What Oil for Volvo MD 2020?

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Depending on year some use synthetic whilst others use mineral.
Check your owners manual.
 
According to the owners manuals
SAE 15W/40 or 20W50

1993 to 1998 to API spec CD,
1998 to 2000 to API CD, CE, CF, CF4 or CG4
2000 to 2005 to ACEA E5 or API CH4

I imagine the change in specifications merely reflect the changes to the latest specifications as older ones became obsolete

I see no mention in the manuals of synthetic oils.

For UK use I think I would stick to SAE 15W40 rather than 20W50
 
Does anyone know whether a 2005 MD2020 uses synthetic or mineral?

Thanks,

Will

You might like to look at the engines page of my website, sub-page named 'What oil for my engine'. Gives a lot of background and specific information on this topic.

So far as viscosity is concerned, low values like 0W, 5W, 10W are produced for one reason only - reduced fuel consumption. The penalty for using them is increased bearing and other component wear, which is combated in modern automobiles by materials changes, such as aluminium bearings, hardened crankshafts, special metallurgical treatment of cams and followers, etc. Few marine diesel engines will incorporate these, although late ones such as Yanmar YM and perhaps Kubota based types may do, but I would not risk it. I will not use less than 15W/40 in mine.

I recall a test carried out when these low viscosities were first beginning to appear. The oil industry uses various engines to investigate specific areas, the one for bearing wear being the Triumph Dolomite one because its main and big-end bearings are somewhat small. I read a report of work that compared 15W/40 and 5W/?? in a flat out test. The 15W/40 ran for 24 hours, after which some bearing wear was measured. The 5W lasted 15 minutes, when the engine exploded.
 
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