Knowledge base
Which engine oil does my car need?
There are dozens of engine oils on the shelf, yet only a handful suit your engine. The brand on the bottle is almost secondary: two things matter — the viscosity and the manufacturer's approval.
Viscosity: what does 5W-30 mean?
The number before the W (for winter) tells you how well the oil flows on a cold start: the lower, the faster it reaches every part. The number after it is the thickness at operating temperature. So a 0W-20 is thinner on a cold start than a 5W-30, and slightly thinner when warm as well.
Newer petrol engines are often designed for thin oil (0W-20) to save fuel. Putting thicker oil in out of habit does not add protection and can even cause faults, for example with variable valve timing.
The factory approval matters more than the thickness
Two oils labelled 5W-30 can be completely different. That is why manufacturers specify their own approval, which must be on the bottle. Some well-known ones:
- VW 504 00 / 507 00 — Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and SEAT with longlife intervals.
- VW 508 00 / 509 00 — newer VW group engines with 0W-20.
- MB 229.51 / 229.52 — Mercedes, especially diesels with a particulate filter.
- BMW Longlife-04 — BMW and Mini with a particulate filter.
If your car's approval is not on the bottle, it is not the right oil — however good the brand.
ACEA C: oil for cars with a particulate filter
Diesels with a particulate filter (and many modern petrol engines with a petrol particulate filter) need low-SAPS oil: little ash, sulphur and phosphorus, marked ACEA C2, C3, C5 or C6. Regular oil (ACEA A3/B4) leaves more ash, which slowly clogs the filter — and a particulate filter is expensive.
Where to find the right oil for your car
In the service book or owner's manual, on a sticker under the bonnet from the last service — or faster: in our service calculator. Enter your number plate and you will see the oil approval, viscosity and quantity for your engine.
How many litres of oil go in? Popular engines
| Car and engine | Oil (litres) | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 107 1.0 68 pk (2005–2014) | 3.1 | 5W-30 / ACEA C2, C3, A5/B5, C3 / PSA B71 2290 / PSA B71 2290 / 2297 |
| Toyota Aygo 1.0 68 pk (2005–2014) | 3.1 | 5W-30, 5W-20 / ACEA C3 / A3/B4 |
| Citroën C1 1.0 68 pk (2005–2014) | 3.1 | 5W-30 / ACEA C2, C3, A5/B5, C3 / PSA B71 2290 / PSA B71 2290 / 2297 |
| Volkswagen Up / Load Up 1.0 60 pk (2011–2020) | 3.4 | 0W-40 / ACEA A3/B4 / VW 502.00 / 505.00 |
| Toyota Yaris IV / Yaris Cross 1.5 116 pk (2020–) | 3.5 | 5W-30, 0W-20 / ACEA C3 / A3/B4 |
| Volkswagen Polo VI (AW) 1.0 95 pk (2017–) | 4 | 0W-20 / ACEA C5 / VW 508.00 / 509.00 |
| Kia Picanto III (JA) 1.0 67 pk (2017–) | 3.1 | 0W-20 / ACEA C5, C6 |
| Renault Clio IV 0.9 90 pk (2012–2019) | 4.1 | 0W-40 / ACEA A3/B4 / Renault RN0700 / RN0710 |
| Toyota Yaris III (XP13) 1.5 100 pk (2012–) | 3.7 | 0W-20 / ACEA C5, C6 |
| Renault Twingo II 1.2 75 pk (2007–2014) | 4 | 5W-30 / Renault RN0700 |
| Fiat 500 / Nuova 500 (150) 1.2 69 pk (2007–) | 2.8 | 5W-40 / ACEA C3 |
| Ford KA II 1.2 69 pk (2008–2016) | 4 | 5W-40 / ACEA C3 / Ford M2C917-A |
| Renault Captur (J5, H5) 0.9 90 pk (2013–2019) | 4.1 | 0W-40 / ACEA A3/B4 / Renault RN0700 / RN0710 |
| Suzuki Alto 68 pk (2009–) | 2.9 | 5W-30 / ACEA A3/B4 |
| Ford Kuga III 2.5 224 pk (2019–) | 5.4 | 0W-20, 5W-20 / WSS-M2C913-D |
Capacity for an oil change with filter, from our parts database; always check the service book too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix oils of different brands?
Topping up with oil of the same approval and viscosity does no harm. We advise against mixing different approvals; at the next service we replace everything.
How much oil goes in?
It depends on the engine: from about 3.5 litres in small petrol engines to 6 litres or more in larger diesels. The exact amount is shown in the calculator.
Is more expensive oil always better?
No. The right approval beats a pricier oil with a different approval. We use the oil your manufacturer prescribes for your engine.
See which oil suits your engine in the service calculator or read more about the oil change in Tilburg.
Sources
- ACEA – European Oil Sequences – the European engine oil classes (A/B, C) printed on the bottle
- Kroon-Oil – olieadvies per auto – oil change capacity and recommended specification per engine