Which motor oil for my car?

Which motor oil for my car?
Magazine · Motor oil

Which motor oil for my car?

The most important answer is in your manual. We show what really matters in the choice.

To the rules
What this is about

Approval beats brand

With motor oil, what counts first is not the brand and not the price, but the manufacturer approval. Carmakers prescribe exact specifications, for example from VW, Mercedes or BMW, and only an oil with the matching approval is the right choice.

On top comes the right viscosity, the value such as 5W-30 that your manual names.

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Motoröl 5W-30

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How to find the right oil

  • Manual first: the required specification and viscosity are in the owner’s manual.
  • Check the approval: the oil must carry the exact manufacturer approval or the required ACEA/API class.
  • Keep the viscosity: do not switch to another value on your own unless it is approved.
  • Mind the particulate filter: diesels with a DPF often need low-SAPS oils, that too is in the specs.

Said honestly

The best motor oil is not the most expensive, but the one that meets your vehicle’s approval. A cheap oil with the correct approval is better than an expensive one without. Rely on the manual, not on advertising, and when in doubt ask the workshop. We give you the facts, the decision stays with you.

Sources and further reading

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