5.3 INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS'
SPECIFICATIONS
Besides the specifications issued by international organisations
and manufacturers’ associations, with the purpose of making
the minimum requirements homogeneous that a lubricant must comply
with to be able to be used without problems on the different engines,
specifications exist that are issued by the single manufacturers.
These define the particular characteristics a lubricant must possess
to be able to be considered ideal for a determinate type of engine.
This is an authorisation given by the manufacturer to the lubricant
maker, to be able to put an approval mark on a product meaning that
it is particularly suitable for cars of a determinate brand.
The most well-known ones are certainly the specifications issued
by Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz,
BMW, FIAT, GM.
VOLKSWAGEN SPECIFICATIONS
The Volkswagen specifications which certify specific qualities
of an engine oil that make it suitable for use on their cars are
divided into three large groups :
I. Specifications for dual lubricants
| 500.00 |
for petrol engines and NA diesel |
| 501.01 |
for petrol engines and NA diesel |
An oil change every 15,000 KM is envisaged but by now they have
become obsolete because considered only for oils approved in March
1997
II. Specifications for lubricants for petrol engines
| 502.00 |
for high performance petrol engines, with oil change every
15,000 km |
| 503.00 |
for petrol engines with prolonged interval between changes
(30,000 km), low viscosity |
| 503.01 |
for petrol engines with prolonged interval between changes,
AUDI only |
| 504.00 |
for Euro IV petrol engines |
III. Specifications for lubricants for diesel engines
| 505.00 |
for diesel engines with intercooler, oil change every
15,000 km |
| 505.01 |
for diesel engines of cars including new-generation engines,
with single injector pump, oil change every 15,000 km |
| 506.00 |
for diesel engines of cars, with prolonged oil change
interval over 50,000 km, not for use on engines with single
injector pump. Oil change is indicated by the electronic service
indicator (WIV). |
| 506.01 |
similar to 506.00, with higher protection against wear,
change at 50,000 km, for all diesel engines. It is the specification
of long-life oil for AUDI A2 1.4 TDI with engine with single
injector pump. It must not be used where specifications VW
503.00/506.00/505.01/505.00/502.00 are required. |
| 507.00 |
for Euro IV diesel engines |
The VW specifications are coupled with particular viscosimetric
grades. Only lubricants with a determinate grade can indicate a
determinate specification because only oils with that grade are
accepted by VW and subjected to the necessary tests for obtaining
the certification of reference.
| SPECIFICATION |
APPLICATION |
TRANSMISSION |
TRANSMISSION |
HTHS (mPa.s) |
AUDI CARS
Long-life
service |
AUDI CARS
NO Long-life service |
NOTES |
| 500.00 |
Petrol/NA Diesel |
15000 km |
0W-30/40, 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40 |
>3.5 |
|
All petrol cars |
Appr. prior to 03/97 |
| 501.01 |
Petrol/NA Diesel |
15000 km |
0W-30/40, 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40/50/60,
15W-40/50, 20W-40/50 |
|
Appr. prior to 03/97 |
| 502.00 |
High performance petrol |
15000 km |
|
|
| 503.00 |
Petrol low Visc. Ext. Drain |
30000 km |
0W-30/40, 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40
|
>=2.9 e <3.4 |
All other petrol ones |
|
|
| 503.01 |
Petrol |
30000 km |
>=3.51 |
TT(163 kW), S3, RS4, A8 6.0 V12 |
|
AUDI ONLY |
| 504.00 |
Petrol |
30000 km |
5W-30 |
>3.5 |
|
|
mid SAPS lubricants |
| 505.00 |
Diesel Intercooled |
15000 km |
0W-30/40, 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40/50/60, 15W-40/50,
20W-40/50 |
|
All other Diesels |
|
| 505.01 |
Diesel pump injector |
15000 km |
5W-40 |
>=3.51 |
|
3.3 TDI, A4 AVANT |
|
| 506.00 |
Diesel Ext. Drain |
30000 km |
0W-30/40, 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40
|
>=2.9 and <3.4 |
All Diesels |
|
Do not use on Diesel injector-pump |
| 506.01 |
506.00 with higher wear protection |
50000 km |
|
For all Diesel applications |
| 507.00 |
Diesel |
30000 km |
5W-30 |
>=3,5 |
|
|
mid SAPS lubricants |
|
Table in order of VW specifications
| 0W-30 |
0W-40 |
5W-30 |
5W-40 |
10W-30 |
10W-40 |
10W-50 |
10W-60 |
15W-40 |
15W-50 |
20W-40 |
20W-50 |
| 500.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 501.01 |
| 502.00 |
| 503.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 503.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
504.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 505.00 |
| |
|
|
505.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 506.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 506.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
507.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table in order of viscosity grade
VW Specifications
|
Selenia Range
|
VS Range
|
HPX |
500.00
|
20K, 20K AR, ACT Multipower
C3
|
Dual (level)
|
|
501.01
|
|
Vision
|
HPX |
502.00
|
WR, K, K P.E., Multipower C3,
Digitech
|
|
|
503.00
|
|
|
|
503.01
|
Digitech
|
|
|
| 504.00 |
Multipower Specs |
|
|
505.00
|
A20K, 20K AR, TD, WR, ACT, K,
K P.E., Performer 5W-40, Multipower C3, Digitech
|
Vision, Dual (level)
|
HPX |
505.01
|
Performer 5W-40, Multipower
C3,
K P.E.
|
|
|
506.00
|
|
|
|
| 506.01 |
|
|
|
| 507.00 |
Multipower Specs |
|
|
|
Table in order of product
^ top
MERCEDES BENZ SPECIFICATIONS
The name of the MB specifications derives from the Mercedes Bluebook
scheme, divided by numbered paragraphs and pages. It is used by
dealers to identify the products certified by the manufacturer and
their correct application on the engines.
| 229.1 |
For petrol and diesel engines. Minimum quality required ACEA
A2/B2 with additional limits on engine. |
| 229.3 |
For petrol and diesel engines. Minimum quality required ACEA
A3 / B3 / B4 e MB 229.1. It can only certify 0/ 5 W-x oils.
