About to give my 3.6 TDV8 a service and noticed a well known motoring shop selling Magnatec 5w/30 for £17.50, it meets what it says in the owners manual WSS-M2C913- B but their website says its not suitable for my car. Mind you the manual states it has to be B only and just just wondering what people are using ?

Oils & which manufacturer is a discussion that can & will go on for years, everyone has their favourites. In my other cars [includes 2 x daughters] it's either Millers or Morris of Shewsbury full stop. My local motor factor stocks only Trade-Tec [now rebranded as Nappa] & I wouldn't put that in my lawn mower, so I have to outsource my oil.
Answering your question, I use Shell AF-L [normally buy 2 x 10ltrs from Opie when on offer] not Shell AF, must have the 'L' on the end, now, mine is a 4.4TDV8 [2012] but I'm not sure whether that differs from the 3.6 TDV8 in oil spec.
Many people will say that as long as the oil meets the spec in your book that's fine, but that book was printed 10-12 years ago & oil specs have improved.
I'm sure someone with a 3.6 will be along shortly & give you their two pennyworth. Have a look on the Opie site, stick your reg in & see what they come up with. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

I have been using Millers Longlife C1 5W30 fully synthetic for the last couple of years in my 2008 3.6. Perfectly happy with it. Found an independent not far away and he uses Millers. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

The correct spec for the 3.6 is fairly easy to find, 913-B is correct. But bear in mind there will be different types of magnatec and different specs within the “magnatec” umbrella. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

ACEA C1 oil (Ford spec WSS-M2C934-B) for example Shell Helix AF-L, is an ultra low SAPS oil for DPF equipped vehicles.

If you don't have a DPF, ACEA B1/B3 is the manufacturer specified oil (Ford spec WSS-M2C913-B), for example Shell Helix AF.

As far as manufacturers go, as Fox889 says, everyone has their favourites and people will talk about it until the cows come home.

For me, if it meets the technical specification as specified by the vehicle manufacturer, the brand and marketing is irrelevant. Some like to use the big brands as it gives them confidence in the product, which is fine. Others, like me, use oil from smaller manufacturers like Smith and Allan, which works out more cost effective. It's horses for courses and at the end of the day, as long as you chose something that meets the technical spec and a brand you are confident in, you will be fine.  Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Kev: tell me more about Smith & Allan, I’m always interested in other peoples recommendations etc. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

I've been using their fluids for years, across a variety of vehicles, including my L320 Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6 and now my L405 Range Rover 4.4 SDV8.

They are a very old manufacturer (not quite as old as Morris' though), based in Darlington and have been Shell main agents from the very start (guess where their base oils come from ). They are members of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association and also it's subsidiary, the Verification of Lubricant Specifications who are an independent organisation responsible for testing oils for adherence to the technical specification.

Here are some of their products you may be interested in:

Engine (C1) @ £43.40+VAT per 20 litres: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/pas...-m2c934-b/
Gearbox @ £76.38+VAT per 20 litres: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tra...ternative/
Diffs (non-locking) @ £12.84+VAT per 5 litres: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tra...l-gl4-gl5/
Transfer box @ £11.17+VAT per litre: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tra...r-box-oil/
Dynamic response @ £29.50+VAT per 5 litres: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tra...over-ace-/

I have used all of the above lubricants in the L320 and L405, with the exception of the gearbox oil, for which I use Mannol AG60 instead, due to it being cheaper through buying direct from Germany.

Hope this helps  Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Last edited by knwatkins on 24th Feb 2021 5:51pm. Edited 2 times in total

Interesting read Kev about Smith & Allan, their C1 Momentum is tempting, thanks for the info. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

Thanks for all the comments, certainly food for thought.

Hi knwatkins
Yes I think I to would try your suggestion of Smith & Allen brand with the information on the company you have given if i were to go outside of the big name brands to use as a 6 month oil change as when I popped a couple of questions to the seller of the Westway oil first asking who makes there oil and the answer was (WE DO) and I then said that there web site says they are a distributer not a manufacturer and the reply was (OK).
I actually need more than 3 two letter words to give me the confidence of putting a new product in my expensive engine.

Sorry I some how moved from another question I was replying to .