why doesn't Amsoil XLF meet ACEA A5 ??

[blue94]

Anyone?

Doesn't the A5 spec have to do with extended drains compared to the A1 spec and isn't the XL line supposed to be for extended drains? (Though maybe not as extended as Amsoil's PAO oils.) So where does the XL 5w30 fall short? and does it matter? and even if not, why doesn't Amsoil try to meet the spec just to be able to put it on the bottle for comparison to, dare I say it, Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 which does.

 

[Pablo]

I'm not sure. On paper it appears to meet the A5 requirements. It doesn't meet A3, for example.

I'd say it's just lack of customer demand and wishing for the PAO/POE oils to fill the A5 niche. Good question.

 

[blue94]

I emailed Amsoil and here's the answer I got:

ACEA specifications have been combined effective 2004. No longer is an oil referred to as simply A1 or A5. The current designations are A1/B1 and A5/B5. The most significant difference between these specification is that A5/B5 has a specific Volkswagen direct injection diesel requirement. AMSOIL XL oils are designed primarily for automotive gasoline engines. ACEA A5/B5 is out of their design scope. If the specifications were broken apart where A = gasoline and B = diesel alone, AMSOIL XL oils would qualify for A5, so to answer your question, no it does not matter.



The shear stability is the same, with the exception that A1/B1 allows a HTHS of 2.6 for xW-20 oils and A5/B5 does not.



Thank you for contacting AMSOIL and providing us the opportunity to clarify these issues for you.

 

[JavaMan]

I don't know. Why do some oils not meet API Certification?

 

[Pablo]

I am no ACEA expert - but are A and B really linked?

As for the A5 part - that's what I said.