Oil Spec
 

Hi,
Can I use 0w30 Acea C3 instead of 0w30 Acea A3/B4.
My engine spec says in the bonnet to use 0w30 Acea A3/B4.

My car is 2005 Volvo XC90,D5 Diesel.

Engine is D5244T.


Thank you.

Not to state the obvious or sound rude, but you should use the spec that’s required for your particular engine.

If it doesn’t say C3, which it doesn’t, then don’t use it.

Oil is cheap. Engines aren’t.

C3 is an odd one. For reasons I shan't bore you with the spec can change significantly between manufacturers - read the small print on the container. For that reason I'd suggest it is ok for minimal top ups, but definitely wouldn't do an oil change with it,

Fundamentally, I'd agree with Kev.

Remember part of the mix is for your 18000 mile long service interval , Use the proper oil 👍

Use the correct spec oil
 

Don’t do it! From bitter experience... always stick to A3/B4 for these engines.

Also, 18,000 miles is too far between changes, especially if the engine has already done a lot of miles.
Bill

Would it be safe to use 0W-30 ACEA A5/B5?

18000 miles is fine no problems whatsoever whether you do low Mileage or high mileage that's why you use the long service life oil specification .
a high mileage engine has no real wear , if you measure clearances on a 200,000 mile engine it will still be in specification obviously or it would be uneconomical or oiling up the catalytic converter or Particle filter / EGR vale etc

Even back in the 1970s I overhauled a 264's troublesome V6 and at 250000 miles all the pistons and bores and crankshaft and bearings were in perfect condition so they went back in . . These engines have about half a dozen areas for faults of which this one had them all , but wear was certainly not one of them and that goes for ALL volvo engines . from the B14 / B20 to the latest D4204T*

The safest option is to use what’s specified by the manufacturer. Use what the sticker in the engine bay says to use, or what your owners manual specifies.

I bought a couple of bottles of this today for my upcoming oil change, seemed like a decent price when comparing to other suppliers

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164444076727

it's what the volvo/bosch specialist place put in it when they did a service and belt change for me

that said annual oil changes for me work out to about 5-6000 miles so I'm not overly concerned about it lasting forever as long as it's nice clean oil and not burning any (level gone down about 10mm on stick in 14 months of use)

That’s a very good price for Castrol oil. Top quality stuff.