Auto Parts: Oil compatibility, a3 b3, ford galaxy


Question
Hi, I've got a UK Ford Galaxy with a DOHC 2.3 petrol engine in desperate need of an oil change. The car is a 2001 model with 58,000 miles. The manual recommends 5W-30 ACEA A1/B1 or A3/B3 with alternatives of 10W-40 and 5W-40 depending on temperature ranges. I have a supply of Agip fully synthetic 10W-60 API SG left from a previous vehicle which I'd like to use, but is it suitable? I'm near London UK, the temperature hasn't dropped below -3c this winter and rarely goes beyond 30C in summer and with fully synth being "thinner" than mineral oil thought it would probably be OK.
Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

Answer
Hi Simon,

I'm not totally following the codes on your oil there.

If the codes follow the same logic as here in the states, I'd have to say, even though there is no such animal as 10W60 here, that should work fine.

10W60 is multi-viscosity which means when it is cold and it needs to 'act' like 10 weight oil, it does and as the temps increase, the oil can protect as well as a 60 weight oil, even though 60 weight would be just shy of crude! We use 80 weight for gear oil.

I'd never recommend anyone actually use a 60 weight oil in their engine even if they lived on the equator, but if you're saying it has the consistency of mineral oil, that confuses me.

Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
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