Euro 6 truck engine oil: MB 228.51, MAN M 3477 and M 3677 explained
Modern commercial vehicle engines with a particulate filter and SCR catalyst place specific demands on engine oil. This page explains what lies behind MB 228.51, MAN M 3477 and M 3677, Volvo VDS-4.5 and Scania LDF-4 – and which Elat oil lists which OEM standard on its label.
Why exhaust after-treatment shapes the choice of Euro 6 truck oil
Euro 6 – usually written Euro VI for heavy commercial vehicles – brought complex exhaust after-treatment to truck and bus engines. The typical set-up combines a diesel particulate filter (DPF), an SCR catalyst to reduce nitrogen oxides and, in many engines, exhaust gas recirculation. This gives the engine oil an extra task: it has to protect the engine without harming these components. Manufacturers set out their requirements in their own factory standards – Mercedes-Benz, for example, in sheet 228.51, and MAN in its standards M 3477 and M 3677.
The reason lies in the additives. Metal-containing additives that counter wear and acids leave ash behind whenever small amounts of oil burn in the combustion chamber. This ash collects in the particulate filter and cannot be burnt off during regeneration, while phosphorus and sulphur can impair the catalysts. A low-SAPS oil therefore limits sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur – hence the abbreviation SAPS – and helps keep the after-treatment system working throughout its service life. Older engines without a particulate filter often follow different standards; see 15W-40 heavy-duty diesel oil.
In brief
Euro 6 trucks generally call for low-ash engine oils to the manufacturers’ own standards, such as those of Mercedes-Benz, MAN or Volvo. Elat’s two low-SAPS oils in 5W-30 and 10W-40 share many of these standards but differ in API category, ACEA classes and a few individual manufacturers. In a mixed fleet, what counts is the requirement of every single vehicle.
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MB 228.51, MAN M 3477 and M 3677: what the OEM standards stand for
At Mercedes-Benz, MB 228.51 covers low-ash commercial vehicle engine oils that are also intended for extended drain intervals. At MAN, MAN M 3477 and the more recent MAN M 3677 describe low-ash oils for engines with exhaust after-treatment. Volvo’s Volvo VDS-4.5 is the step that follows VDS-4, and Scania distinguishes between Low Ash oils and its LDF levels for extended intervals, such as Scania LDF-4. Each designation stands for the manufacturer’s own requirements and tests, so standards that sound alike are not automatically equivalent.
Many labels also show industry classes. The European ACEA sequences for heavy-duty diesel engines separate robust oils such as ACEA E7 from classes with tighter limits on ash-forming components, which are intended for engines with a particulate filter: ACEA E6 and ACEA E9, plus the more recent ACEA E8 and ACEA E11. From the US comes the API CK-4 category. These classes are a useful guide but never replace a factory standard – the owner’s manual and the vehicle manufacturer’s fluid specifications are decisive.
Elat low-SAPS oils for Euro 6 commercial vehicles
Both oils come from our product data. Highlighted in blue are the commercial vehicle standards listed on each label.
5W30 Low SAPS up to Euro 6
5W-30 · Truck Motor Oil
Lists API CK-4, ACEA E7/E8/E11, Scania LDF-4 and Volvo VDS-4.5, among others.
10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6
10W-40 · Truck Motor Oil
Lists API CI-4, ACEA E6/E7/E9, Scania Low Ash and CNG, among others.
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.
OEM standards side by side: 5W-30 or 10W-40?
Elat’s two oils for Euro 6 engines have a lot in common. 5W30 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 and 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 both list the Mercedes-Benz sheets 228.51 and 226.9, MAN M 3677 and MAN 3477, Volvo VDS-4.5, Deutz DQC IV-18 LA, MTU Typ 3.1, Caterpillar ECF-3, Mack EOS-4.5, JASO DH2 and DAF.
The differences lie in the industry classes and a few manufacturers. The 5W-30 lists API CK-4, ACEA E7, E8 and E11, Scania LDF-4, Volvo VDS-4, Detroit Diesel DDC 93K218 and 93K222, further Mack standards, Iveco and Voith Retarder B; according to its product description, it is designed for fuel savings and for extended drain intervals in line with manufacturer requirements. The 10W-40, an HC-synthetic oil according to its description, lists API CI-4, ACEA E6, E7 and E9, Scania Low Ash and CNG instead.
