The GM LL A 25 Spec

[JohnSaints]

I was just wondering if it would be ok to use an oil that doesn't have this exact spec on a car that requires it.

The car I'm talking about is an Opel Corsa D 1.2.

The manual states (as any GM manual would) that you really have to use a GM LL A 25 oil on this engine, with a change time of 1 year/30.000 km but the owner (a friend) is using another oil, since the GM LL A 25 is impossible to find in his area of residence.

The oil he is using is the SHELL HELIX ULTRA 5W40, with a 15.000 km / 1 year change time. This oil has the following specs:

API SM/CF: ACEA A3/B4. VW 500 00/502 00/505 00.
Mercedes Benz 229.5; BMW Longlife-01. Japonese Engines Qualified; Porsche Aproved;
Peugeot / Citroen PSA E98; Fiat 9.55535 Z2; Renault RN 0710


Do you reckon he's OK using this oil?

 

[chubbs1]

I would say that that the Helix Ultra is fine. Great spec's. I would use it without hesitation.

Is his car still under warranty? Then you may want to ask an Opel Dealer, if he is worried about the warranty.

 

[JohnSaints]

Thanks for your answer!

The car is not in warranty period anymore, and the nearest Opel dealership is around 200 kilometers away (part of the reason the GM LL A 25 oil is impossible to find in that area).

I'm glad to know that he's using a quality oil.

 

[JHZR2]

My 2004 Saab 2.0t specifies that GM-LL-A-025 spec for its engine oil. In the manual, it specifically mentions that if the correct spec oil cannot be found, an ACEA A3 oil must be selected for use (this is really for top-up) until a suitable oil can be found.

The way it reads, they dont want you just to run any old A3 oil for the extended service interval, but an A3 oil is the requisite spec for oil if you cannot find the right one.

Since youre going from 1yr/30k km (Im surprised it isnt 2yr/30k, like my saab will allow up to) to 1yr/15k km, I'd say that youre likely OK. Helix is a good syn oil.

 

[Falcon_LS]

To the original poster, welcome to the BITOG.

You have not specified model year, but I believe the Corsa in question is still relatively new. Up until the mid 2000s, a 15,000 km/1 year drain interval was what Opel recommended. Having said that, the GM-LL-A-025 specification basically requires the following:

HTHS viscosity: >2.9 cSt
Viscosity classification: 0W-30, 5w30, 0W-40 or 5W-40
NOACK: span>11.5 wt%
TBN: >10.5 mg KOH/ g
Sulfated ash content: span> 1.6 wt%

So these are things you may wish to look for in a product data sheet. The GM-LL-B-025 specification is actually quite close. The only differences are:

HTHS viscosity: >3.5 cSt
TBN: > 9.0 mg KOH/ g

Looking at the specifications of Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40, there isn't information available on NOACK, TBN and sulfated ash content, so if there's anybody in the know, I hope they chime in.

That said, as others have mentioned, I see no problems using Helix Ultra and following the old service recommendation. But if you really wish to step up to 30,000 km intervals, Mobil 1 0W-40 is a great choice, meeting GM-LL-A-025. Is this readily available in your area?

 

[Trav]

He could just go and buy some Castrol Edge 0w30 for the 1.2 ecotec, it has the correct spec and widely available in Portugal.

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9006720&contentId=7015006

 

[JohnSaints]

Thanks you all for your answers, and thank you for the welcome!

Some of the oils you guys have mentioned that have the correct spec are widely available, but this friend of mine lives in a rather remote part of it, 2 hours away from any major city, so I'm guessing that getting these oils by car or mail will end up costing him three or four times the value of a normal change using the Shell.

Considering what you guys have said (that the shell has good specs and that he has cut his change interval in half) do you think he is OK continuing to use a good synthetic oil like the Shell?

 

[electrolover]

Originally Posted By: Johnyjj1212

Considering what you guys have said (that the shell has good specs and that he has cut his change interval in half) do you think he is OK continuing to use a good synthetic oil like the Shell?


i wouldnt change a thing.