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[dbdb]

Unless I'm not using the search properly there doesn't seem to have been an oil thread for 5 years.   Oils have changed a bit in that time, plus its more difficult to get 10W/40 compared to 5W/40.  So what make and spec is best for a V6 petrol?

Grade: My original manual says 10W/30, 10W/40, 10W/50 for -20C to > 40C
5W/30, 5W/40, 5W/50 for -25C to > 40C
0W/30, 0W/40 all temperature ranges
That's a pretty wide range. My car's done 70+K so I'm staying clear of 0W and would instincively go for 10W/40. However as said 5w/40 and 5W30 seem to be the norm now.  Castrol recommend 5W/40 http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7073092

Fully synthetic or part:  I was thinking of just part synthetic but now fully synthetic seems to be reasonably priced so why not? I assume it lasts longer between changes eg Comma claim so for their longlife fully syn.

ACEA grade:  The ACEA grades are here http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/2012_ACEA_Oil_Sequences.pdf
.  Reading that A3 seems to be the best option, A1 not being for high performance.  C (catalyst) grades seem to be best avoided "Warning: these oils have the lowest SAPS limit
s and are unsuitable for use in some engines. " I assume they are aimed at diesel cats.

Make: I note the posts about fake Vaux oils with missing hologram so am avoiding them.  In fact I am dubious about any web bought oil being genuine except those in weird and sealed 4l cans like Castrol. Plus postage for oil will always be expensive even if 'free'.  So am thinking about ASDA fully syn, £20 for 5L. Or maybe the other supermarkets. 

[Jimbob]

Can i ask what you have against Genuine GM Semi 10-40?  £48.26 for 4 x 5 litres? (trade club)

and works brilliantly with these engines with minimal 'Mayo' produced to others like mobil1 and castrol.

[jonny2112]

Surely it's got to be genuine Vx - and even better on TC.
If you have no access I'm sure another local member could help, or failing that, AndyC 

[dbdb]

Can i ask what you have against Genuine GM Semi 10-40?  £48.26 for 4 x 5 litres? (trade club)

and works brilliantly with these engines with minimal 'Mayo' produced to others like mobil1 and castrol.

Thanks thats cheap but I don't have trade club and don't want to pay £25 a year to get it and my local dealer doesn't support TC.  Also it's only semi syn oil.

The mayo is water in the oil personally I suspect it gets there after installation and doesn't pick on particular oils. Weather and use are surely much more likely culprits.

Lastly Vaux/GM don't manufacture oil so it is just a badge on someone elses oil, anyone know which?

[Jimbob]

From memory supplied by Fuchs.

different makes DO suffer mayo differently..

I bet you can find a local member who will help obtain some.

5-30 Dexos2 full syn also available at £73.66 for 4x 5 litres, not that you need that on your car.

AndyC in parts for sale also does mail order...but will be a few quid more obviously

[Nick W]

I'm curious why you think 10w40 semi-synthetic is hard to get. It's on the shelf of any motor factor in the country in bulk. I paid £13 for 6 litres at Eurocarparts recently as I needed it in a hurry.

Hell, even traditional 20w40 dinosaur oil is still readily available.

And I can't deny that the Vx oil on TC is good quality and very well priced, but it seems to have assumed the qualities of a religious artifact here!

[jonny2112]

Maybe so, but quick oil changes are the key, and GM stuff seems to work, and also proves to be more cost effective. Particularly on the V6 where it takes more than 5l at a time.
You'll see that on certain cases genuine parts are recommended and other times not, and a lot of this is based on a wide experience base.
In the end personal choice will rule.

[robson]

It is interesting to hear that Mobil is not recommended I have used it on my last 3 changes and do not get any mayo. famous last words?

[feeutfo]

Afaik the recommended oil for omegas is Gm 10w 40 semi on grounds of cost and quality, as mentioned.

There's also the dexos 2 fully synthetic oil also by Gm on tc.

These two products are exceptionally high quality. BMW do indeed re badge them and sell them at considerable mark up. In fact the dexos 2 is the recommended oil for almost all the major marques. If you care to check the specs.

It represents exceptional value on tc.


I would add, I believe GM hold numerous patents on lubricants. Incl Dexron transmission fluids.

[dbdb]

I'm curious why you think 10w40 semi-synthetic is hard to get. It's on the shelf of any motor factor in the country in bulk. I paid £13 for 6 litres at Eurocarparts recently as I needed it in a hurry.

Hell, even traditional 20w40 dinosaur oil is still readily available.

And I can't deny that the Vx oil on TC is good quality and very well priced, but it seems to have assumed the qualities of a religious artifact here!

It's not difficult to get, I can still get straight 30 even (not for a car).  10W/40 is however less numerous on the shelves now than 5W/40 and 5W/30 especially if you're looking at fully syn.

[dbdb]

I'm wary of dexos 2 all the oils meeting that seem to also be ACEA C3 aimed at particulate filters for diesel cats and have very low SAPS. 

There are lots of A3 B3 only fully syns about though and the GM semi syn is A3.  Just found the GM semi for £9.99 per 5L, with hologram.

[TheBoy]

Absolutely no point whatsoever in putting fully synth into an Omega engine.

The GM 10W40 Semi is well proven in these engines, and dirt cheap on TC. It is supplied by Fuch.

Unlike Castrol Magnatec and some other oils, the GM branded stuff is less prone to mayo'ing, which makes a mess of the V6's breather system. This is not an "installation problem", its an "oil characteristic".

I put my money where my mouth is, and solely use GM Semi in my current 1998 MV6 3.0 and current 2003 Elite 3.2. It was also the oil I used in my 2000 Elite 2.5, 1998 Elite TD, 1996 CD, Rover K series and Kwaka ZX10. Oh, and the mower

[kevinp58]

I'm wary of dexos 2 all the oils meeting that seem to also be ACEA C3 aimed at particulate filters for diesel cats and have very low SAPS. 

There are lots of A3 B3 only fully syns about though and the GM semi syn is A3.  Just found the GM semi for £9.99 per 5L, with hologram.

Ok where share the secret then. 

[dbdb]

On the other hand mobil are recommending their 0W/40 EPS oil http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/carengineoils_which-oil.aspx which is dexos 2 and ACEA C3.  And they say that GM say Dexos 2 standard is backwards compatible with GM-LL-A-025 and GM-LL-B-025   (i've discovered the GM-LL-A-025 is GM's old standard)  .

And then there's mobil's  'extended life' 10W/60 for older cars but still ACEA A3 spec http://www.mobil.com/UK-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-1-extended-life-10w60.aspx#.     Looks like a good choice for migs approaching retirement to the car park in the oily mud.                   

[kevinp58]

I'm wary of dexos 2 all the oils meeting that seem to also be ACEA C3 aimed at particulate filters for diesel cats and have very low SAPS. 

There are lots of A3 B3 only fully syns about though and the GM semi syn is A3.  Just found the GM semi for £9.99 per 5L, with hologram.

Ok where share the secret then. 

 Noo wheres the £9.99 GM.