What makes Euro oils different?

Yes, and if we look at the PSA Low SAPs service oils, they are C3, which is why I put the slash between low/mid, since there's a lot of crossover.
View attachment 313064

PSA considers C5 mid-SAPS:
View attachment 313065

But as you saw in my post, C3 and C5 both have the same Phosphorous range of 700-900ppm.

I know you specified C1, but as I noted, I have no idea what applications actually spec C1 as all of the OEM standards listed in the Afton handbook seem to avoid it.
C1 is obsolete with ACEA 2021 update. Not in use anymore.
 
So you're saying long-drain capability is not written into ACEA Sequences and manufacturer approvals, and isn't part of European rules and regulations?
No.

Of course, I was kidding. It was meant as a joke. I have no doubt you know what you are talking about. But I do have a doubt that you have a sense of humor.......again a joke maybe. 🤣
 
I was just reading an article from EB Mag and saw this from one of the Amsoil guys.

“The real workhorse additives, outside of anti-wear agents, are the detergents and dispersants,” Groom says. “It’s the right combination of those that keeps the engine clean and running properly. You also need corrosion inhibitors, because oil by itself doesn’t provide corrosion resistance – that has to be built in.”

He points to European standards as a benchmark, where oils have long been formulated around turbocharging applications. “For example, they put limits on sulfated ash, which comes from detergent additives,” he notes. “This is outside of your calcium-magnesium combo… and finding that optimal balance is critical. It’s all about the right combination of detergent and dispersant with a really high-end base oil that allows you to deal with the heat.”
 
Can someone explain why Porsche C30 oil has better numbers on the Lubrizol spider chart than A40?
The chief explanation for this is on the Lubrizol page you were using to find this information:

Screenshot 2025-12-29 at 1.06.46 PM.webp
 
Can someone explain why Porsche C30 oil has better numbers on the Lubrizol spider chart than A40?
As noted it’s because those charts don’t display absolute values. They are area of emphasis for the last iteration of the approval.

Two approvals may have completely different charts yet one may be far superior in an area based on the absolute numbers. But, it was an area of emphasis - which may only be showing it was actually pretty dismal in that area the last time around.

People throw those spider charts around here for completely unwarranted conclusions.
 
It's all about the HTHS (High Temperature High Shear) ratings and the additive packages. Most US oils are focused on fuel economy, but Euro specs like LL01 or LL04 prioritize engine protection under high heat and long intervals. Since you have a B58, sticking with those specs is definitely the right move to keep the turbo happy.
 
With so many engines in the US using turbos and used around the world. What really makes any Euro oil different? Have we not gotten to the point where any high quality oil will meet the standards of all the manufacturers? I'm looking at the Valvoline Restore and Protect oil. Watched the video of them at the lab showing it's capabilities. Seems pretty darn amazing.

  • Meets or exceeds all requirements of ILSAC GF-6A, API SP, API SN with SN PLUS, API SN, Resource Conserving, and all preceding API and ILSAC gasoline categories

I've been reading so much on oils I feel we're coming full circle. I have a Grenadier with a BMW B58 powerplant. I've been emphatic about using LL01/LL04 oils and changing every 5k miles. Have been using Quaker State Euro 5w40 because it's cheap so supports more changes and has a lot of approvals. However, on my journey to figure out what I'm doing and scratch my general itch to learn more I kept digging and found this informative post.



Now should this information be accurate wouldn't it meant that in today's day and age, with all the technology we have, that oils have gotten to a point where basically ANY high quality oil with work? For my B58 I'm told "weights are a US thing, use HTHS", ok so we can ignore weights. Then we see BMW's LL01 vs LL04 spec where the LL04 had issues with higher sulfur fuels so they pushed LL01 in the US. Now the US has low sulfur fuels. Then there's the BMW LL14FE/LL17FE/LL19FE specs but basically they tossed previous requirements due to CAFE laws.

So if LL01/LL04 could be tossed for a small mpg gain, High saps LL01 can now be traded in for low saps LL04, weights can be traded in for HTHS, US manufacturers are all shifting to turbo's..... What is the real limitation anywhere? Have full synthetics and their capabilities come full circle where we can just run basically anything that's from a quality manufacturer so long as we don't try to make it 12k miles on a change (B58)? I really liked how the valvoline was keeping everything clean. If I'm changing oil every 5k miles do I need to even bother caring if it's an Euro oil or not? Seems like the more I learn the more I learn all roads point back to where I started that frankly anything works.
The main difference in Euro oils is that they are formulated to work in both gas and diesel car engines..
 
I must say we don't seem to have the sludging issues they get in the USA. Even with extended drain intervals, although maybe some of that is down to fuel quality or other environmental reasons.
 
I must say we don't seem to have the sludging issues they get in the USA. Even with extended drain intervals, although maybe some of that is down to fuel quality or other environmental reasons.
There aren't really sludging issues here either. It's only people who exceed OCI or have engines with very bad PCV/AOS systems. I've never had a sludge issue in any car I or my family has owned, even when it was changed at 10k mi+ BMW OCI. If anything I'd have to say it's just because some Americans are more economically stressed and less inclined to take good care of their cars than some other developed countries.
 
same here to tell you the truth.


Europeans generally keep their cars for a long time
with the average age of passenger cars in the EU reaching 12.3 years in 2022, rising from 10.9 years in 2013. Western European countries tend to replace cars around 14 years, Eastern European countries more than that.

the thing with service is that we are very disappointed with mechanics. prices are good but honesty and trust is the real problem.sometimes mechs are sincere and bcs. engines are very complicated they cant find the problem without making you spend a lot of money for labour.but you never know if thats the case or they just want to milk you good. oil and engine parts are gone sky high too. so there is not much money left for trying to buy a new car, that is very pricely too.
 
Back
Top Bottom