5W-30 engine oil: which oil matches which manufacturer specification?
Not every 5W-30 is the same: one grade covers oils for VW LongLife service, Mercedes-Benz with a particulate filter, BMW, Ford and Renault. Our matrix shows which Elat 5W-30 engine oil lists which specification on its label, so you can narrow down the right oil quickly.
5W-30 engine oil: the specification decides, not the grade
Under SAE J300, “5W-30” only describes how an oil flows: “5W” refers to cold-start behaviour, “30” to viscosity at operating temperature. The grade says nothing about the additive package, the ash content or suitability for long drain intervals – which is why 5W-30 engine oil exists for very different requirements, from low-ash LongLife oil for the VW group to a Ford oil meeting ACEA A5/B5.
Which 5W-30 belongs in your engine is set by the vehicle manufacturer through a specification: an ACEA class and usually an in-house standard such as VW 504 00, MB 229.52 or BMW Longlife-04. Our motor oil guide covers SAE grades and oil types; this page is about matching each standard to an Elat 5W-30.
In brief
With 5W-30, the specification in the owner’s manual matters more than the grade itself. Most Elat 5W-30 oils are low-ash ACEA C3 oils for VW, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, complemented by specialists for ACEA C2, C4 and Ford. The vehicle manufacturer’s requirement is always decisive.
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The 5W-30 matrix: Elat oils and their specifications
The table lists all eight Elat car engine oils in 5W-30 with their key label entries. Find the column for the make whose standard your owner’s manual names, then check which oil lists exactly that standard.
Only one entry is an expressly stated manufacturer approval – MB 229.52 on 5W30 Premium LongLife 3. All other entries are specifications or recommendations as printed on the label.
| Elat 5W-30 | ACEA | VW group | Mercedes-Benz | BMW | Other standards (selection) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5W30 LongLife 3 | C3 | VW 504 00/507 00 | MB 229.51 | BMW LL04 | Porsche C30 |
| 5W30 Premium LongLife 3 | C3 | VW 504 00/507 00 | Approval: MB 229.52; specification: MB 229.51, MB 226.5 | BMW Longlife-04 | Porsche C30, GM dexos 2, Opel/GM OV0401547-D30, Opel/GM OV0401547-G30, Stellantis FPW9.55535/03, Renault RN0700, RN0710 |
| 5W30 Extra LongLife 3 | C3 | VW 504 00/507 00 | MB 229.52, MB 229.51, MB 229.31 | BMW LL-04 | Porsche C30, Fiat 9.55535-S3 |
| 5W30 Classic LongLife 3 | C3 | VW 504 00/507 00 | MB 229.51 | BMW LL04 | – |
| 5W30 Mega Tec LongLife 3 | C2/C3 | VW 502 00, 505 00, 505 01 | MB 229.52, MB 229.51, MB 229.31, MB 226.5 | BMW Longlife-04 | PSA B71 2297, RN 17, RN 0700, RN 0710, GM DX2-Gen2, GM-LL-A-025 |
| 5W30 K1 Ford | A1/B1/A5/B5 | – | – | – | Ford WSS-M2C913-A/B/C/D, Jaguar / Land Rover STJLR.03.5003, Renault RN0700 |
| 5W30 Cipe C2 | C2 | – | – | – | PSA B71 2290, Fiat 9.55535-S1, Renault RN0700; manufacturer names Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota |
| 5W30 C4 Ren Tec | C3/C4 | – | MB 229.51, MB 229.31, MB 226.51 | – | Renault RN 0720 (with DPF; except 2.2 DCI) |
Elat 5W-30 engine oils at a glance
Card data come from the product labels; the standards this page is organised by – ACEA classes and the VW, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, PSA and Renault codes – are marked in blue.
5W30 LongLife 3
5W-30 · Motor Oil
5W30 Premium LongLife 3
5W-30 · Motor Oil
Carries the Elat range’s only expressly stated manufacturer approval: MB 229.52.
5W30 Extra LongLife 3
5W-30 · Motor Oil
5W30 Mega Tec LongLife 3
5W-30 · Motor Oil
VW standards: 502 00/505 00/505 01, not 504 00/507 00.
5W30 K1 Ford
5W-30 · Motor Oil
Lists ACEA A1/B1/A5/B5 and no ACEA C class.
5W30 Cipe C2
5W-30 · Motor Oil
5W30 C4 Ren Tec
5W-30 · Motor Oil
For Renault RN 0720, the label adds the restriction “with DPF; except 2.2 DCI”.
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.
5W-30 LongLife: which LongLife do you actually need?
A search for a “5W-30 LongLife” oil often rests on a misunderstanding: LongLife is not a standard in itself. Several manufacturers use the term for their flexible, extended service systems: at VW it is the VW 504 00/507 00 generation (LongLife III), at BMW it is Longlife-04, and at Opel the older standards GM-LL-A-025 (petrol) and GM-LL-B-025 (diesel). An oil can meet one LongLife requirement and not another.
The suffix “LongLife 3” in a product name is not a standard either – the specification list is what counts. Four Elat oils with this suffix list VW 504 00/507 00 together with BMW Longlife-04 and MB 229.51. 5W30 Mega Tec LongLife 3, by contrast, covers the VW group’s fixed-interval standards plus BMW Longlife-04, GM-LL-A-025 and many other standards.
