Choosing the right engine oil for your car is one of the most important steps in maintaining engine performance, fuel efficiency, and long engine life. Many Indian car owners use the wrong oil grade recommended by mechanics who have no profound knowledge of the brand, specifications, and grades. In this blog, you will learn how to check for the right car spare engine oil, particularly when buying engine oil for your car and where to buy genuine engine oil products online in India.
Engine oil remains the blood of your engine which protects it from harmful damages. Therefore, the right engine oil with correct specifications for your car will always enhance the performance and keep your engine in top-notch condition.
When you buy engine oil for your car, these are the three necessary questions you need to ask as a car owner:
• Is your car petrol, diesel, or hybrid?
Is Your Car Petrol?
If yes, then look for grades which have API (formerly known as American Petroleum Institute) certification.
API stands for the American Petroleum Institute. It is one of the most important organizations in the automotive and oil industry that sets quality and performance standards for engine oils across all brands. All brands strictly need to follow the norms set by API, which is again classified by car manufacturers. API certifications help vehicle owners identify whether an engine oil meets the required protection, cleanliness, fuel efficiency, and wear-control standards for modern engines.
API is classified into certain grades starting with ‘S’ which stands for ‘Spark Ignitions’ – an indicator for petrol engines. The following classifications are recommended by car manufacturers for modern petrol engines: API SN, API SP, API SQ.
Is Your Car Diesel?
If yes, then look for grades which have API or ACEA approvals.
ACEA stands for Association des Constructeurs Européens d’Automobiles (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association). It is an organization that sets performance standards for engine oils used in European vehicles.
ACEA is classified into grades: A3/B4, A5/B5, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6. The table below defines all grades specified under ACEA:
| ACEA Grade | Application |
| A3/B4 | High performance for petrol and diesel engines |
| A5/B5 | Suitable for petrol and light duty diesel engines (Check user manual) |
| C1 | Suitable for petrol and diesel engine with low SAP properties |
| C2 | Better fuel efficiency oil suitable for petrol and light duty diesel engines |
| C3 | Good engine protection for both petrol and diesel engines |
| C4 | Low SAP compatible for both petrol and diesel engines |
| C5 | Low viscosity oil for petrol and diesel engines with standard LSPI |
| C6 | Modern engine low viscosity oil for petrol and diesel engines with enhanced LSPI protection |
API standards which support diesel grades are classified as: API CF, CI, CI-4, CI-4 PLUS, CJ-4, CK-4. The grade ‘C’ stands for ‘Compression Ignitions’ which suggests diesel engines.
Is Your Car Hybrid?
If yes, the grades which most suit modern hybrid engines are 0w16 and 0w20. Always look for the ‘use for hybrid’ symbol by the manufacturer.
Where do I find the classification which suits my car? You can check your car owner’s manual or reach out to us to find the right engine oil for your car.
Understanding Engine Oil Grades
Choosing the right grade means first understanding what a grade is and its role when engine oil runs inside the engine. We are familiar with the industry naming oils by numerical names: 5w30, 5w40, 0w40, 0w20, 0w16, 0w30, 15w40 etc. Let’s decode these one by one.
What does ‘W’ stand for in all the grades? W stands for Winter – or we like to call it Weather conditions.
5W30 – What does it refer to?
The term ‘5W’ suggests the viscosity of the oil at cold temperature. This means when the operating temperature is as low as -30°C, the oil is designed to withstand low temperatures, not turning into semi-solid or solid form, thereby allowing flow inside the engine when the ignition is turned on.
’30’ – What does this stand for?
The term ’30’ suggests the viscosity of the oil at extreme temperatures. When the engine temperature is at a normal 100°C (the operating temperature), the oil is designed to stay thick enough to protect engine parts at high temperature and thereby maintain lubrication under heat and load.
