It was very interesting for our experts to compare both real numbers and the available reviews of motorists regarding motor oils. Moreover, we had a logical question - can motorists independently, by analyzing reviews, independently identify the best products on the automotive oil market, and without laboratory tests?

For the Opel Astra, such a venture failed. Each of us is a consumer, in any case we pay attention to the packaging and what is written on the labels. On the same forums, there is a lot of frank water and disputes about nothing - leafing through the opuses of certain authors, over time you realize that a person does not even have a clue about what he writes.

This is a more than real problem, because entire clans of followers are formed on the network, for which an erroneous opinion will play an authoritative role. Therefore, we decided to compile our motor rating for the Opel Astra.

Let's start with a simple one - ZIC car oil

Most of us know that ZIC automotive oil has rather weak reviews among consumers. The reasons are a fairly rapid blackening of the composition and rapid burnout. The filler cap of the engine is also not happy - a kind of “plasticine” will be formed here.

But, nevertheless, an independent examination shows that the devil is not as terrible as he is painted. Before us is an oil with far from the greatest wear (there are much worse oils on the market), the temperature regime of this very ZIC is at an adequate level.

Note that engine oil darkens really very quickly, the total working time cannot please. Japanese automakers are very fond of pouring a similar composition inside. So, for the city mode, ZIC is more than a suitable choice, however, we do not recommend pouring this oil into the Opel Astra if difficult engine operating conditions are planned.

Let's turn to Shell

Today, Shell is a world leader that is engaged not only in the production of consumables and lubricants, but also in the development of oil fields. Moreover, Shell engine oil for the Opel Astra is a very interesting choice. The composition is acceptable in price, as well as in quality.

The main complaint about the packaging is that canisters have changed quite a lot recently. However, there are suspicions that the modified packaging is just counterfeit, which has recently flooded the modern market. According to motorists, Shell engine oil is an absolutely working, normal product.

But it also lacks stars from the sky - there are no high anti-wear indicators, the advertised washing abilities are nothing more than a marketing ploy. However, we will not rant for a long time - what do we have in the end?

If a motorist is a fan of Shell and the consumer properties of the oil suit him completely, you should not change the composition. As we know, the old horse will definitely not spoil the furrow.

Mobil 1 is the best for Opel Astra

Despite all the shortcomings of analogues, we did not have any problems with Mobil 1 engine oil. On the contrary, it is a very good composition with corresponding reviews from the consumer territory. The oil is very popular in the market and, as a result, has a fairly high cost.

Despite the promoted brand, Mobil 1 rightfully occupies the post of one of the leaders in the motor oil segment. But let's turn to the results of the research.

We conducted a comprehensive, scientific and practical experiment - as a result of which we clearly managed to prove that the temperature of the sample is much higher than analogues. However, if there are problems with the engine and it overheats, you should not use Mobil 1, the percentage of waste is high.

Let's deal with the coefficient of waste - we found particles in the used oil, however, their number is absolutely uncritical and the composition protects very well from wear. The operating temperature of Mobil 1 in an Opel Astra engine is much worse than, for example, Shell, but the wear protection of the first oil is much higher.

Instead of output

In second place, we took engine oil from the giant Shell. Despite the current set of additives, the composition does not live up to high expectations and deserves the status of a typical "average".

ZIC engine oil is filled in as a standard oil directly from the factory, however, its operation in difficult conditions is not recommended. For urban use, ZIC is quite suitable, but for rural areas or lovers of high speeds, it is better to choose other oils.

We advise you to trust professional car mechanics to change the oil in the engine of an Opel Astra H car, especially if your car is under warranty or this is required by special insurance conditions. However, even for a motorist with little experience in maintenance and repair, a replacement will cope.

Important Notes

What is required to replace the Opel Astra h

1. A suitable brand of engine oil in an amount according to the engine size that your Astra H is equipped with (information is in the table of filling volumes in the Opel car manual, varies from 3.5 to 5 liters). Use engine oil recommended by the manufacturer, this will help to increase the life of the engine.
2. A new replacement oil filter (insert or filter element) and a rubber ring sealing the filter cover, in Astra they should be included.
3. Spanner wrench or socket head 14 to remove the crankcase protection Opel Astra h.
4. 24 socket for opening the oil filter cover.
5. TORX T45 wrench or star socket to unscrew the drain plug on the engine.
6. Capacity for draining mining with a volume of at least five liters.

Once again, we remind you that engine flush fluid is used when the quality of the engine lubricant is questionable, it is very dark or does not pass the spot test, and also if you decide to change the brand of lubricant.

