ACEA Specifications — Anout different uses of engine oils Different logos used in the European ACEA 2016 series
Three main factors in particular are influencing
the European market:
• extended oil change intervals;
• reduces fuel consumption;
• exhaust gas composition.
The different uses of the engine oils are designated
using letters in the European ACEA 2016 sequences:
A/B – for passenger car petrol & diesel engines;
C – for passenger cars with diesel particulate filters;
E – for commercial vehicles-diesel engines.
ACEA A/B: Petrol and diesel engine oils – High “SAPS values”
A1/B1 | Category deleted (since ACEA 2016). | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A3/B3 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils for use in petrol and diesel passenger car engines and light van diesel engines and/or for extended oil change intervals which were specified by engine manufacturers and/of for year-round use of low viscosity oils, and/or for heavy conditions of use, as defined by engine manufacturers. | ||||
A3/B4 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils, recommended for use in petrol and diesel passenger car engines and light van diesel engines, but also for applications such as those described under A3/B3. | ||||
A5/B5 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils for use with extended oil intervals in petrol and diesel passenger car engines and light van diesel engines. Developed to allow for the use of low-friction oils with low viscosity with a high temperature and shear stability (HTHS) viscosity of 2.9 to 3.5 mPa*s. These oils are not suitable for some vehicle engines. In case of doubt please seek for information in vehicle handbooks or retailers. | ||||
A7/B7 | NEW in 2021: Shear-stable ” STAY in GRADE” oils for use with extended oil intervals in petrol and diesel passenger car engines and light van diesel engines. Compared with A5/B5, these engine oils also offer LSPI protection and wear protection for turbocharged gasoline DI engines at low engine speeds, and TCCD protection for moder DI diesel engines. |
ACEA C: Catalyst & GPF/DPF suitable engine oils for gasoline and diesel
engines – Low “SAPS values”
Note: These oils increase the service life of DPF/GPF and TWC and facilitate fuel economy for the vehicle.
Warning: Some of these categories are not suitable for certain engines. Seek information from vehicle handbooks or retailers in case of doubt.
C1 | Category deleted (since ACEA 2021) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C2 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils with medium SAPS values. Intended for use as a catalyst-suitable oil in vehicles with extended oil change intervals and for all types of modern exhaust aftertreatment systems in high performance passenger cars and light van petrol and DI diesel engines capable of using low friction and low viscosity oils with a minimum HTHS viscosity of 2.9 mPa*s. | ||||
C3 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils with medium SAPS values. Intended for use as a catalyst-suitable oil in vehicles with extended oil change intervals and for all types of modern exhaust aftertreatment systems in high performance passenger cars and light van petrol and DI diesel engines capable of using low friction and low viscosity oils with a minimum HTHS viscosity of 3.5 mPa*s. | ||||
C4 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils with low SAPS values. Intended for use as a catalyst-suitable oil in vehicles with extended oil change intervals and for all types of modern exhaust aftertreatment systems in high performance passenger cars and light van petrol and DI diesel engines capable of using low friction and low viscosity oils with a minimum HTHS viscosity of 3.5 mPa*s. | ||||
C5 | Shear-stable ” STAY in GRADE” oils with medium SAPS values and improved fuel savings. Intended for use as a catalyst-suitable oil in vehicles with extended oil change intervals and for all types of modern exhaust aftertreatment systems in high performance passenger cars and light van petrol and DI diesel engines capable of using low friction and low viscosity oils with a minimum HTHS viscosity of 2.6 mPa*s. NEW in 2021: Shear-stab | ||||
C6 | NEW in 2021: Shear-stable ” STAY in GRADE” oils with medium SAPS values and improved fuel savings. Compatible with exhaust aftertreatment systems. Intended for use with extended oil change intervals in passenger cars and light petrol and DI diesel engines, which are designed for engine oils with an HTHS viscosity of at least 2.6 mPa*s and have been approved by the manufacturer. Compared with C5, these engine oils also offer low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) protection and wear protection for turbocharged petrol DI engines at low engine speeds, and turbocharger-compressor deposit protection (TCCD) for modern DI diesel engines. |
Abbreviations: SAPS: Sulphate Ash, Phosphorus, Sulphur; HTHS: High temperature/high shear rate viscosity; DI: Direct Injector; DPF: Diesel Particle Filter; GPF: Gasoline Particle Filter; TWC: Three Way Catalyst; TCCD: Turbo Charger Compressor Deposit; LSPI: low-speed pre-ignition.

ACEA for heavy diesel engines for commercial vehicles
E4 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils, which guarantee excellent piston cleanliness, wear protection, efficient prevention of soot deposits and stable lubrication. Recommended for use in heavy high-performance diesel engines which fulfil the exhaust gas norms Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V under very strenuous conditions. Extremely long service intervals are possi ble, depending on the manufacturer specifications. These oils are for engines without particle filters and for some EGR engines and some engines with SCR NOx reduction system. The recommendations for use from the engine manufacturers may differ. Seek information from vehicle handbooks or retailers in case of doubt. Special authorisation from the manufacturer is required. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
E6 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils, which guarantee excellent piston cleanliness, wear protection, efficient prevention of soot deposits and stable lubrication. Recommended for use in heavy high-performance diesel engines which fulfil the exhaust gas norms Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V under very strenuous conditions. Extremely long service intervals are possi ble, depending on the manufacturer specifications. These oils are for EGR engines with or without particle filters and for engines with SCR Nox reduction systems. E6 is prescribed for engines equipped with particle filters and has been developed for use in combination with fuels with low sulphur content. The recommendations of engine manufactures for the use may differ. Seek information from vehicle handbooks or retailers in case of doubt. Special authorisation from the manufacturer is required. | ||||
E7 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils control piston cleanliness and prevent bore polishing. They also stand out thanks to high wear protection, low deposits in the turbocharger and stable lubrication. Recommended for use in heavy high-performance diesel engines which fulfil the exhaust gas norms Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V under very strenuous conditions. Extremely long service intervals are possible, depending on the manufacturer specifications. These oils are for engines with out particle filters, for most EGR engines and some engines with SCR NOx reduction system. The recommendations for use from the engine manufacturers may differ. Seek information from vehicle handbooks or retailers in case of doubt. Special authorisation from the manufacturer is required. | ||||
E9 | Shear-stable “STAY in GRADE” oils control piston cleanliness and prevent bore polishing. They also stand out thanks to high wear protection, low deposits in the turbocharger and stable lubrication. Recommended for use in heavy high-performance diesel engines which fulfil the exhaust gas norms Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V under very strenuous conditions. Extremely long service intervals are possible, depending on the manufacturer specifications. These oils are for engines with and without particle filters, for most EGR engines and most engines with SCR NOx reduction system. E9 is prescribed for engines equipped with particle filters and has been developed for use in combination with fuels with low sulphur content. The recommendations for use from the engine manufacturers may differ. Seek information from vehicle handbooks or retailers in case of doubt. Special authorisation from the manufacturer is required. |