0W20 vs 0W30 oil

[diy_fun_uk]

There's a lot more to be said for reading the manufacturer's recommendations, than randoms on the 'net.

tbh you've kind of missed the point of the thread, which in essence is if the exact type/spec isn't available, is it ok to use alternatives that might be suggested e.g. on oil checker websites etc. I don't think anyone's advocating taking the advice of 'randoms on the net'.

 

[JohnD]

The manual, that says "if 0W20 not available, 0W30 can be used"

What more do you need?

 

[diy_fun_uk]

The manual, that says "if 0W20 not available, 0W30 can be used"

What more do you need?

More than you evidently know about, or are choosing to ignore.

 

[Avocet]

I'm sure life used to be more straightforward when buying oil!

Now when perusing the various makes, some say 'suitable for Alfa Romeo, Fiat', or 'Volvo' or 'Audi, VW' etc etc. In a way I think that could be confusing for the consumer. State the type (e.g. synthetic), the viscosity (e.g. 0W-20) the quality (e.g. ACEA) and leave car brands out the equation. I'm obviously not referring to brands of the vehicle manufacturer themselves.

It certainly did! Buying the right oil is much harder now. Sometimes, the manufacturer-specific standards deliver a tangible benefit - for example the VW "long life" oil standard. If you do big miles, it might be worth paying the extra for the "long life" stuff, but if you don't do enough miles in the year, there's nothing wrong with using the cheaper stuff.

Before synthetic oils were invented, oil was just "oil" really, and it was only the viscosity that varied.