Cheap engine oil in local ASDA

daivid

Today I noticed my local ASDA (Bangor) has its own brand engine oil on half price offer, so 5l semi synthetic is £8, fully synthetic £11. Seems a bargain so was tempted to buy some ready for the next oil change however I then thought if it seems to good to be true perhaps it is...

Maybe some more mechanically minded people could advise - is oil oil so to speak and brand premiums down to advertising budget and perceived better quality or are there genuine benefits to more expensive oils (comparing like for like e.g. Own brand 5w40 with a big brand 5w40).

In the past I've used halfords own very happily, replacing once a year. Any opinions would be welcome.

SailorSam

This gives the reasoning behind why it's worth paying the extra for syntheic.
http://autorepair.about.com/od/regularmaintenance/fr/synthetic_oil.htm

OddballJamie

I wouldn't use Asda's sunflower oil, but the olive oil should be OK

colino

Buy it and use it, ASDA make as much of their own lube oil as they do their own TVs.

Netwizard

colino wrote: »

Buy it and use it, ASDA make as much of their own lube oil as they do their own TVs.

Yep. I think Asda oil is made by Comma. Same people who make Halfords own name engine oil, so it will be fine.

I wouldn't put any in my Ferrari (If I had one!) but on my £1k banger, I always pick some 10w/40 up from Asda

alastairq

I wouldn't put any in my Ferrari (If I had one!)

better to put something in your Ferrrarrri?
The reality lies in the small print on the side of the can?

As long as the specifications of the oil match those required by one's car, then it doesn't matter whose name is on the side?

Personally, I try to only use Valvoline...with E45 on the door hinges.

SIlkolene if I can afford it......or Morrison's Golden film [not the soopermarket!] if I need an old-fashioned type oil.

I used to use bus diesel oil in my haircooled Veedub..changed every 1000 miles [no filters, see..and oil given a harder life in an aircooled motor]...cos I 'got it for free'...with old Bristols, what was an odd gallon here or there?

GolfBravo

Good find!

According to their website they sell 2 specs of fully synthetic oil:

ASDA 5W40 API SL/CF ACEA A3/B3


ASDA 5W30 API SM/CF ACEA C3 - this is the low SAPS/ash oil for modern diesel engines with DPF. £20 for 5 litres is a very good price, so it is a steal if you can get it for £11.

londonTiger

acea specs are very rudimentary oil industry spec and have a much lower standard compared to a car makers spec.

there was a thread here with a link to a site detailing what an oil standard has to meet. ACEA only scored on 2 criteria where as the VW standard met 5 criterias. if you buy oil that states it meets or exceeds a certain cars makers standard it would inspire more confidence.

GolfBravo

It varies greatly between manufacturer specs.

londonTiger

GolfBravo wrote: »

It varies greatly between manufacturer specs.

Yes that is the diagram I was referring to. Can you post what site it's from? I lose the url.

GolfBravo

londonTiger wrote: »

Yes that is the diagram I was referring to. Can you post what site it's from? I lose the url.

It's from Lubrizol (the largest producer and supplier of engine oil additives to oil companies).