10W-40 engine oil: from older cars to Euro 6 trucks
A 10W-40 engine oil is not just for old cars: the grade exists as a car oil to ACEA A3/B4 and as a low-ash commercial vehicle oil for Euro 6 engines. Find out which of the three Elat 10W-40 oils suits which vehicle and which fleet.
10W-40 engine oil: one grade, three duty profiles
10W-40 is one of the robust multigrade oils: “10W” stands for somewhat less favourable cold-start behaviour than 5W or 0W oils, “40” for a high viscosity at operating temperature. In cars, you will mainly find it in older petrol and diesel engines whose owner’s manual specifies it. In commercial vehicles, by contrast, 10W-40 is also common in current Euro 6 engines.
The three Elat 10W-40 oils differ accordingly. 10W40 MM8 Semi Synthetic is a semi-synthetic car oil to ACEA A3/B4. 10W40 High Tec Quantum lists older commercial vehicle standards alongside car standards, and its product information describes it as universally applicable in mixed fleets. 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 is a low-ash truck engine oil for Euro 5 and Euro 6 commercial vehicles. For general background on commercial vehicle oils, see our truck motor oil guide.
In brief
The three Elat 10W-40 oils cover three profiles: semi-synthetic MM8 Semi Synthetic for cars to ACEA A3/B4, High Tec Quantum with car and older commercial vehicle standards, and 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 for commercial vehicles with exhaust after-treatment. The vehicle manufacturer’s standard determines which one fits.
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The three Elat 10W-40 oils compared
The table shows which classes and standards the three oils list on their labels. What your owner’s manual specifies still takes precedence for your vehicle.
| Feature | 10W40 MM8 Semi Synthetic | 10W40 High Tec Quantum | 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Car engine oil | Car engine oil with additional commercial vehicle standards | Truck engine oil |
| Base oil per product description | semi-synthetic | not stated | HC-synthetic |
| ACEA | A3/B4 | A3/B4/E3 | E6/E7/E9 |
| API | SL/CF/EC | SL/CF/CG-4 | CI-4 |
| Car standards | VW 505 00, MB 229.1, PSA B71 2296, Renault RN 0700 | VW 500 00, VW 505 00, MB 229.1, PSA B71 2296, RN 0700 | – |
| Commercial vehicle standards | – | MB 228.1, MAN 271, Volvo VDS, Allison C-4 | MB 228.51, MB 226.9, MAN M 3677, MAN 3477, MAN 3271-1, Volvo VDS-4.5, Scania Low Ash, RN RXD/RGD, RN VI RLD-3, Deutz DQC IV-18 LA, MTU Typ 3.1 |
| Low-ash ACEA class | no | no | yes: E6 and E9 |
The three Elat 10W-40 oils at a glance
Card details are taken from the product labels as recorded in our data. Shown in blue: ACEA and API entries plus the VW, Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Volvo standards that matter when choosing a 10W-40.
10W40 MM8 Semi Synthetic
10W-40 · Motor Oil
Semi-synthetic according to its product description; a car oil to ACEA A3/B4.
10W40 High Tec Quantum
10W-40 · Motor Oil
Lists car standards and older commercial vehicle standards, but no low-ash class.
10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6
10W-40 · Truck Motor Oil
For Euro 5/6 commercial vehicles according to its description; low-ash to ACEA E6 and E9.
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.
10W-40 for older cars: ACEA A3/B4 and semi-synthetic oil
In cars, a 10W-40 engine oil is mainly relevant when the owner’s manual names this grade explicitly – often on older vehicles with fixed service intervals. Typical standards are then VW 505 00 or MB 229.1, and both Elat car oils in 10W-40 list them, so either qualifies as a 10W-40 VW 505 00 oil. If you want a semi-synthetic 10W-40, 10W40 MM8 Semi Synthetic is the one: according to its product description, a highly additised, universal semi-synthetic low-friction oil for petrol and diesel car engines.
ACEA A3/B4 describes a full-SAPS oil with a high viscosity at high temperature, but without the stricter ash limits of an ACEA C class. If the manufacturer specifies a low-ash oil because of a particulate filter, a 10W-40 A3/B4 oil is therefore not intended for that vehicle. In that case you need a low-SAPS standard, for example in 5W-30 or 5W-40 – see 5W-40 engine oil: A3/B4 or C3.
10W40 High Tec Quantum also lists ACEA A3/B4, together with VW 500 00, VW 505 00, MB 229.1, PSA B71 2296 and RN 0700. That makes it a candidate for any vehicle requiring one of these standards – and, unlike MM8, it also covers commercial vehicle standards.
