The very sophisticated engineering, finely-tuned performance and artistic styling of European cars and trucks can turn a daily commute into a grin-inducing experience. For all the luxurious benefits of owning an expensive European vehicle – finely tuned performance, sophisticated styling, prestige – they can be a pain when it comes to maintenance. Some estimates indicate four of the top five most expensive vehicles to maintain hail from across the pond.
Not only that, the design of these performance vehicles and Europe's strict manufacturer specifications requires specialized full synthetic motor oil that differs in many ways from the good old conventional or synthetic motor oil you use in your Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Chevy, or Toyota.
AMSOIL 100% Synthetic European Motor Oil meets and often even exceeds these very strict European manufacturer specifications. AMSOIL European Motor Oil's shear-stable synthetic base oils and premium-quality anti-wear additives provide outstanding protection in high-heat conditions for dependable performance throughout the long drain intervals usually recommended by most European vehicle manufacturers.
AMSOIL European Motor Oil also provides outstanding protection for turbochargers by keeping them cool and resisting deposits. It's impressive cold-flow properties protect turbochargers from oil starvation in subzero temperatures and ensure a rapid return to appropriate oil pressure at startup. Additionally, the excellent oxidation stability, heat resistance and detergency properties of AMSOIL Synthetic European Motor Oil helps keep engines clean. It is designed to prevent sludge and varnish deposits, reduce oil consumption, extend engine life and provide maximum performance.
➪ Engineered to meet and often exceed European manufacturers’ strict specifications
➪ Formulated for the long motor oil drain intervals that are usually recommended by European automakers
➪ Provides excellent protection for the unique needs of gasoline, diesel and hybrid European cars and trucks
➪ Shear-stable full synthetic base oils and high-quality anti-wear additives resists deposit formation and oil volatility
➪ Thermally stable formulation provides outstanding protection for turbochargers by keeping them cool
➪ Its low pour point helps protect turbochargers against oil starvation at startup in subzero temperatures
➪ Helps to fight sludge, varnish and other deposits for superior engine cleanliness and protection
➪ Helps to reduce oil consumption, extend the engine life, and increase the performance of European vehicles
The European Union maintains stricter standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions than the United States, The EU has even agreed to entirely ban the sale of new CO2-emitting cars after 2035. Because modern diesels emit lower CO2 than gasoline engines, the European market also pivoted toward increased use of diesel-powered vehicles in the 1990s. Diesel engines also offer better fuel economy, thereby burning less fuel.
One drawback of diesel engines is the higher levels of Nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) that they produce. To counteract this, modern diesel-powered vehicles use diesel particulate filters (DPF) and catalysts designed to reduce pollutants from the exhaust before it exits the tailpipe.
Motor oil formulation can have a negative effect on these sensitive emissions-control devices. Certain components in the motor oil formulation, such as sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur - known collectively as SAPS - can reduce the effectiveness and life of DPFs and other emissions devices. Therefore, motor oils formulated for European vehicles often contain much lower SAPS levels in order to protect these sensitive emissions-control systems.
However, protecting the sensitive emissions systems and after-treatment devices found in various European cars and trucks requires different levels of SAPS content for different kinds of vehicles – it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal. It also should be pointed out that reducing the SAPS levels in European motor oils also reduces the length of time the oil can remain in service (the maximum oil drain interval).
AMSOIL 100% Synthetic European Motor Oil includes FS, MS and LS identification to help differentiate between full-SAPS, mid-SAPS and low-SAPS formulations. What does that mean? European vehicles feature gasoline and diesel engines with emissions systems and after-treatment devices, such as Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), that are highly sensitive to the SAPS (Sulfated Ash, Phosphorus and Sulfur) content in motor oil. Consequently, some of those car engines require lower SAPS content to keep these sensitive emission systems functioning properly.
The ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association or Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles in French) and OEMs realized the importance of using motor oil formulated with precise SAPS levels to protect those emission systems, and lower limits were established in 2010.
Sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur are common motor oil additives that provide desirable performance properties, including detergency and protection against wear and oxidation. They comprise a significant part of a motor oil additive content. Sulfated ash is not added to oil, it is the result of additives in the oil burning and creating ash. The additives that can produce ash are most commonly used to achieve a higher Total Base Number (TBN), but also help in other areas, like anti-oxidancy, anti-wear, cleanliness, and soot handling. Phosphorus provides anti-wear properties and further anti-oxidancy, while sulfur contributes anti-oxidancy, anti-wear properties, and also helps with engine cleanliness.
European vehicle manufacturers often maintain their own strict motor oil performance specifications in addition to the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) specifications. Volkswagen drivers, for example, need to use an oil that meets the requirements of VW’s own performance specifications. The same holds true for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and many other European vehicles.
These very strict manufacturer specifications often require more advanced motor oil technology, which is best delivered by a 100% synthetic motor oil. Further complicating matters, each OEM (original equipment manufacturer) motor oil specification is slightly different than another manufacturer's specs. For example, one OEM may require oils that offer better performance against oxidation, while another requires better resistance to viscosity loss.
This is the reason that there are two separate SAE 0W-20 and two separate SAE 5W-40 products in our European motor oil lineup. While both 0W-20s and both 5W-40s are the exact same viscosity, the manufacturer specifications they carry are quite different and require unique engineering to meet the needs of these highly specialized European vehicle engines. For example, VW requires some of its engines to use a 0W-20 oil that meets its 508.00/509.00 spec, but other manufacturers require a 0W-20 oil that meets different specs. This specificity can easily confuse motorists.
Even with these motor oil formulation differences, it is imperative to use the correct oil in your vehicles, as prescribed or recommended in your owner’s manual. Fortunately, AMSOIL makes it easy by formulating a full line of 100% synthetic motor oil for European gasoline and diesel vehicles. And if you don’t know which motor oil your car requires, we’ve made selecting the correct motor oil super easy with our very handy AMSOIL Product Guides.
__ For additional information, please check out our AMSOIL European Motor Oil Data Bulletin (PDF). _ | _ SHOP NOW !