INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS' SPECIFICATIONS

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

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 characterist

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.

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.

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.