Oil types

Baldytyke88

I watched a video about oil types and not all 5w 30 are the same. Is it just a matter of one type of oil is for a petrol engine and another for a diesel?

For a 2013 Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0L diesel, you generally need a fully synthetic 5W-30 or 5W-40 engine oil with an ACEA C3 specification, essential for vehicles with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), meeting Renault RN0700/RN0710 and GM/Opel standards like GM-LL-B-025. The capacity is around 7.4 to 8 liters, depending on the specific engine variant, so always check your dipstick after filling

Not all 5W-30 oils are ACEA C3; it's a specific mid-SAPS (Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus, Sulphur) standard for aftertreatment systems (DPFs/Catalysts) with various OEM approvals like BMW LL-04, MB 229.51, VW 504/507, while other 5W-30s might be ACEA A3/B4 (performance) or C2 (lower SAPS) or meet different car manufacturer specs, so always check the bottle for the exact ACEA C3 designation and any required OEM approvals for your vehicle

paul_c123

There's 4 kinds of oil:

1) oil which the manufacturer sells in their parts department. This might be a particular brand they have a tie-in with.
2) oil which meets the manufacturer's specification, eg VW 504/507
3) oil which meets a more general specification, for example ACEA C3
4) oil

Typically the manufacturer's own, or their spec, is more expensive than the others. Some cars and engines need a particular spec (for example, wet belt rubbish), some don't. 

Grey_Critic

The manufaqcturer specifies which oil you need to use - do not be tempted to buy on price. Garages usually buy their oil in bulk not in 5 litre tins but it will meet the specification. Yes there are oil types for Petrol fo Diesel and some are Multi-purpose and can be used in either, I have over the years replaced engines because someone has used some cheap oil and destroyed the engine. 

Goudy

Car engine oil is generally broken down like this:

Mineral, Synthetic and Semi Synthetic oils which are then categorised as follows. 

Viscosity or Grade.
This is your 5W-40, 0W-20 etc for multi grades of oil.
Low number is flow at cold.
High number is flow when hot.
These measurements are global standards (SAE).

Next you will have performance/emission classifications.
These are generally set by different areas own standards.
In Europe it's ACEA, so you will have different ACEA numbers like A1, B2 and C3.
Japan uses the JASO standards.
The US uses API standards.
(you will find a lot of oils carry two or maybe all three standards)

Most car owners manuals will state a manufacturers own standard.
These are numbers and codes like Fords WSS-M2948-B,  Renault's RN0710, Mercedes MB229.5 and so on.


So now for example, lets say you have a European car, a Renault.
After scanning your owners manual it should tell you the the grade, the emissions/performance and the manufacturer own spec.
So it might read something like this.
5W-40 ACEA A3/B4 and meets Renault's RN0710 spec.

Of course there are many 5W-40 oils, but not all will be ACEA A3/B4 or meet the RN0710 spec.
Some 5w-40 oils might be A1 or C3. (though these might state the same Renault spec, they aren't the correct oil)

Some people tend to ignore the manufacturers spec.
If their car needs 5W-40 ACEA A3/B4 that's enough and the oil will certainly meet that Renault spec anyway.

If my car took 5W-40 ACEA A3/B4 and I was desperately in need of an emergency top up, I would use any 5W-40 if the A3/B4 wasn't available and if I topped up more than say 15%, I'd plan an oil change with the correct A3/B4 as soon as possible.


 

dnpark38

@Goudy
Thanks very interesting.
Wondering if Dealer service gets correct oil in. (or garage)

facade

dnpark38 said:

@Goudy
Thanks very interesting.
Wondering if Dealer service gets correct oil in. (or garage)

Depends where you go.

My Suzuki gets the right oil at the dealer*, (I think) because they leave me an extra bottle inside the car. I suppose that they could just get one bottle in to fool me, and stick fleet oil in the engine....

I know that at the independent place my brother works they order in the correct oil for the car, if you tell them that you want Oilio Magnifico then they will get that for you and pass the cost on.

* along with a 12 month manufacturer warranty extension, which makes the dealer service worth it.

paul_c123

dnpark38 said:

@Goudy
Thanks very interesting.
Wondering if Dealer service gets correct oil in. (or garage)

Dealer will have the correct oil in stock, no reason not to put the correct type in.

Indy garage - they will order in the service parts (oil filter, air filter, cabin filter, etc) for each specific car/job and since there's so many variations of oil across makes/models, they also order the specific oil required for each job on a car-by-car basis. They no longer hold a generic "barrel" of oil.

Bigphil1474

Strangely, the Peugeot dealership I get my Peugeot car serviced at use a different oil than what the entire internet and my local supplier say they should. Even more strangely, since my timing belt was done in 2024, the oil they use burns off half a litre a month, yet after I started topping it up with the oil that the local supplier sold me as recommended for my car, it hasn't lost any oil. 5w30 vs 0w30. The dealership use Total Quartz Ineo 0W30, every website says 5w30, including the Total Ineo stuff, and the local shop actually rang their supplier and double checked and came back with the same. Whilst it's under warranty, I'm not getting into an argument with Peugeot about it though.

Goudy

You sometimes get different grades of oil quoted for the same car/engine.

The handbook for my other half's car starts at 0W-20 and ends at 10W-40 but that covers different climates.
The colder the climate the thinner it states to use but it states 0W-20 as "Preferred", so that's what it gets. I know as I give it to it.

My car's handbook states "refer to dealer" and doesn't tell me anything else about oil except where the dipstick and filler cap are.
It still goes back to the dealer for it's services as I haven't the time myself, I'm usually sorting out everyone else's cars!

Ibrahim5

Mechanics really can't be bothered what oil they put in. Often they don't bother changing it at all. They won't waste time trying to get the correct oil. The only way to know for certain is to do your own oil changes. It's not difficult.

paul_c123

Ibrahim5 said:

Mechanics really can't be bothered what oil they put in. Often they don't bother changing it at all. They won't waste time trying to get the correct oil. The only way to know for certain is to do your own oil changes. It's not difficult.

LOL