Which Mobil 1 engine oil?

[AndyDavis]

I've always used Mobil 1 New Life 0W-40 engine oil in my cars. I've now got a Kia Carens 2.0 CRDI diesel car (40K on the clock) and apparently I should be using Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30.

What's the difference between the two engine oils?

I thought the ESP was a high mileage oil, OK if you do more than say 15K annually. I do the normal 12K, mostly on the school run, so can I keep on using Mobil 1 New Life, it's a lot cheaper.

 

[DaveHerns]

Probably not. Your new car needs a 30 grade oil and not a 40. I'm guessing the ESP oil has a different additive package which your new car needs. You can save money on oil at the expense of an engine.

 

[JohnD]

apparently

What does the owners manual say?

There is often quite a range of acceptable oils, depending on the coldest winters and the hottest summers your vehicle will be used in.

The oil companies' "oil selector" pages do have a tendency to steer you towards the most expensive option.

Regular on-time oil and filter changes have more effect on engine life.

Synthetic oils come in a particularly annoying range of approvals according to the whim of the car maker.

Perhaps your car is listed on a page something like http://www.kia.com/content/dam/kwcm...ice-maintenance/Oil-Grades-and-Capacities.pdf

You don't mention the year of your car so I don't know.

 

[AndyDavis]

Its a 2009 model with 40K on the clock, so looking forward to keeping it for a good few years. In the past all my cars have gone over 100K before I've changed and just found Mobil 1 to be great.

According to the Kia chart it needs a 5W30, so I guess Mobil 1 0W40 should be fine. I used it on a Hyundai Santa Fe once and the garage did say it was too thin (?) but I always found it ran as smooth as silk.

 

[JohnD]

According to the Kia chart it needs a 5W30

so why not use one?
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en...l/mobil-super-3000-x1-formula-fe-5w-30-oil-5l

often available on offer.

 

[Belle427]

Its always beneficial to stick to the manufacturers recommendation for your car, i would just get some from a local motor factors or halfords own brand as they are fine to use if they meet all the correct specs.
Probably save yourself a few quid too.

 

[AndyDavis]

According to Kia I can't use Mobil 1 New Life because it isn't a C3 engine oil, apparently it might damage the particulate filter. Is that really true?, Mobil 1 is just a thinner oil that can operate over a wider temperature range and most importantly is fully synthetic. I think the one Kia use is semi-synthetic.

 

[Mottie]

Just get any C3 5w/30 oil and be done with it.

 

[DaveHerns]

You probably need a low ash oil for your particle filter . I was using Total Quartz Ineo ICS (?) in my Citroen and Peugeot and got it from EBay and Amazon from Neilsen CDG . It was a good price so it wasn't worth taking any chances.

 

[Avocet]

You probably need a low ash oil for your particle filter . I was using Total Quartz Ineo ICS (?) in my Citroen and Peugeot and got it from EBay and Amazon from Neilsen CDG . It was a good price so it wasn't worth taking any chances.

That's correct. The oils for cars with cats and then later, with particulate filters are formulated to produce less ash when burned (all engines burn oil, even though it is sometimes microscopic amounts). The ash can damage cats and particulate filters.