Additional tests on DB engines are foreseen. |
| 229.31 |
For new generation diesel engines. For lubricants with mid
SAPS characteristic and SAE 5W-30 grade. |
| 229.5 |
Maximum change interval 50,000 KM. Minimum quality required
ACEA A3 / B3 / B4. It can only certify 0/5 /l0 W-30 /40/50 oils.
It is used for the new MB cars with ASSYST system (based on
number of ignitions, engine operating time, mileage and type
of lubricant). |
| 229.51 |
For new generation petrol and diesel engines. For lubricants
with mid SAPS characteristic and SAE 5W-30 grade. |
^ top
BMW SPECIFICATIONS
The BMW specifications are mostly known as "Long Life".
There are three categories of products, which by passing determinate
tests, can reach specific oil change intervals.
"BMW Special Oils" 1996
The minimum requirement is ACEA A3/B3. Test M42 required for allowing
the use all year of 0W/5W/10W- x grade products is added.
"BMW Long Life Oils" 1998
The minimum requirement is A3/B3 and it can be coupled with the
following viscosimetric grades: 0W/5W/10W-30/40. The oils that pass
test M44, allow extended change intervals, up to 20,000 Km or two
years.
"BMW Long Life" 2001
The minimum requirement is ACEA A3/B3 and the viscosimetric grades
that can indicate this specification are 0W/5W/10W-30/40. Test M44
in the new version, warrants oil change intervals of up to 20/40,000
Km or two years. It is compulsory for the new cars that require
Long Life 01 and can replace the previous ones.
"BMW Long Life" 2004
Minimal requirements: ACEA A3 and BMW Long Life 2001. To use for
lubrificants of latest generation with high volatility and mid-saps.
^ top
POWER TRAIN TECHNOLOGIES/ FIAT
GROUP QUALIFICATIONS
| FIAT 9.55535-G1 |
Qualification for gasoline engine lubricants granting fuel
economy and extended drain |
| FIAT 9.55535-G2 |
Qualification for gasoline engine lubricants with standard characteristics. |
| FIAT 9.55535-H2 |
Qualification for gasoline engine lubricants, granting high
performances and high viscosity at high temperatures |
| FIAT 9.55535-H3 |
Qualification for gasoline engine lubricants granting very high performances. |
| FIAT 9.55535-D2 |
Qualification for Diesel engine lubricants with standard characteristics. |
| FIAT 9.55535-M2 |
Qualification for lubricants with extended drain |
| FIAT 9.55535-N2 |
Qualification for lubricants with a very good characteristics for turbocharged engines, Diesel and gasoline, with extended drain. |
| FIAT 9.55535-S1 |
Qualification for Diesel and gasoline engine, with exhaust treatment system, lubricants, granting fuel economy and extended drain. |
| FIAT 9.55535-S2 |
Qualification for Diesel and gasoline engine, with exhaust treatment system, lubricants, with extended drain.. |
These qualifications define the characteristics to be complied
with by the lubricants used in engines with Otto and Diesel cycle
for the first time of filling and during service. The standard is
formed of a series of tests in the laboratory and on the engine
to assess the performance level of lubricants.
The laboratory tests qualify the lubricant evaluating the viscosity,
cold yield value, tendency to produce foam, corrosion on copper
reed, behaviour with rubbers and resistance to oxidisation.
The engine tests assess the performance levels of lubricants in
terms of sticking rings, deposits on pistons, wear and also oil
consumption of certain diesel and petrol engines which are the most
representative of Fiat Auto’s most advanced technologies.
^ top
GM (OPEL) SPECIFICATIONS
The manufacturer requires for all vehicles the European specifications
ACEA A3-98 and B3-98 with different viscosimetric grades - SAE 0/5/10
W - 30/40 with oil change at 15 thousand km or 1 year with Euro
2 engines (manufactured before 2001) and 30 thousand km or 1 year
with Euro 3 engines.
In 2002 Opel also introduced the Opel Long
Life Service Oils (starting from the Vectra model year 2002),
a variable oil change interval that can reach 30 thousand km or
2 years for petrol engines (specification GM-LL-B-025) and 50 thousand
km or 2 years for diesels 2.0 and 2.2 DTI (GM-LL-A-025).
The cars that use Opel Long Life Service Oils must pass ACEA specifications
A3, B3, B4 and Opel tests B040 2095 HTHS >2.9 and B040 2098 for
lubricants with HTHS >3.5.
This lubricant qualification system has been developed with the
support of independent German laboratories who perform engine tests
(for wear, deposits and F.E.) or tribological ones, using Opel’s
procedures.
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