Originally Posted By: BritGerCarLuvr
Here we are, and I've made a lot of changes & I wish to thank many members of this board for their great advice. I do, however how one more issue for which I need some clarification.
I will keep my question simple.
Q) If your car called for either oil "type", but preferred low vis WSS M2C929-A, A1/B1 A5/B5, knowing that the A3/B3-B4 LL01 MB 229.5 are higher HT/HS and Vis, would you run them in your car, and why? (instead of the "energy conserving" low vis stuff. Is there an advantage to running high HT/HS high Vis in a car that runs just fine with the A5/B5 stuff.(long life/ Better starts? Wear more/Less/)
Now running A5/B5 in both Jags and the High HT/HS A3/B4 LL01 MB 229.5 in the BMW and the Benz.
The only major differences between A3/B4 and A5/B5 is the HTHS visc. and the fact that A5/B5 oils must pass a fuel economy comparison test.
HTHS of A3/B4 must be =/> 3.5
HTHS of A5/B5 must be =/< 3.5
An interesting oil you may want to think bout is LL04/MB 229.51 approved Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30 which is an A3/B4 oil that passes the fuel economy piece of A5/B5 but does it with an HTHS of 3.58 hence this is why it's not rated as such.
The only thing with this oil is that you should cut your OCI in half since neither LL04 or 229.51 oils are recommended for spark ignition cars in the U.S.
http://www.acea.be/index.php/news/news_detail/acea_european_oil_sequences_2010/