10W-40 for Euro 6 trucks: low-ash to ACEA E6 and E9
Commercial vehicles fitted with a DPF and SCR after-treatment have their own requirements. Manufacturers call for low-ash oils in heavy-duty classes such as ACEA E6 or E9, plus their own standards such as Volvo VDS-4.5, MAN M 3677 and M 3477 or MB 228.51. When you look for a 10W-40 Euro 6 truck oil, these standards are what to check – not the grade alone.
According to its product description, 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 is an HC-synthetic high-performance engine oil for Euro 5/6 commercial vehicles, developed for exhaust after-treatment systems and particulate filters. It lists ACEA E6/E7/E9 and API CI-4 together with MB 228.51, MB 226.9, MAN M 3677, MAN 3477, Volvo VDS-4.5, Scania Low Ash, Caterpillar ECF-3, Cummins CES 20086/77 and Mack EOS-4.5, among others. The label also carries the entries “DAF” and “CNG”.
The other two 10W-40 oils do not list a low-ash heavy-duty class. High Tec Quantum lists older commercial vehicle specifications – ACEA E3, API CG-4, MB 228.1, MAN 271 and Volvo VDS. These suit older engines without a particulate filter where the manufacturer specifies them, but not Euro 6 engines with a low-SAPS requirement. Current truck standards are covered on Euro 6 truck engine oil (MB 228.51).
10W-40 in a mixed fleet: consolidating grades sensibly
A mixed fleet of older cars, vans, older trucks and Euro 6 vehicles makes it tempting to use a single 10W-40 for everything. That only works as far as the oil lists the standards of every vehicle concerned. A structured approach works better:
- Build a standards list: record the required standard from each vehicle’s owner’s manual – not just the grade.
- Separate by exhaust after-treatment: vehicles with a low-SAPS requirement – recognisable by standards such as MAN M 3477 or MB 228.51 – need a low-ash oil, for example 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6.
- Group older vehicles: where car standards such as VW 505 00 or MB 229.1 and older commercial vehicle standards such as MB 228.1 are required, High Tec Quantum can cover several vehicle groups with one oil.
- Check older heavy trucks separately: if the manufacturer requires 15W-40, for example to MB 228.3, a 15W-40 heavy-duty oil completes the range – see 15W-40 heavy-duty diesel oil.
Fleets, bus companies and workshops all over Germany buy Elat engine oils from us, supplied from 1-litre bottles to 1000-litre IBCs and tanker deliveries. On request, we also organise waste oil pick-up through certified disposal partners, documented with a disposal certificate for your records – see waste oil collection. More on supply across the country: Supply across Germany.
Tip for fleet managers
The fewer grades you stock, the lower the risk of a mix-up. A small number of oils is often enough once the standards have been assigned carefully – we will gladly review your standards list and suggest a lean selection.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10W-40 still suitable for modern cars?
Only if the owner’s manual specifies 10W-40 with the matching standard. Many newer cars require thinner, low-ash oils such as 5W-30 or 0W-20 to an ACEA C class. Both Elat 10W-40 car oils list ACEA A3/B4 and therefore no low-ash class.
Is 10W-40 semi-synthetic or fully synthetic?
That depends on the product, not the grade. According to its product description, 10W40 MM8 Semi Synthetic is semi-synthetic, while 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 is an HC-synthetic oil. For High Tec Quantum, no base oil is given in our product data.
Why does a car engine oil list truck standards such as MB 228.1?
According to its product information, 10W40 High Tec Quantum is intended for mixed fleets. It lists car standards such as VW 505 00 and MB 229.1 alongside older commercial vehicle standards such as MB 228.1, MAN 271, Volvo VDS and ACEA E3. One oil can therefore cover several groups of older vehicles – as long as every vehicle’s manual lists one of them.
Which 10W-40 do Euro 6 trucks need?
As a rule, manufacturers of Euro 6 truck engines fitted with a DPF call for a low-ash oil, for example to Scania Low Ash, Volvo VDS-4.5, MB 228.51 or the MAN standards M 3477 and M 3677. In the Elat range, 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 lists these standards, together with ACEA E6/E7/E9. If the manufacturer calls for 5W-30 or API CK-4, 5W30 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 is the alternative.
What does API SL/CF mean on a 10W-40?
API categories come from the American Petroleum Institute: S categories apply to petrol engines, C categories to diesel engines. SL and CF are older levels; MM8 Semi Synthetic also lists “EC” for Energy Conserving. In Europe, vehicle manufacturers usually specify ACEA classes and their own standards, and these are what count when choosing an oil.
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