I hate to point out that 5w30 is by far the most common oil spec in Europe.
And petrol is around $10/11 for a gallon (Not US gallon)
All Ford apart from the Ka and some high performance models use 5w30 (reduced HTHS) and have done so since the 90s.
Jaguars and Land Rovers use a mix of 5w30 for the diesels and 5W20 for the 5.0 V8, not surprising really as the V8 is a US Ford lump i believe.
My wifes Clio specs a -w40 but it is a 2006 model, the same engine in later DPF equipped models is 5w30.
The 2.2 ecotec as fitted to many cars in the US is another good example.
The engine isn't widely used in Europe but is fitted to the BiLs Vauxhall Vectra that spec either 5w30 or 5w40 and i have used both in it over the last 3 yrs.
Fuel economy and performance have been unchanged on both.
My diesel Pathfinder can be filled with 5w30 or 5w40 (C3) but in non DPF can be filled with A5/B5 as an experiment i used 5w30 Mobil Super 3000 X1 FE A5/B5 as it has Saps as low as a C3 oil.
I got a very slight economy improvement, 0.2mpg on the read out over several month.
My Pathfinder is a 2008
Out of interest i did a check on the Morris oil site for Golfs from around the 2009/2010 era, specifically the 2.0tdi
It specced a 5w30 in both.
Saying all European cars use -w40 oil is as accurate as saying all of the US has a blanket 55mph speed limit.
Yes it may have has some truth in it.
But is not really accurate since the 90s
And petrol is around $10/11 for a gallon (Not US gallon)
All Ford apart from the Ka and some high performance models use 5w30 (reduced HTHS) and have done so since the 90s.
Jaguars and Land Rovers use a mix of 5w30 for the diesels and 5W20 for the 5.0 V8, not surprising really as the V8 is a US Ford lump i believe.
My wifes Clio specs a -w40 but it is a 2006 model, the same engine in later DPF equipped models is 5w30.
The 2.2 ecotec as fitted to many cars in the US is another good example.
The engine isn't widely used in Europe but is fitted to the BiLs Vauxhall Vectra that spec either 5w30 or 5w40 and i have used both in it over the last 3 yrs.
Fuel economy and performance have been unchanged on both.
My diesel Pathfinder can be filled with 5w30 or 5w40 (C3) but in non DPF can be filled with A5/B5 as an experiment i used 5w30 Mobil Super 3000 X1 FE A5/B5 as it has Saps as low as a C3 oil.
I got a very slight economy improvement, 0.2mpg on the read out over several month.
My Pathfinder is a 2008
Out of interest i did a check on the Morris oil site for Golfs from around the 2009/2010 era, specifically the 2.0tdi
It specced a 5w30 in both.
Saying all European cars use -w40 oil is as accurate as saying all of the US has a blanket 55mph speed limit.
Yes it may have has some truth in it.
But is not really accurate since the 90s