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My car is a Fiat Doblo 1.6 Multijet Diesel. It is getting a service, new timing belt and MOT next Friday. It is 10 years old. 145K.
Tonight the low oil light just came on. It has never done this before. No visible leaks. most likely just age related consumption, but of course could be a failing turbo...
The Fiat spec oil is 5w30 ACEA C2 API SN. I have some Mannol Ford OEM oil, but it is 5w30 A5/B5 API SN spec.
Would you risk a litre of this to make it to work tomorrow? Or should I make other arrangements and try to lay my hands on the C2 stuff after work?
Am I overthinking the level of catastrophe wrought by slightly out of spec oil for 1 week (200 miles), or maybe more if I go to Nevis this weekend?
Some fresh slightly out of spec oil is going to be better than insufficient dirty old contaminated oil. Is it actually low on oil or pressure?
Low on oil. I checked the dipstick.
The A5/B5 is a lower spec, but I would have thought a small quantity for a short period is better than running too low. My Golf’s manual suggests that half a litre of the wrong spec oil is ok but not more for any length of time but then it is pretty highly boosted (150hp/litre)
Both low sap?
Does it have a DPF?
I'm now running Mannol 5-40w in my old school Berlingo and also my 200k Volvo. Both were previously on 5-30w
Both low sap?
I think the A5/B5 is not a low Sap, C2 is mid-sap suitable for dpf’s
A5/B5 is for light duty diesels
No. The A5/B5 is high SAPS. I think I will make alternative arrangements and pick up a litre of the Fiat 9.55535-S1 standard stuff somewhere on the way home. That will get me to the service. I think the car has reached the age where it may require top ups between services.
EDIT: It does have a DPF. I was just commenting the other day at the garage how it is 10yo and still on the original exhaust and clutch.
Just use what you've got.
If it's getting serviced next week, a litre of slightly off spec oil isn't going to cause any issues in that little time.
stick it in. just dont make a habit of it.
We've got Mannol 5w30 synthetic in 3 of our cars. Sepc is fine for all of them and just makes economic sense to buy a big tub which will do about 6 oil changes in total
Thankyou for all the advice. I picked up 2l of ACEA C2 5W30 on the way home from work and bunged in a litre.
The dipstick is a bit crap with just a tiny flared section at the bottom. I'm not sure how much is in, but there is 1l more than yesterday. Fingers crossed until Friday week...
The Aygo dip stick is rubbish, takes a few goes to get a level, especially with new manno oil as it's not coloured. Did it in bright sun and it was easy today - don't get bright sun in Manchester that often.