Engine oil guide | Engine oil what's the difference?

Recently updated on May 20, 2021 at 03:08 p.m

Without engine oil, sooner or later the engine will Do NOT spread pesto on this layer! functioning be. Probably more sooner than later. And that also applies to the use of wrong engine oil. And the engine oil requires constant Controlwhether there is still enough and whether it is, if so refilled must become. But which engine oil is the right one? What do the many abbreviations such as ACEA, VW 505.00, 5W-40, 15W40, 0W30 or A3-98?

The meaning of the codes

Engine oil is not just engine oil. The engines are sometimes extremely different (Three cylinder, four cylinder, five cylinder, high speed, diesel, gasoline, etc.) and every engine therefore needs another lubricantto run smoothly and most importantly continuous to work. It is precisely these different engine requirements that are included precisely defined codes classified. Above are total three Organizations that quantify the different oils.

The SAE class: The SAE, or "Society of Automotive Engineers“Is an organization that sets general standards in the automotive industry. This includes the specification of the Viscosity, so the flowability of the engine oils. For example, using the code "5W30" you can use the Low and high temperature viscosity read out. The W stands for winter, so for the low temperature. The number in front of it describes how cold-resistant the oil is. The lower the number, the lower the temperature the engine oil can withstand. The code "5W" means that the engine oil to -35 ° C has good flow behavior. The second number, so the 30th, give the Viscosity with warmth at. However, here it is the other way around: the higher the number, the better is the viscosity at higher temperatures.

The ACEA specification: At the ACEA (“Association des Constructeurs Européens d´Automobiles"-" Association of European Automobile Manufacturers ") is an organization that assigns motor oil to a vehicle type and quantifies its performance. These codes use however European manufacturers only and therefore they are only of use in Europe. The engine oils are classified with letters:

• A stands for gasoline-powered engines
• B stands for diesel-powered engines, even in small ones Commercial vehicles
• C stands for petrol or diesel powered vehicles. However, the prerequisite here is that the vehicles are equipped with a modern exhaust gas aftertreatment system (e.g. particle filter) are equipped
• E stands for trucks with a diesel engine

After the letter comes a number that represents the capacity indicates. The following applies here: The higher the number, the better the performance available.

The API classification: The API is about the American organization "American Petroleum Institute“That evaluate engine oils only for the American market. The API uses different letters for the basic classification and others for the capacity of the engine oil.

• S stands for petrol
• C stands for oils from diesel engines in commercial vehicles
• there is no standard for diesel cars
• SJ stands for less evaporation loss
• GL stands for gear oil
• Letters that designate the performance of the oil are the classes for petrol engines SJ, SL, SM, SN
• Classes with letters before the above make only for older cars
• API class SA indicates, for example, an engine oil without any additives, (for classic cars)

Individual manufacturer codes

In addition to the general codes from the three organizations above, there are also internal engine oil codes many manufacturers. The reason for this is that engines are becoming more and more complex and so are engine oils specific be matched. Therefore, a "common" engine oil is partial no longer suitable and the manufacturers have to test their own engine oils and release them in the form of their own abbreviations. This is easy to see because the brand is usually right in front of it, such as at "VW 505.00", Or names like "BMW TwinPower Turbo Gold" or also "Mercedes-Benz 229.1". For example, does a NoName oil have one VW 505.00 approval, then it corresponds to the specifications of Volkswagen and can be used officially.

Which oil is the right one and can you also use others?

To be on the safe side, just look up the vehicle manual. If no manufacturer approvals are found, you have to go to the ACEA or API specifications respect, think highly of. If that doesn't help either, there is the possibility by means of Oil search engine to find the right one for the respective car from various oil manufacturers. There are no alternatives here because it is by no means recommended an unapproved engine oil to use for the vehicle. Motor oils are specific and if the wrong oil is used it can too Damage is coming and the Guarantee expires.

With one of these universal oil filter wrench tool Incidentally, you can easily remove almost any oil filter.

General tips about motor oil

The oil level should be checked regularly. It is recommended after at the latest every third refueling stop check the oil level. This can also cause the Oil indicator light can be prevented, because when it lights up it is often too late and the engine may already have been damaged! It is also useful in the car Oil reserves (1 or 1,5 liters). Because certain engine oils that the vehicle needs are often not available everywhere. If you have a bottle with you, you can avoid having to leave the vehicle behind. Last but not least, we always recommend one regular oil changes perform. Thanks to its lubrication, oil reduces the friction and thus the wear and tear on the engine. However, the oil loses its properties over time and then no longer serves its purpose. That is why the manufacturers specify an interval window when at the latest the Should change oil. If you drive more short distances, it is advisable to use the engine oil to change more often.

Summary details on the subject of motor oil designation:

• For example: 5W-40 is an SAE grade oil. This denotes the Viscosity and thus the Flow property of the oil.
• Number in front of the W gives info on Flow property in the cold. (smaller number = better in cold weather)
• W stands for a suitable for winter Oil (the number after the W indicates the flow behavior at a temperature of 100 ° C at)
• Oil is designed to lubricate moving parts of the engine and reduce friction. Oil has a cleansing effect. Oil absorbs combustion residues. Oil protects against rust formation. Oil is used for tightness. Oil ensures that the engine parts are cooled.
• Standard quality is usually oil with SAE class 15W-40 (can be used in winter down to -20 ° C)
• Oils with specification 10W-40 are oils of the smooth running class (can be used down to -25 ° C)
• 5W-40 is either a partially or fully synthetic oil (good cold start properties down to -30 ° C)
• 0W-40 oils are fully synthetic and suitable for the viscosity range from -35 ° C to very high temperatures.
• High-performance low-viscosity oils are oils with the 5W-30 designation (long oil change intervals, suitable for summer and winter, for diesel with soot particle filter)
• ACEA marking indicates whether it is a car or truck oil or an oil for petrol or diesel engines (since 01.01.1996)
• Classes A1 to A5 stand for passenger car gasoline engines
• Classes B1 to B5 stand for passenger car diesel engines.
• Classes C1 to C4 are valid for gasoline and diesel engines (with exhaust gas aftertreatment)
• E2 to E9 are for diesel engines for trucks and work machines (The respective number after the letter indicates the characterized performance of the oil)
• Approval of the oil by the vehicle manufacturer is important (example VW 505.00)

Of course that had not happened yet!

tuningblog has countless other articles on the subject of car and auto tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. In part, we would like to provide you with news but also off the tuning. In our category Tips, products, information & Co We have reviews of car or accessories manufacturers, new ones Tuning Wiki Terms or one or the other Leak veröffentlicht. Following an excerpt of the last articles:

"Tuningblog.eu" - we keep you up to date on the subject of car tuning and car styling with our tuning magazine and we present you the latest tuned vehicles from all over the world every day. It's best to subscribe to ours Feed and will automatically be informed as soon as there is something new about this post, and of course also to all other contributions.