Oil specifications & approvals
Viscosity is only half the answer. These are the performance specifications — API, ILSAC, ACEA, GM dexos, and OEM approvals — your engine may also require. Match both the grade and the spec.
- ACEA sequences ACEA oil sequences explained — the European performance classes for engine oils, what the A/B, C, and E categories mean, and how they relate to viscosity.
- API CK-4 API CK-4 explained — the current API heavy-duty diesel engine oil category, and why diesel and gasoline oils differ.
- API SN API SN explained — the previous-generation API gasoline-engine oil category, and how it relates to the current API SP.
- API SP API SP explained — the American Petroleum Institute gasoline-engine oil category found in many recent manuals, what it protects against, and how it relates to API SQ.
- API SQ / ILSAC GF-7 API SQ and ILSAC GF-7 explained — current gasoline-engine oil standards, GF-7A vs GF-7B, and how Starburst, Shield, and Donut labels relate to your manual.
- BMW Longlife BMW Longlife oil approvals explained — what Longlife specifications such as LL-01 and LL-04 mean, and how they relate to the viscosity grade.
- dexos1 Gen3 dexos1 Gen3 explained — GM's current gasoline-engine oil specification, what it adds on top of API SP, and why the grade alone isn't enough.
- GM dexos2 GM dexos2 explained — the General Motors oil specification for many diesel and some European GM engines, and how it differs from dexos1.
- ILSAC GF-6 ILSAC GF-6 explained — the gasoline-engine oil standard found in many recent manuals, its GF-6A and GF-6B sub-categories, and how it relates to ILSAC GF-7.
- JASO MA / MA2 JASO MA and MA2 explained — the motorcycle oil friction standard for wet clutches, and why some car oils are unsuitable.
- Mercedes-Benz Approvals Mercedes-Benz oil approvals explained — what MB-Approval sheets such as 229.5, 229.51, and 229.71 mean, and how they relate to the viscosity grade.
- VW 504 00 / 507 00 VW 504 00 and 507 00 explained — Volkswagen Group's long-life low-SAPS oil approvals for petrol and diesel engines, and how they relate to viscosity.