And another engine oil question (X-Type 2.5L 2004).

The handbook says: Petrol engine: 5W-30, meeting Jag/Ford spec WSS-M2C913-A (or -B) is preferred.
Where not possible: API SJ/EC and ACEA A1 98 or A3 98 may be used.
All those viscosities can be used: 0W-30, 5W-30 (preferred), 0W-40, 5W-40

What I also just leaned in a general car-parts-shop: Those specs may be updated from time to time - while I am sure, that the Ford/Jag. Specs are not being updated (without changing the spec-number at the same time, I think, what he meant was the ACEA spec, which would be as to why they call it above A1 98 and A3 98 (the X-Type was designed in 1998, and what A3 98 means, is that they are talking about the A3, which was current in 1998.

So far, so good. My problem is that I did not understand all this some time back when I bought heaps of Castrol Edge 5W-40 engine oil on special, and all that engine oil I have is A3/B4. Also: there is currently a special for Gulf & Western (Australian made) 5W-30 A3/B4.

So can I use those A3/B4 engine oils I mentioned in the 2 lines above in the X-Type?

I asked a guy in a garage (who is also a car-mechanic teacher), and he thought it is OK.
I asked in the car-parts shop, and he can only go by what head-office writes into their computer, and "computer says no"...)

PS:
Google AI input:
ACEA A3-98 is an engine oil specification for high-performance gasoline engines and long drain intervals.
and: ACEA A3/B4 is an oil specification for high performance gasoline and light duty diesel engines. It's also suitable for direct injection diesel engines and applications that require A3/B3

 

Peter,

have a read of these

Ford Oil Specifications - oilspecifications.org for the Ford spec, which really just says ACEA A1/B2 with extra Ford specifications - not making clear what that is.

then look at
ACEA Engine Oil Specifications - oilspecifications.org

From my understanding, ACEA A3/B4 should be ok, as too which viscosity..... for older higher mileage cars I think 5W40 is better, for the warmer climate you could even go 10W40 , or as the book says 5W30.

LRTime do quick piece on why they changed from W30 to W40 for their Diesel Discovery 3 - same argument for all really

Paul

 

Thanks, PCJags,

Yes, I had found those links before on the net, but they don't really say to much to answer my question.
About the viscosity: Yes, the Castrol Oil, which I have is 5W-40 and the one on special is 5W-30. I am considering both as OK for use, as the X-Type manual says as well.
I just do not know about the A3/B4 for sure.

My question again in a different way: I have figured out that A3/B4 is not "ONE" specification, but the way I understand it, those are 2 specs: A3 is a spec and B4 is a spec, and I think that A3 is the spec that relates to petrol cars, while B4 seems to be the spec that relates to diesel cars. So my interpretation of it all (unless someone can correct me) is the following:
The X-Type manual asks for A3 98. The oil, that is sold as A3/B4 does have the A3 spec. Applying this logic, I should be fine. And I actually am using A3/B4 oil in all my Jags, as I only just realized my dilemma.

About your 10W-40 suggestion: That is definitely something I would not do. Only recently there was a very cheap 10W-40 oil on special, hence I did my research... I understand the logic of "thicker oils for older cars", BUT that "10" is dangerous:

The lower number (10 in this case) defines the viscosity of the oil, when the engine is cold, i.e. at startup. If the oil is too think at the very moment of start up, it takes a little while longer until the oil reaches those points in the engine, where it is urgently needed, And until it arrives, there would be increased wear... And that is especially of worry, if the car is not being driven very regularly. My idea was to use that cheap 10W-40 oil in a car, which I do not drive at the moment - this means, if I start it up every few month, the engine would remain utterly dry for quite a while until the oil finally arrives. A lot of wear.

Also, the guy in the garage, who thought I can use A3/B4, mentioned also that it is very important that I do not go higher than "5W".

 

I look for the Ford WSS-M2C913 C spec as well and I see that on the the Gulf Western web site that the Syn-X 7000 5W-30 product meets this spec, is that the one on offer?

if so, go for it

 

That is also what the guy in the shop told me: Syn-X 7000 (who has go go by what the head office tells him via computer). But no, that sadly is not on special.
Syn-X 7000 is not even on the shelf - it would be a special order... - i.e. it will never be on special. (btw.: In this case "special" means 40% off.)

The question is still, if I can ALSO use A3/B4.

 

S O L V E D !!!

I contacted now both Gulf & Western and Castrol.
They were both too busy on the phone-lines, hence, I wrote my question to both via email and they both answered rather quickly.
In short: YES! I can use oils with the A3/B4 spec, and it is as I thought: A3/B4 are two specs: A3 is for petrol engines and B4 is for diesel engines.

For those, who are in the same boat, wondering, if they can use A3/B4 in the X-Type (and I would think without checking out the details now that that also means that it can be used for S-Type and X308 - just confirm - if you want to know, if the oil specs of S-Type and X308 are the same as for X-Type) here are the complete and detailed replies from Castrol and Gulf & Western:

Gulf & Western:Our system does state Syn-X 7000 5W-30 as that is the oil that matches the “code” SAF1 in the data set from Infomedia, the data source we purchase for our lube desk recommendations. We link the codes (such as SAF1) to a product, in our case Syn-X 7000 5W-30. The link to comment numbers is manual. The comment number (700) gives the other information which is in your owner manual which states that SAJ/SA1 (API SJ/ACEA A1) or SJ/A3 (API SJ/ACEA A3) is allowed. These are minimum specifications. With the additional information, we can recommend the Syn-X Plus 5W-30 as it is higher performing than the minimum required by the engine.

For information, ACEA A3 (the petrol side of the A3/B4 specification) is what is classed as a “high HTHS” oil. HTHS is a test called high temperature and high shear which typically afford better protection. The ACEA A1 (now obsolete) and ACEA A5 specifications are low HTHS oil for improved fuel economy.

By running Syn-X Plus 5W-30 compared to Syn-X 7000 5W-30 you may lose a very small amount of fuel economy when tested in a laboratory (typically 1-1.5%) but will get better protection against wear. In the “real world” I do not think the fuel economy difference would be measurable.

Castrol:
WSS-M2C913 aligns with ACEA A5/B5. A5/B5 exceeds A1/B1 which has been discontinued.

You can also use oils that meet ACEA A3/B4.

The information I have suggests WSS-M2C913 is preferred by the manufacturer. Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 A5 is recommended. You can also use Castrol Edge 5W-30 A3/B4 or Edge 5W-40 A3/B4 if you prefer.

 

Oh, thank goodness - I was starting to think I'd never get to sleep again.

 

 

@ Yorta2 & PCJags: Please explain! I have not got the foggiest, what you are on about!

 

Back to the topic:
I meanwhile realized that there is currently also another Gulf & Western oil on special, which is even more suitable for the X-Type:
G & W Syn X 5000 full synth., ACEA A3/B4, ZINC enhanced, 5W-40.
I confirmed with G&W via email that this oil is also suitable for my X-Type and that it is a good idea to use 5W-40 instead of 5W-30 for 2 reasons:
40 is better in the hot Australian environment and better for older X-Types.
That oil is a very high performing oil.

 

Okay, didn't think you would.