[Phil №❶]

Can Oz diesel owners tell me what brand / grade of engine oil they are running in their CRDI's

[Dazzler]

All are running fully synthetic (or should be) and while some including me used the cheaper Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30 others are using dearer Castrol Edge 0W-40, Shell Helix Ultra Extra ?W-40 and even Mobil 1 ...and a smattering of other oils like Redline 

Daz has probably covered the oils most are using.

Personally, I'm using the oil known as "German Castrol". It is a full synthetic 0w30 and it was never sold here through retail chains and AFAIK not available at all here any more.

The only thing I would add to Daz's list is that the Shell Helix Ultra "Extra" is a C3 oil which is not required. The Shell Helix Ultra meets ACEA B4 which is the requirement. Using C3 will not likely be of any concern at all though.

This might be a useful thread for you.
https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=6375.0

[Phil №❶]

OK, the reason I asked, was to determine what is being used by other members in OZ. Now the reason for this is (and I don't have the manual with me at present) but in reading, I noticed that even in OZ a low grade oil is specified eg 5 oil is rated at 0 deg F that's -18 C. So unless you're in the high country this is not likely to be required.

On the other hand, no one is using a 50 grade oil for temperatures that are racing standards. If I remember correctly even the book doesn't specify this grading.

As our diesels are turbocharged and oil destruction is possible if the turbo is excessively hot at engine off, why aren't any of us looking for protection in the upper end of the temp range. 

You are quite right to consider the turbo potentially super heating the oil. I'm sure this is one of the reasons that B4 oil is specified. B4 defines a very robust oil and specifically when very hot. The HTHS number is a test of just how much the oil thins at 150^o C. Maintenance of viscosity results in a higher number (goodness). B4 oil has a good number here.

More generally, the second number w30, w40 etc. on the viscosity label defines the viscosity at operating temperature (nominally 100^o C). This is the number you should get right based on the use of the car. If you are racing it, the oil temperature will be higher and necessitate an oil starting thicker (w50) so that at its operating temperature it will be the same viscosity as a w40 oil in a car used more gently. The point is that they will both be the same viscosity in use.

The first number, 0w, 5w etc. defines how thick the oil will be when cold. 0 will be less thick than 5, 10 etc. Because of the sliding scale used in the test this number has no direct relationship with temperature. In any case this is of less absolute importance in Australia because of our temperate climate.

I believe the value in selecting a 0w (5w less so) for your oil is that to meet this low temperature specification and still pass the higher temperature tests requires a high quality oil. It's simply not possible, for instance, to have a 0w40 mineral oil.

Even the thinnest cold temperature (0w) oil is still many times thicker than it is when warm. It is not possible to be too thin when cold. It is possible though that an oil could be made to meet the 0w specification and have little margin at the higher temperatures. For this reason some say that starting at 5w or even 10w will increase the margin by reducing the min and max temperature range.

I probably should clarify: if an oil meets B4 then you should have no concerns regarding suitability. By definition, all the above concerns have already been considered.

I hope this has helped.

[Phil №❶]

That's a very detailed reply, I learn thing every day on this site Thanks very much 

[beerman]

Mobil 1 0w40

I wanted German Castrol but couldn't source it......

[rustynutz]

I use Castrol 0W 40.........

[Doggie 1]

Oil?
Are we supposed to put oil in these things?
I wondered why my engine rattled so much 

[Surferdude]

Oil?
Are we supposed to put oil in these things?
I wondered why my engine rattled so much 

That's just the noisy diesel engine. nothing to worry about.

[Doggie 1]

Oil?
Are we supposed to put oil in these things?
I wondered why my engine rattled so much 

That's just the noisy diesel engine. nothing to worry about.

Oh good. I thought I'd missed something.
I even let some of the air out of my tyres because I felt sorry for it being trapped in there. 

[Phil №❶]

db08

I'd check with surferdude b4 I did that, he knows a bit about tyres. 

[Ultralights]

Just picked up my CRDI from its first service, oil used by the dealer was Castrol SLX pro BMW LL01.  5w40. 

After a bit of reasearch, it's a full synthetic, designed to be used in turbo, direct injection diesels, and meets BMW's spec for long interval use.

The retail version seems to be Castrol Edge 5w40 fully synthetic.