0W-20 engine oil and 0W-30: low-viscosity oil only where specified
A 0W-20 engine oil or a 0W-30 reduces friction losses – but it belongs only in engines whose manufacturer specifies it. This page explains the standards behind the three Elat low-viscosity oils, why 0W-20 oils to VW 508 00/509 00 are not backward compatible and why not every 0W-30 suits every engine.
0W-20 engine oil and 0W-30: low-viscosity oil only as specified
Oils in the 0W winter grade reach the lubrication points particularly quickly on a cold start. How thin an oil is in a warm engine depends on the second number – 20 or 30 – and above all on the HTHS viscosity, which is measured at 150 °C under severe shear. The lower these values, the lower the friction losses – and the more precisely the engine has to be designed for such an oil.
That is why, even more than with other grades, the rule for 0W-20 and 0W-30 is simple: use a low-viscosity oil only if the manufacturer specifies it for your engine, and only with the standard named there. An oil thinner than intended can weaken the lubricating film under high load. Equally, a thicker oil is no like-for-like substitute in an engine designed for 0W-20.
In brief
Elat offers three low-viscosity oils: 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil to ACEA C5/C6 with VW 508 00/509 00, 0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6 to ACEA C2, and 0W30 Zero Tec VW to ACEA C3, which lists VW 504 00/507 00. The three are not interchangeable; which one applies depends on the owner’s manual.
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Three Elat low-viscosity oils, three families of standards
The Elat engine oil range includes one 0W-20 and two 0W-30 oils. They belong to three different ACEA classes with different minimum HTHS viscosities – and therefore to different engines. All three are low-ash oils; how the C classes differ is explained on Low-SAPS engine oil (ACEA C).
| Elat low-viscosity oil | ACEA class (minimum HTHS) | Manufacturer standards on the label (selection) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil (0W-20) | C5/C6 (2.6 mPa·s) | VW 508 00, VW 509 00, BMW LL17FE+, MB 229.71, MB 229.72, PSA B71 2010, Porsche C20, Volvo VCC RBS0-2AE, Ford WSS-M2C947-A, Ford WSS-M2C947-B1 | product description: not backward compatible |
| 0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6 (0W-30) | C2 (2.9 mPa·s) | BMW Longlife 12FE, PSA B71 2312, MB 229.61, Ford M2C950-A, Fiat 9.55535-DS1/GS1, Opel/Vauxhall OV0401547, Jaguar JLR.03.5007 | for petrol and diesel engines with exhaust after-treatment (DPF), according to the product description |
| 0W30 Zero Tec VW (0W-30) | C3 (3.5 mPa·s) | VW 504 00, VW 507 00, MB 229.52, MB 229.51, MB 229.31, BMW Longlife-04, Porsche C30 | similar standards to Elat’s VW 504 00/507 00 5W-30 oils |
Elat low-viscosity oils in 0W-20 and 0W-30
Each card reproduces what the product label states, as held in our product data. Highlighted are the grade, the ACEA class and the manufacturer standards covered on this page – from VW, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and PSA to Ford, Volvo and Porsche.
0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil
0W-20 · Motor Oil
Its product description warns that it is not backward compatible – only for engines that specify it.
0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6
0W-30 · Motor Oil
0W-30 to ACEA C2; lists PSA B71 2312 and BMW Longlife 12FE.
0W30 Zero Tec VW
0W-30 · Motor Oil
0W-30 to ACEA C3; lists BMW Longlife-04 and VW 504 00/507 00.
Approval or specification?
Only expressly stated manufacturer approvals are marked “Approval”. All other entries are specifications and recommendations as printed on the product label; the entries relevant to this topic are highlighted. For your vehicle or machine, the owner’s manual and the manufacturer’s approval lists always take precedence. If in doubt, we are happy to advise you.
0W-20 for VW 508 00/509 00, BMW LL-17 FE+ and MB 229.71
The product description of 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil presents it as a fully synthetic oil developed for the latest VW Group vehicles, intended for drain intervals as long as 30,000 km. It lists VW 508 00 for petrol and VW 509 00 for diesel engines – the group’s 0W-20 standards. The product description carries an explicit warning: “Not backwards compatible!” An oil to VW 508 00/509 00 therefore does not belong in engines that require VW 504 00/507 00 or older standards.
Further entries on the label address other manufacturers: BMW LL17FE+ (BMW’s Longlife-17 FE+ standard), MB 229.71 and MB 229.72, PSA B71 2010, Porsche C20, Volvo VCC RBS0-2AE, Ford WSS-M2C947-A, WSS-M2C947-B1, WSS-M2C952-A1 and WSS-M2C962-A1, as well as GM DX-D, ST JLR 03.5006 and ST JLR 51.5122, Chrysler MS-12145 and Opel/Vauxhall OV0401547. ACEA C5/C6, API SP (RC) and ILSAC GF-5 complete the list.
