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Hi guys,
What brand of oil do you recommend, what viscosity 0w30 or 5w30, and why?
Do you know any reliable online shop in continental Europe in order to avoid counterfeit oil?
Thanks
Whatever meets the Volvo specification stated in your handbook. It does not have to be a Volvo branded oil, or the make of oil that Volvo might "recommend" (e.g. Castrol currently). Any make will be fine as long as it is stated to meet of exceed the required Volvo specification on the label.

Skandix are a Volvo parts specialist. They will have suitable oils for all Volvo engines and they won't be counterfeit.

 

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I used 5w30 in mine, castrol edge pro if I recall, importantly A5/B5 spec. Dont be tempted by the greater value VW507 spec. I personally didnt want 0w30 as the factory filled with 5/30. 0w30 offers less friction on cold start ups, little difference, but the 1.6d2 is a fussy eater... if it helps Castrol have a hologram on the bottle which is fairly hard to reproduce
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
I used 5w30 in mine, castrol edge pro if I recall, importantly A5/B5 spec. Dont be tempted by the greater value VW507 spec. I personally didnt want 0w30 as the factory filled with 5/30. 0w30 offers less friction on cold start ups, little difference, but the 1.6d2 is a fussy eater... if it helps Castrol have a hologram on the bottle which is fairly hard to reproduce
Hi @VeeForty Deetoo and thanks for your opinion. Yes, I will stick to the A5/B5 spec as I did in my previous service. I would like to understand if 5w30 might be better, can you explain why you don't put 0w30 in your car as recommended by Volvo? I mean, yours is a 2.0 VEA engine.
For what concerns the 1.6 D2, as far as I know, until 2014 Volvo recommended a 5w30 oil (and 0w30 in extremely cold weather or frequent short journeys in cold weather, harsh driving conditions such as mountain roads...) and, IIRC, the difference between 0w30 and 5w30 is only about their behaviour in cold temperatures and, often times, the 0w30 is more expensive. So, if I find a good deal on the 0w30 Castrol professional I would like to stick with that one. Unless there's some kind of advantage with the 5w30 (e.g. being better with high mileage cars, mine is at 127k km)...
 

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There are two reasons to prefer 0W30 over 5W30. Firstly, its resistance to flow (cold viscocity) is lower, so will be beneficial if you live in a country where you are driving in temperatures below freezing for a significant part of the year. Secondly, for the same reason, it reduces friction marginally during cold starts and for a very short time whilst the engine is warming up, which marginally reduces emissions. Outside of those two criteria, as both oils have the same warm viscocity, they will perform alike, all other conditions being equal. Vehicle manufacturers have been increasingly specifying oils with the lowest winter viscocity they can get away with over recent years, in the quest to reduce emissions even marginally. Every 0.00000001% reduction helps them with their overall emissions rating and reduces the costs that they have to pay governments connected to their overall vehicle range emissions ratings. Hence stop/start technology and intelligent alternator charging systems, DPF filters, etc., which are not necessarily beneficial to the performance and life of your car, complicate its operation and reliability, but reduce its emissions.

In moderate or warm climates, 0W30 has no benefit over 5W30, and in hot conditions may actually be harmful to engine life. Hence for several years, and still in some regions, Volvo North America mandate 5W30 oil in all VEA engine Volvos, rather than the 0W20 oil that is stipulated in Europe for VEA engines.

Bottom line: use the oil that meets or exceeds the Volvo specification for your engine and model year. As long as it has been produced to meet that Volvo specification, its grade and ACEA rating will follow and also meet the necessary requirement. So look for the correct Volvo specification on the label or in the technical data sheet.
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Hi @RS3100 and thanks for your reply. I live in northern Italy, and as you may know we've not been living in what you call a cold climate in the recent years. Even in the UK the summers are getting hotter every year. So, I was wondering if the 5w30 would be a better choice for where I live. Here we fall below zero probably one week in a year and I'm exaggerating. My question is, did Volvo shift from 5w30 to 0w30 just for the sake of reducing emissions? Should I stick to the original 5w30 recommendation from Ford era? Which oil is better for my engine? Yes, I do lots of short distance drive but I've never had a problem with the DPF regenerations and I do some long distance driving (highway or mountain) every fortnight or so... Does this fall into the harsh driving conditions category which require the 0w30 motor oil?
 

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I think from a previous reply you have a 2014 1.6 D2? Volvo recommend a 5W30 ACEA A5/B5 oil for that engine unless driving in adverse conditions, when they suggest 0W30 ACEA A5/B5.

They define adverse conditions as predominantly or long journeys when towing a caravan or trailer, in mountainous conditions, at high overall speeds, in temperatures colder than -30C or hotter than 40C, or regular short driving distances in cold temperatures.

Your driving sounds mixed, and as you aren't regularly driving in extreme sub-zero temperatures I would personally prefer to stay with 5W30 oil. I have the same option with my motorhome, which requires 5W30 oil according to the handbook, but the following year Fiat changed the specification to 0W30 oil for the exact same engine, but recommending 5W30 oil for heavy duty use other than cold temperatures. The change was for no other reason than reducing the headline emissions figures that they can quote for the vehicle. I prefer to stay with 5W30 oil.
 

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Differences between the two engines? Which one do you like more?
I like not having a clutch assembly every 4 weeks, but miss the dealers loan car :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
The VEA has a much more mechanical noise, an almost agricultural diesel sound... However it's noticeably more powerful through the rev range, very similar fuel consumption with both. Honestly, im slightly concerned about egr, but time will tell:)
 
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