The majority engines that have suffered from sludge have been run on Quantum .... and long life service intervals.
Most oils are the same - Look at the base stock and the addictives. Quantum Synta fully synthetic gold is rated at SAE 5W-40
API SJ/CF, ACEA A3/B3.
In fact the Halfords 5W-30 fully synthetic is slightly more up to date than Synta Gold, as synta is A3/B3, the Halfords one is A3/B4.
In reality, our 1.8T engines are old tech, doesn't need to be low SAP or provide extra lube for the hydraulic followers, as the zinc has been taken out as it poisons DPFs.
VW 503.01 specification. This specification is specifically for Audi RS4, Audi TT, S3 and Audi A8 6.0 V12 models with outputs of more than 180bhp, running with variable service intervals (30,000km or 2 years). Now superceded by the VW 504.00 specification.
I'm sticking with "any old" fully synthetic base stock oil and change every 12 months. No harm to your engine in spending more though, just your wallet.
To save you from looking for it :
From ACEA A3B4-10 - Sequences - Engine Oil Additives - The Lubrizol CorporationACEA A3/B4-10 (Halfords FS)
Overview
ACEA A3/B4 oils are Upper Mainline lubricants. They are designed for a use in high performance gasoline and light duty diesel engines and are typically used in newer vehicles as they provide the minimum performance demanded by many OEM specifications.
ACEA A3/B4 oils are probably seen in the widest range of viscosity grades. The most common being:
- SAE 10W-40 based on a mix of API Group I and Group III, or API Group II base oils.
- SAE 5W-40 and SAE 5W-30 based on API Group III base oils.
- SAE 0W-30 based on API Group IV base oils.
The main physical and chemical requirements for ACEA A3/B4 are shown below:
Requirement | Method | Unit | Limit |
HTHS viscosity | CEC L-36-A-90 | cP | ⥠3.5 |
Sulphated Ash | ASTM D874 | %wt | ⤠1.6 |
Phosphorus | ASTM D5185 | %wt | Report |
Sulphur | ASTM D5185 | %wt | Report |
Evaporation loss (NOACK) | CEC L-40-A-93 | % | ⤠13 |
Total Base Number | ASTM D2896 | mgKOH/g | ⥠10.0 |
Depending upon the viscosity grade blended, ACEA A3/B4 is usually coupled with a range of OEM specifications including:
SAE 10W-40
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.1
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
- Volkswagen VW50200
- Volkswagen VW50101
- Volkswagen VW50500
SAE 5W-40
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.5
- Volkswagen VW50200
- Volkswagen VW50500
- GM / Opel Longlife B
- BMW Longlife 01
- Porsche
SAE 5W-30
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
- Daimler MB-Approval 229.5
- Volkswagen VW50200
- Volkswagen VW50500
- GM / Opel Longlife A
- GM / Opel Longlife B
- BMW Longlife 01
Changes
ACEA A3/B4 was first introduced into the ACEA Oil Sequences in 2004, however, it is based upon the original ACEA A3 and ACEA B4 sequences that were introduced in 1996 and 1998 respectively.
For ACEA 2010 a number of changes to the requirements for ACEA A3/B4 have been made which raise the performance required to meet ACEA A3/B4-08. These include raising the level of diesel piston cleanliness performance in the VW TDI engine test and the inclusion of the new OM646LA engine test, as a replacement for the OM602A, along with increases in sludge handling.
The changes for ACEA 2010 are summarised below:
Test | Change for ACEA 2010 |
Total Base Number | A new limit of ⥠8.0 mgKOH/g has been added |
VW TDI | Piston cleanliness increased from ⥠RL206 -3 points to ⥠RL206. |
OM602A | Removed. |
OM646LA | New test added |
M111SL | Average engine sludge to requirement to increase from ⥠RL140 to ⥠RL140 +4 standard deviations or ⥠9.0% |
The introduction of a minimum Total Base Number (TBN) of 8.0 mgKOH/g affects the number of ACEA sequences that can be combined with ACEA A3/B4-08. Prior to ACEA 2008, depending upon the performance of the engine oil, it was possible to combine ACEA A3/B4 with a number of other sequences including ACEA C3. However, as engine oils meeting the ACEA C Sequences are formulated to a lower sulphated ash level they tend to deliver a TBN of less than 8.0 mgKOH/g. Therefore, with the introduction of ACEA 2010 it is unlikely that engine oils meeting the ACEA C sequences will also be able to meet ACEA A3/B4.
The limits for an acceptable level of direct injection diesel piston cleanliness in the VW TDI engine test have been raised to the highest level seen within ACEA, aligning performance with ACEA A5/B5 and all of the ACEA C Sequences. Some existing ACEA A3/B4 engine oils will be unable to deliver this performance without being reformulated.
The limits for an acceptable level of sludge handling in the M111SL engine test have been raised to the highest level seen within ACEA, with every sequences now required to provide the same level of performance. Some existing ACEA A3/B4 engine oils will be unable to deliver this performance without being reformulated.
The inclusion of the new OM646LA engine test raises the diesel wear protection performance demanded from ACEA A3/B4 oils.
Relative Performance
The relative performance diagrams presented below compare Lubrizol's interpretation of the performance of requirements of the existing ACEA 2007 A3/B4-04 oil sequence with the ACEA 2010 version. As shown, ACEA 2010 A3/B4-08 represents an upgrade in piston cleanliness, wear protection and sludge handling.