So, the engine is heated to operating temperature and you have everything you need. Now you are ready for maintenance, the oil change in your Opel Astra h car begins. Now let's move on to the step-by-step guide.

Waste drain

We drive the car into a garage pit or overpass. First, to get to the drain plug on the sump, you have to remove the crankcase protection - a metal plate that is attached with four bolts to the subframe on the front suspension. Usually a 14 head is suitable for this.

Now you should clean the place around the drain plug on the engine from dirt with a metal brush and wipe it with a rag. Do not forget to prepare a container for used oil, do not spill it on the ground, take care of the surrounding area! To open the cork, a special key or a nozzle in the form of an asterisk is used. Substitute the container, unscrew the cork and drain the mining into it. Old waste liquid can be handed over for money for further processing. While the remnants of mining are draining, you can start replacing the filter.

When a change is made, you drain hot oil from the engine, so be careful and keep your hands!

If you decide to flush the engine, then do it with the old filter. To do this, wrap the plug on the pan, fill in the flushing fluid to the lower level mark on the dipstick, start the engine, let it run in flushing mode at idle for about ten minutes. Now turn off the engine and drain the used flush.

Replacing the filter on the Opel Astra

Unscrew the filter cover on the Opel engine using a 24 head, you will also need a swivel extension and a wrench. Pull out the cover along with the old insert. Attention! Remember the position of the filter element, the new one must be installed in the same way, on the same side. Remove the liner, then wipe the cover with a rag, remove the old sealing ring with a screwdriver and clean the cover with gasoline from dirt and deposits. Let her dry. Now it's time to wrap the drain plug, which is located on the oil pan.

It is recommended to saturate the filter element with fresh grease, for which you can place it in a small container with new grease, the rest of which will then be added to the engine. Install a new rubber o-ring on the filter cover, having previously lubricated it with fresh motor grease, insert the lubricated insert in the correct position, now install the filter in place.

Filling with oil and starting the engine

Now unscrew the oil filler cap, fill in a new one in a volume (4 liters), slightly less than indicated in the manufacturer's data. Check dipstick. The level should be in the middle of the MIN and MAX marks. Screw on the oil filler cap. Start your Astra. The pressure indicator will glow red and should go out after 3-5 seconds. Leave the engine to idle until it reaches operating temperature. During this time, check the oil filter, as well as the drain plug for leaks.

Checking the level on the dipstick

We stop the engine and wait a few minutes, during which time the oil flows into the sump, check its level. If required, then add it to the average level on the dipstick, if necessary, tighten the filter cover (it is worth noting that the cover is made of plastic, so you can not apply great effort) and the drain plug. Now it remains to install the crankcase protection on the subframe with four bolts. The bolts can be lubricated to facilitate the installation procedure and also to eliminate problems with thread boiling during the next dismantling.

Conclusion

Done, the lubricant change on your Opel is completed, you can safely operate your Astra until the next change, 10-12 thousand kilometers of effective mileage without breakdowns. The correct replacement interval should be determined taking into account operating conditions and the quality of the lubricant brand. It is necessary to pay attention to the temperature ranges of operation, daily loads on the car and driving style. Fully synthetic oil allows you to enjoy driving Astra with increased mileage, however, experts at high-quality car services strongly recommend changing engine oil in Opel Astra h at least once a year. Making the right decision about the frequency of replacement is based on the information given by the manufacturer in the service book and the recommendations published on specialized sites and forums. When servicing an Opel Astra H car, it is better to listen to the advice of experienced craftsmen than to develop personal skills on your own trial and error.

Good luck and smooth roads!

Video "Oil change on the Opel Astra H"

At some point, Opel's business went really bad. Many even thought that she would not be able to be reborn. Yes, until Opel can reach its previous level, although the quality of their cars has improved significantly. Both new models and used ones remain in demand on the market. A striking example of reliability, practicality and simultaneous availability is the Opel Astra H. Such a machine can be purchased at a relatively low price, while not worrying about its operation and service life. Like all cars, Astra has its drawbacks.

If you intend to operate this machine for more than one year, it will require proper care. It consists in the timely conduct of scheduled maintenance. One of the main tasks will be the Opel Astra H. It is easy to do this without the help of a car service.

Level and top up

Every motorist should know that any car with an internal combustion engine gradually consumes not only gasoline, but also other fluids, including engine oil. Since the oil is usually changed about once a year, during this period some of it burns out. Therefore, in the intervals between a complete replacement, it is imperative to control the level and add the missing amount of lubricant to the engine crankcase.

