 5w30 or 10w30 recommendation from both Castrol and Mobil (Charts). In each case they are a Group 3 or Group 4 product

Many Euro engines have a preferred WW oil viscosity. In the case of Porsche this is 0w-40. 5w-40 or M1 5w-50 are also on the Approvals List (not Cayenne V6) which contains around 100 lubricants. Not all lubricanst are available World Wide however

The operating proviso with Porsche is;
0w-40 below -25C (-12f) (preferred)
5w-40 above -25C (-12f)
5w-50 above -25C (-12f)

One reason why variances occur is the un-availability of certain lubricant viscosties in various Countries

In Australia we have a splendid range of lubricants - in both Brands and viscosities

I hope this helps
Doug


I haven't noticed a 5W-20 yet...

My 05 camry - if i follow the woner's manual I can chuck anything from 5w30 to 20w-50 in there!!

I iwsh they would just make a recommendation.. .

 

[lars11]

Well, in Sweden which is one of the colder european countries, xw-40 seem to be the popular choice. This is Statoil's whole assortment of gas station oils. 5w20, 0w30? What's that??
-------
ClassicWay 10W-40
ClassicWay 20W-50
ClassicWay Low Smoke 10W-40
LazerWay 5W-40
LazerWay C 5w30
LazerWay C 5W-40
LazerWay F 5w30
LazerWay G 5w30
LazerWay LL 5w30
PRO Diesel TDI 10W-40
PRO Semi Synthetic 10W-40
PRO Synthetic 5W-40
PRO Synthetic C 5W-40
PRO Traditional 10W-40
SuperWay 10W-40
SuperWay 505.01 5W-40
SuperWay 5w30
SuperWay TDI 10W-40

 

[Shannow]

crinkles,
it's easier for you if they don't make a recommendation, particularly with Toyota (Oz's) "continuum of temperature bands".

That way, no commonly available weight is truly "wrong".

Use it to your advantage, pick something.

 

[Pablo]

You have received some good answers already.....my thoughts are: tradition (as in we've always used these viscosities), availability (to some extent), CAFE in the USA, car culture and market center and research driven in the USA.

Somewhat comparable to Asia getting all the small neato gadgets first.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: lars11
Well, in Sweden which is one of the colder european countries, xw-40 seem to be the popular choice. This is Statoil's whole assortment of gas station oils. 5w20, 0w30? What's that??
-------
ClassicWay 10W-40
ClassicWay 20W-50
ClassicWay Low Smoke 10W-40
LazerWay 5W-40
LazerWay C 5w30
LazerWay C 5W-40
LazerWay F 5w30
LazerWay G 5w30
LazerWay LL 5w30
PRO Diesel TDI 10W-40
PRO Semi Synthetic 10W-40
PRO Synthetic 5W-40
PRO Synthetic C 5W-40
PRO Traditional 10W-40
SuperWay 10W-40
SuperWay 505.01 5W-40
SuperWay 5w30
SuperWay TDI 10W-40


You don't need a thin oil in Sweden. You have all those good looking blondes to keep you warm at night.

 

[Jett Rink]

Let's hear it for the Swedish Bikini Team, while we're at it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Bikini_Team

Word on the street is that Ulla Swensen is unconvinced by the 5w-20 evangelists, and will not tolerate anything less than a 5w-40 in her Volvo turbo engine.

 

[Drivebelt]

Much of the different specifications for the same car (in different parts of the world) have to do with the varying base oils supplies around the world.

About 65% of the world Group II base oil production is here in North America -- and we use most of that capacity in our oil market. Another ~ 30% of GII production is in Asia Pacific (mostly Korea, S-oil and S.K.). This means that the vast majority of conventional motor oils outside N.A. are Group I based. There is no way to meet the latest specifications for the thinner motor oils like 5W-20, 5w30 and 10w30 with Group I base stocks. So, you either end up with heavier weight Group I oils like 15w40 or 20W-50 -- or perhaps a 10W-40 based oil that has older specifications (1990's) like SJ.

The auto manufacturers have to specify what is readily available, so, outside NA one either specifies synthetic, or a heavier conventional Group I based oil. You want as robust a Group I as possible and the 15W and 20W oils can use heavier weight base oils because they don't have to meet as stringent cold properties as the lower W's. This would particularly be the case in many of the warmer climates (Australia, most of South America) -- where they don't really need 5W or even 10W oils, so there has been no push to the thinner oils. They just use the heavier Group I based oils or synthetics. Europe has the same problem, they didn't invest in Group II plants so they either use the heavier Group I's or specify synthetics for longer drains to mitigate the costs and get higher quality oils.

