09-17-2017, 05:27 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2014 2LT RS Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Berlin
Posts: 12
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Fully synthetic 5w-30 oil in Europe?
Hello everyone,
so finding the right oil for my 2LT Camaro seems to be a bigger challenge than I expected. From what I've gathered by reading old threads in the forum, most people use fully synthetic Mobil 1. However, it seems most 5W-30 Mobil 1 oils in Germany are "SHC Synthese Technology" (produced by hydrocracking), which from my understanding is not fully synthetic oil. Same seems to go for Castrol and most other Europeam brands. What specifications should the oil meet? Dexos 2 should be OK in Europe, but how about the ACEA rating, API rating? Can anyone recommend a specific oil (brand and product name)? And most of all, should I bother looking and paying more for ones that are "fully synthetic"? Hoping someone can shed some light on this issue! |
09-17-2017, 07:56 PM | #2 |
Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mich
Posts: 4,482
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I wouldn't over think it. That same engine is in millions of cars and SUVs, no special oil requirements. I'm sure the Mobil 1 over there is just fine for it.
There is nothing wrong with semi synthetic. It's like eggs and Egg Beaters. Sometime real eggs are just as good if not better. |
09-18-2017, 08:45 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2020 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Austin, Texas
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Any Dexos2 approved oil will work, which includes some 0w-40s. Otherwise an ACEA A3/C3 (this is a European rating) oil is fine. 5w-30 ACEA A3/C3 are easier to find now. The European Camaro model owners manuals are also available online, just Google.
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2020 ZL1 1LE [Moroso SC Expansion Tank, otherwise stock]
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09-18-2017, 12:21 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2015 SW 1SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Brighton, CO
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You can get Motul can't you? They sell a 5w30 Dexos 2 oil.
http://www.motul.com/cn/en/news/spec...exos-2-tm-5w30
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09-18-2017, 04:42 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2014 2LT RS Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Berlin
Posts: 12
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How about this one? Opel GM Dexos 2 5W-30 ACEA C3
Anyone got experience with this oil? Fully synthetic and dirt cheap |
10-08-2017, 05:15 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2012 Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: May 2016
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 416
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Mobil one 5w 30 cost around $9.00 box for 1/4 Castrol cost $16.00 for the same you get what you pay for.
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02-04-2018, 03:48 AM | #7 |
Drives: ZL1 six speed manual Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Middleearth
Posts: 135
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"Remaining oil life" is at 39%, so I've done some research, having the same doubts as the author of the thread. Here is what I found.
Based on Mobil1 suing Castrol around 1999 over "fully synthetic" claims and losing, all oil producers may now legally claim that oil is "fully synthetic" even when the basis for that oil is mineral, non-synthetic. The final product is made by hydro-cracking and additives, as the author of the thread wrote. These "fully synthetic" oils belong to group III. Group IV are poly-alpha-olein based oils. That means that the base for the final product is synthetic. As with group III, additives are added. The amount of Sulfur is higher than in group III oils, with content >= 0.6 ppm which is good because Sulfur is the chemical element which aids in lubrication. Group IV oils are marketed as "100% synthetic" versus the group III's "fully synthetic". Herein lies my dilemma: I was so far unable to find an oil that's labeled "100% synthetic" in Europe. I'm still researching whether "leichtlauföl", an oil with low viscosity at cold start temperature is a 100% synthetic group IV oil, but so far I do not have enough information to reach a definitive conclusion. I also have not figured out how a group III or a group IV oil is labeled on the canister, but so far, I have not seen any explicit group labelling one way or another. Then I came upon DEXOS standards. Camaro owner's manual specifies an oil which complies with DEXOS 1 standard. My research indicates that, at the time of the DEXOS 1 specification, the only oil which met this standard was Mobil 1 5W 30 of unknown composition (whether group III "fully synthetic" or group IV "100% synthetic", I do not yet know). And here again I ran into not only that, but another snag: I was not able to find a DEXOS 1 oil, only DEXOS 2 compliant oil here in Europe. I then researched further to confirm that DEXOS 2 supersedes DEXOS 1, but the closest thing to confirming this were vague statements that DEXOS 2 is "backward compatible" with earlier GM standards, and I quote "GM-LL-A-025 (gasoline) and GM-LL-B-025 (diesel) specifications for the European market". DEXOS 1 is not explicitly mentioned. But my ZL1 is a North American model not sold in Europe, nor compliant with European norms and regulations without homologation! I've yet to find an authoritative source (or a source which I would consider as such) clearly stating that DEXOS 2 meets or exceeds the DEXOS 1 specification. Can anyone from GM or a GM certified technician confirm or deny that an oil complying with the DEXOS 2 specification is also compliant with DEXOS 1, as specified in the Camaro owner's manual? I ended up buying the "fully synthetic" DEXOS 2 compliant Mobil 1 SUPER 3000 XE 5W-30, but I am not convinced that I purchased the correct oil. Have I? Last edited by Annatar; 02-04-2018 at 04:18 AM. |
02-04-2018, 04:06 AM | #8 |
Drives: ZL1 six speed manual Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Middleearth
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Would this oil also be adequate for the ZL1? Is this a 100% synthetic oil?
Last edited by Annatar; 02-04-2018 at 04:16 AM. |
02-06-2018, 01:57 PM | #9 | |
Drives: 2012 1LT SIM Camaro Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 375
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Quote:
Or walmart "supertech" branded full syn for $18, same 5 qt container. Blended and bottled by the Warren Corp, manufactured regionally by Citgo or Quaker State. |
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02-06-2018, 08:47 PM | #10 | |
Drives: 2020 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,337
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Quote:
Dexos 2. If the oil above is Dexos 2 or ACEA A3/C3 rated you're fine.
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2020 ZL1 1LE [Moroso SC Expansion Tank, otherwise stock]
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02-06-2018, 08:55 PM | #11 | |
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Drives: 2022 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Aug 2017
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Quote:
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02-11-2018, 02:29 AM | #12 | ||
Drives: ZL1 six speed manual Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Middleearth
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Quote:
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I ordered four pieces of AC Delco's PF48E, GM part #19303975 from newgmparts.com since they ship to Europe and their shipping rates are the lowest I've been able to find so far. |
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02-11-2018, 07:54 AM | #13 |
Drives: early 2011 Camaro convertible Join Date: Jul 2014
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how about Shell Helix, factory fill Euro Ferrari.
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02-13-2018, 01:19 PM | #14 |
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