It cannot be said that the Opel Astra H has an increased appetite for motor fluid. Consumption is standard, if everything is fine with the car and there are no problems with the power unit. To understand the need for topping up, you should check the oil level with a dipstick at least once a month. Some motorists do this out of habit almost daily or before every long trip. The second option is the most correct.

To check the level, you should:

• open the hood;
• remove the dipstick;
• wipe it dry with a cloth;
• put the dipstick back;
• re-extract;
• look at the trail of oil where it ends.

The level is considered normal when the engine oil reaches the middle between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick. Oil deficiency is dangerous for the engine, because the components receive insufficient cooling and lubrication. This leads to premature wear of the elements, the formation of metal chips and further serious problems. It is also not worth pouring engine oil above the norm. This will cause increased consumption and fluid leakage.

When checking the level, it is extremely important that your Opel Astra H car is on a flat horizontal platform. Any horizontal deviation will give erroneous test results.

In addition to the level, the condition of the motor fluid must also be taken into account. To do this, pay attention to three criteria:

• smell;
• Colour;
• foreign impurities.

To take a sample, you can drain the oil from the crankcase (this is a long and difficult process), put a few drops from the dipstick, or use a syringe with a long tube, which removes some of the lubricant through the dipstick hole. The wear of the lubricant and the loss of its physical and chemical properties are indicated by a dark color, a burnt smell, traces of soot and metal shavings. If you see even one of these signs, this indicates the unsuitability of the motor fluid for further use. In order not to have to deal with expensive repairs of the entire engine soon, it is better right away.

Indirect signs, if you have not seen the lubricant itself, may be:

• increase in habitual fuel consumption;
• increased consumption of motor fluid;
• power loss;
• delays when shifting gears at the checkpoint;
• noise and vibration.

Try to adhere to the regulations and proceed from your specific situation in order to change the engine oil on your Opel Astra H on time and correctly.

Replacement frequency

The engineers of the German company Opel really believe in their cars, therefore they give figures of about 40 thousand kilometers, which Astra H is supposedly able to cover without changing the oil. If you take ideal conditions, smooth roads and a favorable climate, you can still believe in it. But you should be guided by real criteria. The quality of the roads, the climate and all the difficulties of operating a car in Russia make it necessary to change the engine oil at least 20 thousand kilometers. In fact, car owners are 2 times more likely. That is, out of 40 thousand, we came to real 10-12 thousand kilometers. This is normal for any car.

It is important to understand that the condition of the oil in the Opel Astra H and the preservation of its properties depends on a number of factors:

• weather;
• road condition;
• driving style;
• duration of stay in traffic jams;
• quality of the filled oil;
• the quality of the gasoline used;
• operating conditions (dust, sand, dirt), etc.

All this significantly reduces the actual life of the oil, when compared with the duration of its operation without such factors. You can test the capabilities of your Opel by trying to drive just 20,000 km. But this is a potential risk that can result in a breakdown of the power unit components and costly repairs. If you live in harsh winter conditions where temperatures regularly drop below -25 degrees Celsius, it's best to change your engine oil seasonally. That is, you should fill in winter and summer engine oil with the appropriate characteristics and viscosity indicators.

Oil selection

Of course, the automaker will recommend that you use only original parts. In many ways, this advice justifies itself, since we are talking about the most suitable components for the Opel Astra H. But the problem with originals is that they are often not available or are sold at a high price. When there is a decent alternative, most choose the more affordable option. In our case, the original engine oil from General Motors is used for the Opel Astra H. This is GM Dexos 2 5W30. A good, universal composition, which some owners of such a car poured and pour into the engine of their Opel Astra H.

But an important advantage of the manufacturer is that their engine oil tolerances allow you to choose among a wide range of analogues. Pour them if you cannot or do not want to use the original composition. And here it would be logical to ask what kind of oil to fill in your Opel Astra H instead of the original. It makes no sense to list all the oils on the market. Here are some of them worth highlighting:

• Mobil Super 3000 X1 5W40;
• Shell 5W40;
• Rolf 10W40;
• Total 5W40.

A good choice from well-known manufacturers. Their oils interact perfectly with Opel engines, without forming an excessive amount of soot and without causing increased fluid consumption. So feel free to opt for them, or look for another option that suits you.

If we talk about mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic oils, then in Opel Astra H only synthetic oil.

It’s not worth risking even pouring semi-synthetics. It is not known how the car will behave in your case. When you have decided which one is in the engine of your car, it remains to choose the right amount of lubricant and start working on the replacement.

