So let's compare the specs of 5W-30 Volvo USED to recommend, the new Pro 0W-20 Volvo NOW requires, and the EDGE 0W-20 the average joe can go out and buy. I'm not looking at other brands here because Volvo recommends Castrol so that's what we're going with.
You can find all of these MDS here:
https://msdspds.castrol.com/msdspds...&output=Full&spu=Lubricants&unrestrictedmb=No
First the 5W-30 of yore:
View attachment 70087
Note that it meets the A5/B5 specification
Now the Pro 0W-20:
View attachment 70089
Note that it is an A1/B1 oil but also meets the VCC spec.
And finally the 0W-20 you can get from Amazon and other places rather cheaply.
View attachment 70091
There are a few parameters that must be tested in the VCC spec that are not part of A5/B5 or A1/B1 specifications. In particular it is High Temp High Shear test of the CEC-L014-A-97 specification. The Pro 20 oil checks in at 2.8cP.
Another specification to meet VCC is Noack Volatility CEC L-40-A-93 and the Pro 20 has a 11.9% loss (this is not a great number actually, 13% is the upper limit)
Coming along with this is the Gelation Index ASTM D5133 of 6. That's pretty average and I guess doesn't really mean much for the VCC spec.
Another test the Pro specifies is Viscosity, MRV/Yield Stress at -40C or ASTM D4684. It reports 14000mPa.s(cP)
So those are the tests that set the Pro apart from the other two oils, let's compare the specs they have in common
Test | Pro 20 | 5W30 | 0W20 | Notes |
ASTM D4052
| 0.8421 | 0.85 | 0.841 | |
ASTM D445
| 8.84 | 9.5 | 8.7 | (this is at 100C) |
ASTM D5293
| 4600
| 4775 | 4400 | (lower number is better) |
ASTM D445
| 47.09 | 53 | 45 | (this is at 40C) |
ASTM D2270
| 171
| 164 | 161 | |
ASTM D97 | -54 | -45 | -42 | (larger negative number here is better)
|
ASTM D93
| 206 | 204 | 206 | (higher number is better here)
|
Interestingly enough what is not specified in the VCC spec is ash content which has always been a concern with A1/B1 oils and C5 specifications. Both the regular 30 and 20 oils are low at 1.2 and 1.0.
To me the Pro 20 comes off as a heavy 20 weight oil compared to the regular 20 stuff you get at Wal-Mart and Amazon. Since the standard 20 oil isn't being tested for HTHS we have no idea if it comes close to the numbers needed for the VCC spec. The Pro 20 seems to be concerned with putting up good cold viscosity numbers. Just look at the D97 pour point, it blows the others away. But then the regular 0W20 scores better in the cold crank simulator test (ASTM D5293) so i dunno
However the two 20 weight oils seem to track each other closely in the other tests.
I don't really know what to think or choose here. You can't get Castrol Pro on the open market, so you have to decide if the regular 20 is close enough in specs and make some leaps of faith that the untested parameters are going to be similar.