There are likely some Group II/II+ (5W-20, 5w30, 10w30) SM/GF-4 rated oils outside NA, but probably not very many. Specifying a 5w30 in a place like Australia would put the mainstream consumer in the position of having to buy synthetic based oils which are quite expensive (compared to the prices we pay here in NA!). If faced with using a 10w30 or 20W- 50 Group I in a "tropical" climate, the heavier oil will take precedence over the lighter one (the fuel economy benefits of a 20 or 30 wt. over the 40-50 wt won't be as great in a warmer climate and don't outweigh using a heavier oil).

We have it good here in NA -- conventional oil "heaven".

We get "high-performance" Group II motor oils at about the same cost structure as what Group I based oils would cost.

 

[Eddie]

Interesting comments drivebelt. Your comments seem very reasonable. In another NG (Subaru & Honda) there was a comparison of recommended oils for the States and Europe. They had the same oil recommendation as the preferred weight but, Europe also stated that a grade heaver could be used.

 

[ewetho]

That is probably the most insightful comments I have read in a while Drivebelt. If that is true does that mean that while 5w30 is perfectly adequate to protect the engine 10W-40 or 20W-50 would still actually do a better job protecting the engine but trade in efficiency. Sure probably not a whole lot of difference but seems the effect would still remain. Hence the European propensity for 5W-40 or even the like 10W-60 for some motors while the rest of just give us 5W-20 or 5w30.

Sure a Minnesota or North Dakota winter you be better off on the light stuff but how about a Florida Summer???

 

[bar1]

All newer European cars use synthetic from factory and is recommended used at all times (unless you want to void warranty).
Almost all oils for newer cars are "full" synthetic 5w30. The only mfg I know of that used to recommend 10W-60 is BMW (in one specific engine), and mfg. of older air-cooled engines.

 

[bar1]

Here is typical chemistry of a 10W-40 mineral oil that is for older cars ( < 1990):

Base oil (DMSO-extract < 3%, IP 346) > 80 %
Sinkdialkylditiofosfat 272-028-3 68649-42-3 < 2,5 % Xi,N,R38 - R41 - R51/53

Baseoil - CAS/Einec nr: 101316-72-7 ; 74869-22-0 ; 64742-62-7 ; 64742-53-6; 64742-52-5 64742-53-6; 64742-52-5 containing DMSO- extract < 3%, IP 346 according to KIFS - Gas oil - unspecified CAS nr. 64742-46-7 meets N according to KIFS and Concawe : Higly refined base oil CAS nr.8042-47-5; 92045-45.

Anyone here with knowledge that can say if this is Grp I or grp III base oil?

 

[bar1]

Originally Posted By: lars11
Well, in Sweden which is one of the colder european countries, xw-40 seem to be the popular choice. This is Statoil's whole assortment of gas station oils. 5w20, 0w30? What's that??
-------
ClassicWay 10W-40
ClassicWay 20W-50
ClassicWay Low Smoke 10W-40
LazerWay 5W-40
LazerWay C 5w30
LazerWay C 5W-40
LazerWay F 5w30
LazerWay G 5w30
LazerWay LL 5w30
PRO Diesel TDI 10W-40
PRO Semi Synthetic 10W-40
PRO Synthetic 5W-40
PRO Synthetic C 5W-40
PRO Traditional 10W-40
SuperWay 10W-40
SuperWay 505.01 5W-40
SuperWay 5w30
SuperWay TDI 10W-40


Statoil (Statoil-Hydro) now has Lazerway V 0W-30. Developed for Volvo (and other) engines, spec. ACEA A5/B5, API SJ/CF.

I doubt this oil is grp I even if it's API SJ

Sorry for the language (maybe D.H. and Lars understands...) but the specs. are universal: http://www.statoil.no/file_archive/brosjyrer/LazerWay_familien_Salgsblad.pdf

 

[bar1]

Originally Posted By: bar1

Anyone here with knowledge that can say if this is Grp I or grp III base oil?

That should be group I or group II base oil.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: lars11

LazerWay F 5w30


I'm going to take a wild guess that oil is for Ford vehicles. And meets the WSS-M2C929-A spec.