Filled volume

During the production period of Astra H, the car was offered with a wide range of engines and was produced in different periods. Therefore, it is required to determine how much oil is in a car engine by the type of engine and year of manufacture of the car.

1. Diesel engine 1.3 l. (90 hp). Produced from 2005 to 2010. It contains 3.1 liters. lubricants.
2. Petrol 1.4 (90 hp). Produced in the period 2004 - 2010. Such an engine needs a volume of 3.5 liters of engine fluid.
3. Petrol 1.6 (105 hp). Produced from 2004 to 2007. It includes from 4 to 4.5 liters of oil.
4. Diesel 1.7 l. (80 hp). They did not produce for so long, only from 2004 to 2005. Its crankcase includes 4.5 liters. oils.
5. Diesel 1.7 l. (100 hp). An improved version of the previous motor. Produced from 2004 to 2007. In such an engine, the Opel Astra H requires 5 liters of engine oil.
6. Petrol 1.8 l. It was produced in several modifications for 100, 120 and 150 horsepower from 2004 to 2010. Regardless of the degree of forcing, 4.3 liters will intervene in the engine. lubricants.
7. Diesel 1.9 l. It also has 100, 120 or 150 horsepower under the hood. They produced such motors from 2004 to 2010, and 4.3 liters of oil are poured into it.
8. Petrol 2.0 l. Turbo engine on the Opel Astra N for 170 and 200 horses. This engine has 4.3 liters of oil. This unit was produced from 2004 to 2010.
9. Petrol 2.0 l. Top notch turbocharged engine. Opel produced it from 2005 to 2010. It developed 240 horsepower, and required only 4.3 liters of oil.

The presented volumes imply a full indicator of the capacity of the engines, that is, subject to the complete dryness of the crankcase. In reality, the amount of oil is slightly lower, since when draining, part of the engine lubricant remains in the crankcase. In total, buy liquids with a margin of about 1 liter. This will allow you to add the composition to your Opel Astra N as it is used and oil consumption in the engine. Plus, if you have a canister, you will definitely know which lubricant was filled in as part of the previous maintenance.

Materials and tools

For independent work on your Opel Astra H car, you will need to prepare:

• fresh and suitable engine oil in the right amount;
• oil filter cartridge;
• rubber seal for the filter (usually comes with an insert);
• drain plug with gasket;
• spanner wrench or socket wrench 14;
• end head 24;
• torx or star nozzle;
• container for draining mining;
• rags;
• tight clothing, closed shoes and gloves.

If desired, you can flush the engine if the old oil is very dark, has a lot of impurities and the recommended change interval has been significantly exceeded. If you change the consumable within the regulated period, the oil should not wear out excessively and pollute the system. Before you get started, consider a few important nuances.

1. Always in parallel with changing the engine fluid, the oil filter insert must be changed.
2. The optimal interval between maintenance of the Opel Astra N is considered to be 10 - 12 thousand kilometers.
3. Before draining the waste, it is recommended to warm up the engine to operating temperature.
4. Some drain the old grease using a vacuum intake method, inserting a tube and syringe through the dipstick hole. This method does not allow you to get rid of all the sediment that settles at the bottom of the pan.
5. Astra N does not use a filter assembly, but inserts (cartridges) are used, which must be replaced. Be sure to make sure that it comes with a sealing rubber gasket. The old gasket is not suitable for reuse.

Knowing all this information, you will be able to competently, correctly and quickly carry out maintenance work on your car on your own.

Step-by-step instruction

Try not to deviate from the regulations so as not to make mistakes or miss any important points in the course of work. If you have everything ready, you can start.

1. Your Opel Astra N must be on level ground. For work, it is better to use a flyover or a pit. This is the question of how to get to the pan to drain the oil. You can also replace the mixture simply on the floor by jacking up the car, but this is inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
2. After warming up the car, wait a few minutes. Open the hood, unscrew the filler plug. This will relieve the system of a vacuum, due to which the oil will quickly begin to drain into the tank. You can additionally remove the negative terminal from the battery. Purely a security measure.
3. We pass under the car. On some Astras, crankcase protection is provided. You will need a size 14 wrench to remove it. Unscrew all fasteners and remove the protection to the side. As long as you don't need it.
   
4. Find a drain plug. Clean the area around the engine oil sump drain hole with a wire brush. This will save you from excess dirt and will not allow its particles to penetrate inside.
   