An oil with a LongLife specification can usually also be used on fixed service intervals, but not the other way round. In the VW group, for example, the manufacturer provides for a switch to fixed intervals if a vehicle on LongLife service to VW 504 00/507 00 is filled with an oil that does not meet these standards; the details are set out in the service schedule.
5W-30 for diesels with a DPF: C2, C3 or C4?
Manufacturers specify low-ash oils for diesels with a particulate filter – and for many modern petrol engines too. With 5W-30 you will come across three ACEA classes: C3 with a higher HTHS viscosity (viscosity at high temperature and high shear), C2 with a lower HTHS viscosity for engines designed for fuel economy, and C4 with a particularly low ash content. They are not freely interchangeable; see Low-SAPS engine oil (ACEA C) for a detailed explanation.
The Elat range includes six 5W-30 ACEA C3 oils. For a 5W-30 C2 oil there is 5W30 Cipe C2, while Mega Tec LongLife 3 lists both C2 and C3. If a Renault engine requires RN 0720, 5W30 C4 Ren Tec lists it – subject to the printed restriction “with DPF; except 2.2 DCI”.
5W30 K1 Ford is not a low-ash oil in the ACEA C sense: it lists ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5, so it is the wrong choice if your vehicle calls for an ACEA C class. Also not to be confused: 5W30 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 is a 5W-30 too, but a truck engine oil to ACEA E7/E8/E11 for commercial vehicle engines – see Euro 6 truck engine oil (MB 228.51).
5W-30 for Ford, Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat and Renault
Ford: many Ford engines with a 5W-30 requirement call for WSS-M2C913, which 5W30 K1 Ford lists in variants A to D; some newer engines specify a different grade altogether. Ford WSS-M2C engine oil standards gives an overview.
Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat: PSA engines (now part of Stellantis) often require their own B71 standards, Fiat engines the 9.55535 series. Cipe C2 lists PSA B71 2290 and Fiat 9.55535-S1, Mega Tec LongLife 3 lists PSA B71 2297 and Fiat 9.55535-S3, and Premium LongLife 3 the Stellantis standard FPW9.55535/03. The Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota names on the Cipe C2 label are recommendations only.
Renault: the RN number is what matters. RN0700 appears on four Elat 5W-30 oils, RN0710 on Premium and Mega Tec LongLife 3, and RN 17 on Mega Tec LongLife 3 only. RN 0720 is listed by C4 Ren Tec on the condition “with DPF; except 2.2 DCI”.
Tip: record the standard, not just the grade
Write the required specification – not just “5W-30” – in the service booklet or on the oil change tag. That way nobody reaches for the wrong 5W-30 at the next service or when topping up.
5W-30 engine oil for workshops and fleets: stocking a focused range
Workshops and fleets that look after many makes can manage with a handful of 5W-30 oils if they sort by specification rather than product name. A 5W-30 VW 504 00/507 00 oil that also lists MB 229.51 and BMW Longlife-04 covers many VW, Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles, provided the manufacturer specifies these standards. A C2 oil for PSA and Fiat, a Ford oil to WSS-M2C913 and C4 Ren Tec for Renault engines requiring RN 0720 (per its label “with DPF; except 2.2 DCI”) complete the range.
We deliver Elat engine oils to business customers across Germany – workshops, retailers, industry and fleets – from 1-litre bottles to 1000-litre IBCs and tanker deliveries. Deliveries are scheduled centrally from our warehouse in Lünen. Ask us about the pack sizes for the oil you need, and see Supply across Germany for more on nationwide supply.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 5W-30 MB 229.52 oil with manufacturer approval?
Yes: 5W30 Premium LongLife 3 carries MB 229.52 as an expressly stated manufacturer approval – the only one in the Elat range. 5W30 Extra LongLife 3 and 5W30 Mega Tec LongLife 3 list MB 229.52 as a specification on their labels. Whether your Mercedes-Benz requires an approval or merely the specification depends on its owner’s manual; we can check it for you.
What is the difference between 5W-30 C2 and C3?
Both are mid-SAPS classes for vehicles with particulate filters and catalytic converters. They differ in HTHS viscosity: ACEA C2 requires at least 2.9 mPa·s, ACEA C3 at least 3.5 mPa·s. C2 therefore targets engines designed for lower-viscosity oils; which class your engine needs is up to the manufacturer.
Is 5W-30 fully synthetic or HC-synthetic?
The grade tells you nothing about the base oil. Our product data describe three HC-synthetic 5W-30 oils: 5W30 K1 Ford, 5W30 Cipe C2 and 5W30 C4 Ren Tec. For the others, the product data do not state the base oil; the specification should drive your choice anyway.
Which 5W-30 do I need for a Ford?
That depends on the engine. If the owner’s manual calls for Ford WSS-M2C913, 5W30 K1 Ford lists variants A, B, C and D. If Ford specifies 5W-20 or 0W-30 for your engine, for example to WSS-M2C948-A/B or M2C950-A, a 5W-30 is not an alternative – the manufacturer’s requirement comes first.
Can a 5W-30 VW 504 00/507 00 oil be used in other makes?
Yes, provided it also lists the other make’s standard. The four Elat 5W-30 oils to VW 504 00/507 00, for example, also list MB 229.51 and BMW Longlife-04 as specifications. A VW standard alone does not replace a Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Ford standard; the requirement in your owner’s manual is what counts.
Related topics
Find the right 5W-30 for your vehicles
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