Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Joe90_guy
So in answer to your question, yes it is conceivable for a US 20W50 to be constrained by the ILSAC Phos limits but in reality, I suspect it isn't.
Well, that is interesting. I've seen low ones, and high ones, like VR1. Of course, we don't see a huge number of 20w-50 VOAs, so I should be careful about generalizing based upon what I do see. Now, do 20w-50 options in Great Britain stick to API certifications, or do they ever have anything else? Here, I just tend to see SN certifications on 20w-50 examples, like GTX and whatnot. I can't recall seeing ACEA specifications even mentioned, let alone claimed.
Of course, 20w-50 is getting a bit harder to find here, particularly in this province. Castrol has it, but if it's a conceivable viscosity, they'll have it on the shelves in Canada. Mobil won't; Imperial Oil simply discontinued all 40 grades and higher in Canada except HDEOs, Euro stuff, and motorcycle or racing specific options.
If you find a 20W50 in North America, chances are it's API only (eg API SN).
In Europe, a 20W50 is more likely to be API with ACEA and possibly a bit of low tier OEM spec thrown in for good measure. However what you see on the can may not reflect the full capability of the oil. It may surprise you but oil companies will often 'under claim' what a 'perceived' low tier oil (like a 20W50) can do because they want to preserve the global 'Meets Needs, Good, Better, Best' marketing message. They may for example just label the can API SL. Obviously they want you to buy 'The Best' with its myriad spec list and don't want to 'confuse' you by telling you that their 20W50 actually does SL/CF/A3/B3/B4/MB229.1/VW505!!