5. Now unscrew the plug. A feature of Astra is that here a torx or an asterisk nozzle is used to dismantle the plug. Place a container under the plug, unscrew it all the way and let the oil drain into an empty container of a suitable volume.
6. If flushing is still needed, do not remove the old filter yet. Close the sump cap, fill in the flushing mixture through the oil filler hole and start the engine. He needs to idle for 10 minutes. Then turn off the engine, wait 5 minutes and drain the composition again. Screw the plug back, changing it completely in case of deformation or replacing only the gasket.
7. After washing, go to the filter located on the engine. For its dismantling, a size 24 head, extension and wrench are required. The location is not the best, but the cartridge needs to be replaced.
   
8. Unscrewing the cover, you will remove the old liner with it. Look at it carefully and remember how it is located in the lid. The new element is installed in the same way.
9. Remove the old cartridge, carefully clean the cap, get rid of the old seal. It is desirable that no traces of deposits remain on the lid. Replace the seal with a new one, let the cap dry, insert a new cartridge into it.
   
10. A new liner should be saturated with fresh oil by dipping into a small container of the appropriate size. Install everything in its place, as it was with the previous cartridge.
    
11. Insert a wide funnel into the oil filler plug to make it easier to pour fluid into the crankcase. Start filling the engine. Do not pour the entire volume specified in the regulation, as the actual amount will differ. At the same time, check with a dipstick whether you have reached the desired level or not. When the dipstick shows an oil position between "Min" and "Max", close the grease fill cap.
    
12. This completes the engine oil change. Start the car, let the engine idle for a few minutes. If the oil pressure indicator lamp on the panel goes out, everything is going fine. Warm up the engine to operating temperature. Make sure no liquid is leaking through the filter and drain plug.
    
13. Stop the engine, wait 3-5 minutes for the oil to drain back into the sump. Check the current level with a dipstick. If there is little fluid, add a little more through the oil filler hole.
14. The work is completed by the reverse installation of the crankcase protection. It is recommended to lubricate the protection mounting bolts so that later it will be easier for you to unscrew them for the next change of engine fluid.

Everything, you have successfully completed the task, so we can safely congratulate you on this. There is nothing difficult in self-maintenance of the Opel Astra H. It is enough to choose the right oil, purchase a filter cartridge and follow the instructions.

The manual for the Opel Astra N 1.6 states that the engine oil must be changed at intervals of max = 15 thousand km. The same applies to the oil filter. Ideally, you need to make allowances for Russian realities and change the oil more often: it is better to reduce the replacement interval to 10 thousand km.

What kind of oil and how much is needed for replacement?

To find out exactly how much oil you need to fill in, you will need to look into the service book, because the exact figure depends on the type of engine. Opel Astra H 1.6 cars are equipped with Z16XER engines. For this engine, you will need 5W-30 or 5W-40 oil. If you plan to operate the car at t \u003d - 25 ° C and below, then you should choose oil with parameters 0W-30 or 0W-40.

When replacing, you need to fill in from 4.0 to 4.5 liters.

So, prepare a new oil and filter, a TORX 45 key, a 17 key, a 24 head, a funnel for filling the oil and go to work.

Oil change process

Warm up the engine to approximately 90 °C. After turning off the engine, wait 15 minutes for the oil to cool slightly. As always, such work is carried out after the car is driven onto a lift or into a viewing hole, do not forget to set the car on the handbrake.

1. Open the oil filler neck.
2. Having unscrewed the bottom protection fasteners, with a key of 17, remove it. Unscrew the drain plug (a TORX 45 key will help), let the oil drain completely into the five-liter container that you set up in advance. Replace the gasket on the plug to avoid engine oil leaks. After that, tighten the neck plug.
3. Remove the oil filter by unscrewing the single mounting bolt using a 24 socket.
4. Replace the filter element in it. Rinse the filter housing and change the gasket in it, before installation, lubricate it with clean oil.
5. Fill in new oil, first into the filter. As you fill in, fresh oil begins to soak into the walls of the filter, so you need to add more. Fill the filter cap about half way. This is done so that the lubrication of all engine components, in the first minutes of its operation, passes without delay.
6. Thoroughly clean the place under the filter, after which, put the filter in its original place, tightening it well.
7. Now you need to pour oil into the engine of your Opel Astra N. Focus on the amount of oil that has leaked out: how much has drained means fill in the same amount. Check the engine oil level with a dipstick - make sure it is between MAX and MIN.
8. Warm up the engine of the machine to operating temperature, and check the oil level again. If it does not reach normal, add oil.
9. If necessary, tighten the filter and plug on the drain hole. Put the crankcase protection in place.

Video: Changing the oil and filter in the Opel Astra H engine