Listing down the grades and their operating temperatures:
| Grade | Low Temperature (°C) | High Temperature (°C) | Pros |
| 5w30 | -30 | 100–120 | Better fuel economy |
| 5w40 | -30 | 120–140 | Better engine protection |
| 0w40 | -45 | 120–140 | Good cold start |
| 0w20 | -45 | 90–100 | Better fuel economy for modern engines |
| 15w40 | -20 | 120–140 | Heavy engine loads |
| 0w30 | -45 | 100–120 | Good cold start and better fuel economy |
How to Choose the Right Grade for Your Car
Choosing the right grade means knowing your driving conditions. We recommend checking the user manual for cars which have done less than 80,000 km. However, we at Carkayaar assess your driving condition – the car you own, the make and model play a vital role for choosing the right engine oil. Here are scenarios for Asian vehicles like Maruti, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, etc.
If you own a Honda, Toyota, or Maruti:
| Attributes | BHARAT STAGE 4 | BHARAT STAGE 6 |
| Below 80,000 km – strictly stick to car user manual | 5w30 | 0w20 / 0w16 |
| Above 1,00,000 km – severe driving (wear & tear risk) | 5w40 (Good engine protection) | 0w20 |
| Above 1,00,000 km – smooth driving, well maintained | 5w30 | 0w20 / 0w16 |
If you own a Hyundai or Kia:
| Attributes | BHARAT STAGE 4 | BHARAT STAGE 6 |
| Below 80,000 km – strictly stick to car user manual | 5w30 / 5w40 | 0w20 |
| Above 1,00,000 km – severe driving | 5w40 (Good engine protection) | 0w20 |
| Above 1,00,000 km – smooth driving, well maintained | 5w30 / 5w40 | 0w20 |
European Car Specifications
If you own a European car (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Jaguar, Range Rover, Volvo, Skoda, Volkswagen) – always stick to the car user manual. Look for the right grade and right specification.
Audi / Skoda / Volkswagen
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | VW 500 00 • VW 501 01 • VW 502 00 • VW 503 00 • VW 503 01 • VW 505 00 • VW 505 01 • VW 506 00 • VW 506 01 |
| 5w40 | VW 505 00 • VW 505 01 • VW 511 00 |
| 0w30 | VW 504 00/507 00 |
| 0w20 | VW 508 00, VW 509 00 |
BMW / Mini Cooper
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | BMW Longlife-04 • BMW Longlife-01 • BMW Longlife-01 FE |
| 5w40 | BMW Longlife-98 • BMW Longlife-04 • BMW Longlife-01 |
| 0w30 | BMW Longlife-04 |
| 0w20 | BMW Longlife-17 FE+ |
| 0w40 | BMW Longlife-98 |
Mercedes
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | MB 229.31 • MB 229.51 • MB 229.52 • MB 229.5 |
| 5w40 | MB 229.31/229.52 • MB 229.5 • MB 229.51 |
| 0w30 | MB 229.51/229.52 • MB 229.61 |
| 0w20 | MB 229.71 • MB 229.72 |
| 0w40 | MB 229.52 • MB 229.51 • MB 229.3 |
Volvo
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 0w30 | Volvo VCC 95200377 |
| 0w20 | Volvo VCC RBS0-2AE |
Jaguar Land Rover
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | STJLR.03.5003 • STJLR.03.5005 |
| 0w30 | STJLR.03.5007 |
| 0w20 | STJLR.03.5006 • STJLR.51.5122 |
Ford
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | Ford WSS-M2C 913-A • Ford WSS-M2C 913-B • Ford WSS-M2C 913-C |
| 0w30 | Ford WSS-M2C 950-A |
Porsche
| Grade (CHECK USER MANUAL) | Specification (CHECK USER MANUAL) |
| 5w30 | Porsche C30 |
| 5w40 | Porsche A40 • Porsche C40 |
| 0w30 | Porsche C30 |
| 0w20 | Porsche C20 |
| 0w40 | Porsche A40 |
Conclusion
Top engine oil brands – Amsoil, Liqui Moly, Shell, Castrol, Eneos 5w40 Fully Synthetic Engine oil, Mobil – play a vital role in the protection of your engine. However, choosing the right grade defines the longevity of your engine. That’s where Carkayaar’s expertise makes the difference. Our team helps vehicle owners identify the exact engine oil suitable for their car based on manufacturer specifications, driving conditions, and service requirements.
Whether you drive a daily commuter, a premium European vehicle, or a performance-oriented machine, we ensure you get the right oil – not just any oil. For genuine engine oil, always trust Carkayaar!