Amazing D5 Oil Deal
 

Bought 20 litres of Triple QX Semi Synthetic from Eurocarparts.
£30!

It matches all the specs in my owner's manual and suitable for the ex-wife's car which will keep her quiet.:)

For the ex wife's car? Ahhhh, I get you - suitable for replacing the brake fluid with. Gotcha. I guess that really would have the potential to keep her quiet!

Haha! Funnily enough, I gave her brakes a full system bleed the other week and changed her pads.
My kids travel in her car though so I'm on best behaviour.;)

Sounds a good deal it's ecp own brand , gets good reviews

I can't find it on the website otherwise I'd post a link.
I just happened to notice it on the shelving when I was in my local branch, so I grabbed my owner's manual and checked the specifications label and it's spot on.
The engine sounds so smooth now, so fingers crossed it'll last.

Thats very cheap , is it A3/B4 ? I bought Triple QX 5W-40 synthetic in 5L containers from ECP in January for £10.50 which claims A3/B4 on the lable which I think is ok for my D5 but nothing on the website, asked ECP for clarification and still waiting an answer. I am always looking for cheaper oil so maybe a 20L container is the way to go if its ok for a D5 as that would get my oil and filter changes down to around £13 a time.

Yep, certainly is Bernard. It's on the label in the photo at the top of this thread.
It also matches MB229.1 which is the spec required for the ex's Mitsubishi, so it works out perfectly for me.

The ACEA labels like A3/B4 are based on a self certification process with zero cross checks. An engine oil company simply fills in the results of tests they are supposed to have carried out, on the standard forms and if they are all in limits, then they are issued with a certificate of compliance.

Even if the application is a truthfull one, there is nothing to stop an engine oil mixer from changing the base stock or additives mix. No subsequent cross checks, nothing. The Acea certification limits are good ones, but the reliability of the system is an oil industry joke. To give you an example here is the API oversight web site that is very active:

http://www.pqiamerica.com/

Now here is the Acea oversight web site:

http://www.ukla-vls.org.uk/what-we-do/

I never, ever, use an engine oil that is not manufactured by one of the major engine oil companies. At present that includes the following:
CASTROL, MOBIL, SHELL and LIQUI MOLY. If you are in need of a cheap high mileage oil, then I would include VALVOLINE.

I've tested 3 different engine oils in my 1.9D so far. The expensive LM Synthoil High Tech was the best, with Shell Helix Ultra almost as good (Within statistical variation) and Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel 5/40 showing just how bad it is, although it was partly due it being a low ash reduced Zinc additive Acea C3 oil.
I'm currently testing LM Ceratec additive with Shell Ultra 5/40, to see if it can beat the Synthoil figures.

When you buy engine oil in the EU, you are totally reliant on the good reputation of the manufacturer concerned, that it does meet the Acea label limits.

I would point out for those trying to find a cheap way of doing an engine oil & filter job, that using cheap oil filters is just as much bad news as using cheap engine oil.
If you really are in such a finantial position that you can't afford a real Volvo oil filter, then at least make sure it says "Made in Germany" on the can. Mann, Bosch or Hengst are all OK, but only if made in Germany, as their overseas factories produce filters to a cheaper lower standard.

The full synthetic definition is different between Germany and the UK or USA. The Germans only call an oil a full synthetic (Synthoil), if it was made with a base stock from a chemical plant and did not involve the use of crude oil byproducts.
The UK and USA, include HC (Hydro crack) base oils that are just cooked up and processed conventional base oils. They do last longer than normal conventional oils, but are still not the real McCoy product.

The other issue with cheap UK full synthetics, is that an engine oil mixer can buy real cheap and nasty HC synthetic base stocks. In fact it is being almost dumped by one East EU refinery as unwanted stock at present.
Only major oil companies make G4 and G5 Synthoils and some are blended with cheaper HC synthetics to produce oils like the Edge and M1 series that are a tad better than the rest and last longer.

The additives included in an engine oil are very, very important. In many cases a major brand conventionl oil can perform better than an El cheapo HC synthetic. A classic case of you get what you pay for.

Engine oil made from a base stock involving the use of natural gas byproducts, called a GTL (Gas To Liquids) technology oil, seems to be nearly as good as a Synthoil. Such base stocks are natural solvents, which is one reason why I like Shell Ultra 5/40 (Acea A3/B4), although it is also much cheaper than Liqui Moly High Tech Synthoil 5/40.

which is better -
high spec very expensive oil changed at say 12,000 miles
or
cheaper, "to-spec" non brand oil changed at 6000 miles.

overall cost about the same
?