I could easily go 7.5k-10k most likely. I want to see how this next UOA looks after very short trips (<1 mile in 20F weather).
What makes Euro oils different?
- Thread starter FlyingTexan
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I recently change the Audi from 0-20 508 to the M1 ESP 5-30 504/507 rating and will keep changing it anywhere from 5-7K miles as I do it myself. I've made this change based on what I read on this forum where it seems, at least to me, a consensus that its a better oil for my purposes which is to get as long a life as I can out of the Audi.
Good move.
Shel_B
Site Donor 2023
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I'm not doubting you ... I've heard and read the same thing. Can you, or anyone, provide some instances of these long OCIs?
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
EU tried yo push these 20k miles OCI. But only certain markets, mostly Germany, Netherlands etc. where gasoline is laboratory clean, roads don’t have dust etc. In most countries they kept 10k miles or 16kkm intervals.
Another thing, vehicle in European culture is bigger investment than in the US. People in general are more aware of servicing needs etc. So, even though manufacturers might recommend longer OCI, generally 10-15kkm is standardized OCI.
Don't they have some laws in Germany making it either impossible or very expensive to keep a car past certain age and expensive to dispose of at scrap yards? Like 7-10 years or so? And Poland becomes the place of car disposal?
Local area Advance Auto stores carried Total Quartz brand European oil in a couple of different weights including 5w 40 and 10w 60 a couple of years ago in 5 liter jugs and 1 liter bottles. No one was buying it (it was pricey). They ended up clearing it out for really low prices.
When I check the maintenance minder on my M3 it shows the # of miles remaining and the approximate date of the next service. This is what it shows when reset after an oil change.
Just shy of 25,000 km.
Yep. ESP is exactly the same price as regular Mobil 1. And a bit cheaper than some of the other synthetics at Walmart.
But other Euro oils such as Quaker State Euro are cheaper, I’ll give you that.
edyvw
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They have very strict technical inspections. All European countries do. Some have central video data system where all technical inspections necessary for renewing registration are stored.
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I was going to say.....I'm pretty sure the ESP I bought at Walmart was the same price as every other Mobil 1 oil there...
European olive oil is far more regulated than in the US market.
Euro oils have higher TBN. API SP alone normally has 6 to 8+ TBN, and ACEAs have 10 to 12 TBN
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
No.
ACEA A sequence is full SAPS.
ACEA C sequence is mid-low SAPS.
There are Euro oils with TBN below 6. Ester based ESP version from 10yrs ago had TBN at 5.8.
Euro oils have higher TBN. API SP alone normally has 6 to *+ TBN,
Whoopsy blunder by me, coz I only ever use ACEA A3/B4 oils.
And I’m not too worried about TBN either. That’s pretty far down on the list of what I care about in an oil. Low sulfur gasoline has rendered it far less important unless you’ve got an engine with issues.
Patman
Staff member
Agreed! Plus one of the things I have learned in all of my years on here is that the starting TBN isn’t as important as its retention over the OCI. Better to have an oil that starts with a TBN of 6 and finishes with a 5, than one that starts at 10 but finishes at 2.
tell me about it! ever since i moved to south europe the quality of gas is zero,garbage..what i have learned ,the hard way here, is that many E90 bmw's ,DI ,their injectors which have a bad part and its known ,in germany last wayyy longer than in south europe.why? the worst gasoline in europe. its worst if you have a car just for in-town. the fuel system needs your mechanic every month.
exactly! but we dont know that unless we use it.there are indicators of full synthesis of oil but they are just speculations.