MD 11D Engine oil

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sr04

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Just going to do a service on my engine. The volvo manual states SAE 20/W30 oil for the engine and MS2 gearbox. I have found nowhere locally that can supply me, even the oil distributors have none as they cannot remember when they were last asked for any.
What should I use? Or should I just order some from a volvo or keyparts?
 
I got a load off a farming friend - it wasn't quite that - but was closer than anything I could find at motor factors etc. So an agricultural merchants might be worth a try

I think chandlers sometimes sell very expensive volvo oil that is an exact match

Otherwise I think the key is to use some older style mineral oil - not synthetic - thats as close a match as you can find (suspect actually most oils that are anywhere close will actually work fine ...)
 
I managed to pick up oil for my MD2B from the local car shop. I go for the SAE30 oil that is commonly used for old automotive diesel engines.
 
Our Volvo agent will sell you 15/40 and wonder why you are looking for a narrower spec oil. We've been using this for a long time. Seeing that it's such a small part of our holiday budget and Volvo supply it I use Volvo oil when it's convenient. I've also used BP marine and would use Shell Rimula or any VDS2 spec oil if I couldn't get Volvo oil. I don't think our 11c is going to fail because we use synthetic oil. I think proper maintenance of the cooling system is much more important.
 
A wider spec for the SAE should be no problem - ie, 10/40.

Most important is to make sure that the API spec is for a diesel oil (has a 'C' for 'compression ignition' as a first letter), and has a suitable letter and number following it. Typically, your engine manual might specify 'API CD'.

CD spec oil has been superceded by CF-4 spec (4, for 4 stroke). For full details, have a look at API Oil Spec Tables. . Brands try to fog the issue to enable higher prices to be charged - it's the spec that matters though.
 
It does make a difference with my engine. If it didn't oil would not still be for sale in a high street auto parts place!

The specific problem with my engine is that with the thinner oil the oil pump drains and then will not prime when starting from cold. In other engines the thinner oil may not provide enough protection when starting from cold.
 
Shell Rimula (very expensive) is an engine oil with the old classification of "CD". Or you go to the next Carrefour supermarket. They have an oil with the "CD" classification.

Peter
 
My old MD5B uses SAE30.......any Classic car motor oil or lawnmower oil is usually sae30, I use a classic car oil and it only costs about £10 for 5 litres.

Paul.
 
Thanks for the answers, seems Volvo have discontinued the 20/30 as well. They reccomended a HD30 or 15/40 mineral based, so I will have a root round the local motor factors to see whats available
 
Halfords is I think 15W/ 40. Castrol GTX Diesel and Magnatec Diesel are both 10W/40.

I would stick to a straight non multigrade oil in the gearbox if possible rather than one of these wide spec multigrades which are going to be pretty thin when cold by comparison. Presumably the water cooling keeps the gear box cool!
 
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