BMW marks its fuel-saving standards – such as Longlife-12 FE and LL-17 FE+ – with the letters FE (Fuel Economy), and they apply only to engines for which BMW expressly specifies them; BMW Longlife engine oil standards covers the background. The same principle applies to other manufacturers’ 0W-20 standards, so always check what the owner’s manual requires before filling up with a 0W-20 engine oil.
0W-30 engine oil: C2 or C3 – not every 0W-30 fits
With 0W-30 the risk of a mix-up is particularly high, because the two Elat 0W-30 oils belong to different classes. 0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6 is specified to ACEA C2, meaning a lower HTHS viscosity, and its product description calls it a fully synthetic engine oil for petrol and diesel engines with DPF after-treatment. Its label includes MB 229.61, Ford M2C950-A, BMW Longlife 12FE and PSA B71 2312.
0W30 Zero Tec VW, on the other hand, is an ACEA C3 oil, HC-synthetic according to its product description. It lists VW 504 00/507 00, MB 229.52, MB 229.51, MB 229.31, BMW Longlife-04 and Porsche C30, which puts it in the same family of standards as Elat’s VW 504 00/507 00 5W-30 oils – just with the 0W winter grade. For more on these standards, see VW engine oil standards.
In practice: if your Peugeot or Citroën requires PSA B71 2312, Profi Tec lists it, but Zero Tec VW does not. If the owner’s manual specifies VW 504 00/507 00, it is the other way round. The 0W-30 grade alone tells you nothing about suitability.
Low-viscosity oil in workshops and fleets: avoiding mix-ups
Because the 0W-20 and the two 0W-30 oils look much alike in their containers, a clear system pays off. These points help in day-to-day work:
- Store by standard: keep VW 508 00/509 00 oils apart from VW 504 00/507 00 oils and label the shelf positions with the standard.
- Mind the standard when topping up too: engines designed for 0W-20 in particular need an oil with exactly the required standard; whether the manufacturer allows exceptions is something the owner’s manual will tell you.
- Intervals per service schedule: the “up to 30,000 km” in the VW Tec Blue Oil description is an upper limit – the vehicle manufacturer decides the actual interval.
- Keep an eye on new models: new engine generations bring new low-viscosity standards. If you are unsure, we will go through the requirement with you using the vehicle data.
Business customers anywhere in Germany can order Elat engine oils in sizes from 1-litre bottles to 1000-litre IBCs and tanker deliveries; please ask about the pack sizes offered for each low-viscosity oil. More on supply at Supply across Germany, and the basics of viscosity grades in our motor oil guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use 0W-20 instead of 5W-30?
A 0W-20 engine oil is only an option if the vehicle manufacturer specifies it for your engine. Oils to VW 508 00/509 00 such as 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil are not backward compatible according to the product description, so they are not intended for engines that require VW 504 00/507 00. Always go by the standard your owner’s manual names.
Is 0W-30 better than 5W-30?
Not as such. The 0W winter grade stands for better flow in cold conditions, but the standard determines suitability. 0W30 Zero Tec VW lists core standards similar to those of Elat’s 5W-30 oils for VW 504 00/507 00; if your manufacturer also allows 0W-30 for that standard, either grade is an option.
Does every Euro 6 car need 0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6?
No. The Euro 6 emissions standard does not prescribe any particular engine oil – the manufacturer standard in the owner’s manual is what matters. 0W30 Profi Tec for Euro 6 lists, for example, MB 229.61, Ford M2C950-A, BMW Longlife 12FE and PSA B71 2312. If your vehicle requires one of the VW standards instead – 504 00/507 00 or 508 00/509 00 – a different Elat oil is needed.
Which oil do I need for VW 508 00 and 509 00?
An oil that lists exactly these standards – in the Elat range, 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil in 0W-20. Its product description mentions a maximum drain interval of 30,000 km; the actual interval follows the service schedule. For an oil change, an oil meeting only VW 504 00/507 00 is no equivalent substitute.
What is the difference between ACEA C5 and C6?
Both are low-ash classes for low-viscosity oils with an HTHS viscosity of at least 2.6 mPa·s. C6 adds further requirements, including protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI). 0W20 VW Tec Blue Oil lists both classes, while 5W20 Ford Eco lists ACEA C5.
Related topics
Not sure whether 0W-20 or 0W-30 is right?
Send us the model, the engine and the standard from the service booklet. We will check which Elat low-viscosity oil fits and deliver to workshops, retailers and fleets nationwide.
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