How to read the table below: if the standard from your owner’s manual appears in a column, that oil lists it on its label. If it is missing, the oil is not the right choice for that vehicle – even if it suits other makes in the fleet.
| Manufacturer / class | 5W30 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 | 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz | MB 228.51, MB 228.31, MB 226.9 | MB 228.51, MB 226.9 |
| MAN | MAN M 3677, M 3477, M 3271-1, M 3277 | MAN M 3677, MAN 3477, MAN 3271-1 |
| Volvo | Volvo VDS-4, VDS-4.5 | Volvo VDS-4.5 |
| Scania | Scania LDF-4 | Scania Low Ash |
| Renault Trucks (label: Renault VI or RN) | Renault VI RLD-4, RXD, RGD | RN VI RLD-3, RN RXD/RGD |
| DAF / Iveco | DAF, DAF Extended Drain, Iveco | DAF |
| Deutz / MTU | Deutz DQC IV-10 LA, DQC IV-18 LA; MTU Typ 3.1 | Deutz DQC IV-18 LA; MTU Typ 3.1 |
| Cummins / Caterpillar | Cummins CES 20081/86; CAT ECF-3 | Cummins CES 20086/77; Caterpillar ECF-3 |
| Mack / Detroit Diesel | Mack EO-N Plus, EO-O Premium Plus, EOS-4.5; Detroit Diesel DDC 93K218, DDC 93K222 | Mack EOS-4.5 |
| ACEA / API / JASO | ACEA E7/E8/E11; API CK-4; JASO DH2 | ACEA E6/E7/E9; API CI-4; JASO DH2 |
| Other entries | Voith Retarder B | CNG |
Mixed fleets: one oil for every truck?
Fewer grades mean less storage space, fewer mix-ups and simpler reordering. A single oil for the whole fleet only works, however, if it covers the standards of every vehicle. A structured approach helps:
- Collect the requirements: note the standard and viscosity for each vehicle from the owner’s manual or service schedule – by engine and model year, not just by make.
- Find the common denominator: compare the standards with the table. If a vehicle requires Scania LDF-4, API CK-4 or Detroit Diesel DDC 93K222, only the 5W-30 of the two Elat oils is an option.
- Respect the viscosity: if the manufacturer specifies only 10W-40 or only 5W-30 for an engine, that requirement applies even when the standards match.
- Treat special cases separately: natural gas engines and retarders sometimes have requirements of their own. The 10W-40 lists CNG and the 5W-30 lists Voith Retarder B – check with the manufacturer or with us whether that is sufficient for your unit.
- Document the result: a ‘vehicle – standard – oil’ chart at the oil dispenser helps prevent wrong fills in day-to-day workshop practice.
A practical example
A haulier runs Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Volvo tractor units whose documentation calls for Mercedes sheet 228.51, MAN M 3677 and Volvo VDS-4.5. All three standards appear on both Elat oils. If a Scania with an LDF-4 requirement joins the fleet, the 5W-30 remains the common oil – provided every manufacturer allows this viscosity.
Euro 6 engine oil for hauliers, bus operators and workshops
Global Tech Lubricants supplies fleets, bus companies and workshops throughout Germany. In the commercial vehicle sector, volume matters: we deliver from 1-litre bottles to 1000-litre IBCs and tanker deliveries, scheduled from our warehouse in Lünen, centrally located in North Rhine-Westphalia. For the axles and gearboxes of the same vehicles, see axle gear oil in 75W-90 and 80W-90.
We also organise waste oil collection after the oil change across Germany through our disposal partners, including a disposal certificate – details under waste oil collection. Our truck motor oil guide covers viscosities and oil types for commercial vehicles, and the overview lubricant supply throughout Germany brings together all topics with nationwide delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Does an oil to MB 228.51 automatically meet MAN M 3677?
No. Every manufacturer sets its own requirements, so a standard only applies if it is stated explicitly. Both Elat oils on this page list the Mercedes-Benz standard and MAN M 3677 together on the label; for any other oil, check its specification list.
What is the difference between MAN M 3477 and MAN M 3677?
Both MAN standards describe low-ash engine oils for engines with exhaust after-treatment, and M 3677 is the more recent of the two. Which one your engine needs is stated in the owner’s manual or in MAN’s fluid specifications. Elat’s 5W-30 and 10W-40 list both standards.
5W-30 or 10W-40: which oil suits a Euro 6 truck?
The viscosity set by the engine manufacturer comes first – it often depends on the duty cycle and ambient temperature. If both viscosities are allowed, the other standards decide: only the 5W-30 lists API CK-4, ACEA E11, Scania LDF-4 and Volvo VDS-4, while the 10W-40 lists ACEA E6, Scania Low Ash and CNG.
What does CNG on the 10W-40 label mean?
CNG stands for compressed natural gas. 10W40 Low SAPS up to Euro 6 lists it as a recommendation for natural gas engines. Gas engines often have their own oil standards from the manufacturer, so check these before use or ask us.
Does MB 228.51 on the label mean Mercedes-Benz approval?
Not necessarily. The label entry describes the specification, whereas Mercedes-Benz lists approvals in its own Specifications for Operating Fluids. The Elat oils on this page list the Mercedes-Benz standard as a specification. If your service contract explicitly requires a listed oil, clarify this before the oil change – we are happy to help.
Related topics
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