Hello guys,


I am looking at 2 types of engine oil. Both are 5w-40 ACEA C3 so meet the specs. There are, however, some differences as I am attaching.


Aral has higher viscosity index, a higher flashpoint, and viscocity in general. What does this mean?


Thank you experts!

viscosity is thickness, different numbers at different temperatures - (the numbers are different but stil within the spec)
flashpoint is when it catches fire, not really relevant

RobW said:

viscosity is thickness, different numbers at different temperatures - (the numbers are different but stil within the spec)
flashpoint is when it catches fire, not really relevant

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thanks for that rob. aral 1lt is 1 euro cheaper than magnatec.
worth it?

ahmett said:

thanks for that rob. aral 1lt is 1 euro cheaper than magnatec.
worth it?

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not familiar with Aral

I heard bad things about Magnatec

I use Selenia or Petronas Syntium

RobW said:

not familiar with Aral



I heard bad things about Magnatec



I use Selenia or Petronas Syntium

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Yeah Petronius hard to find in Greece so either aral or magnatec.
I have magnatec in it now so far so good!

Quantum Platinum 5w40 is fine too, that is what the service centre who serviced our old POP put in. Meets Fiat specs.

frupi said:

Quantum Platinum 5w40 is fine too, that is what the service centre who serviced our old POP put in. Meets Fiat specs.

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Funny that the Quantum Platinum oil is thinner (less viscosity) than the Castrol Magnatec.

OK I printed all the data sheets including Castrol edge. It seems that Castrol edge has a slightly higher viscocity than Castrol magnatec, which I guess why its better for high performance? I feel that for my style of driving, the higher viscosity oil is the best one given the same specs of 5w-40 C3. So from all the brands, I find Aral HighTronic 5w-40 the best, PETRONAS 2nd, and Castrol edge 3rd and Magnatec 4th. Quite interesting to be honest.

Another oil that you could use is eni i-Sint MS 5W-40 (datasheet). You can get that in Greece, too.

Take the highest viscosity index you can get (in this case 174 on both Aral and eni), other than that the difference in viscosity between them is so small that it's negligible.

eni is a bit thinner at 40°C to protect the engine from wear when it's cold, while Aral is just a hint thicker at 100°C. Given that the viscosity for older engines without C3 oil was 5W-30 when you didn't drive it hard, either should be fine.

Which engine? C3 is for diesel engines. ACEA no longer spec an oil as suitable for both petrol and diesel engines.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-789-acea.aspx

lil.smartie said:

Which engine? C3 is for diesel engines. ACEA no longer spec an oil as suitable for both petrol and diesel engines.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-789-acea.aspx

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What you have said is not entirely correct, ACEA C3 is not just for diesel engines as clearly the Fiat spec for my own Twinair is 5w40 ACEA C3 and indeed that is the correct spec for the 1.2 etc. Some engines, including petrol engines, C3, may be unsuitable, probably something to do with low ash content etc, I'm not entirely sure.

This whole issue about which oil to use has cropped up far too many times. The manufacturer spec oil for the Fiat 500 is easily found/interpreted so long as one is looking at the correct maintenance schedule sheets provided by Fiat. Whether one chooses or not to use their preferred 'Selenia' oil, is another matter. Many find Selenia hideously overpriced, especially when the likes of Petronas is significantly cheaper and meets the required specs.

It used to be that oil could be labeled for both, the Quantum Platinum 5w40 used to be both but a couple of years ago regs changed and then it became just C3 labeled. ACEA C3 is a diesel spec as it relates to SAPs levels which doesn't affect petrol cars. Doesn't mean it will harm petrols but might be too 'clean' for them. The A and B spec oils are spec'd against criteria that IS important for petrols hence if you drive a petrol you need to ensure it meets specs for your engine and C3 oil may not.

http://www.midlandvehiclecomponents.../acea_specifications_explained_booklet_v9.pdf

Bromodo said:

Another oil that you could use is eni i-Sint MS 5W-40 (datasheet). You can get that in Greece, too.

Take the highest viscosity index you can get (in this case 174 on both Aral and eni), other than that the difference in viscosity between them is so small that it's negligible.

eni is a bit thinner at 40°C to protect the engine from wear when it's cold, while Aral is just a hint thicker at 100°C. Given that the viscosity for older engines without C3 oil was 5W-30 when you didn't drive it hard, either should be fine.

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Funnily enough, that was the oil used for my first service at a main dealer and my second service at an indie. They both used the older version of the lubeoil that you showed me, the one that wasn't C3. I guess Agip changed their specs in the last year or so. While that oil is available, I cannot find it online easily (online shopping in Greece isn't as advanced as the uk.) So I will just get the Aral lubes. I will need to go soon as I ran out of top up oil and don't want the engine to go below max oil, so I will be buying 5 x 1 liter bottles within the next week or so (1 liter for top up, 4 liters for next oil change).

lil.smartie said:

It used to be that oil could be labeled for both, the Quantum Platinum 5w40 used to be both but a couple of years ago regs changed and then it became just C3 labeled. ACEA C3 is a diesel spec as it relates to SAPs levels which doesn't affect petrol cars. Doesn't mean it will harm petrols but might be too 'clean' for them. The A and B spec oils are spec'd against criteria that IS important for petrols hence if you drive a petrol you need to ensure it meets specs for your engine and C3 oil may not.

http://www.midlandvehiclecomponents.../acea_specifications_explained_booklet_v9.pdf

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Ummm no, your own link shows how low SAPS levels are beneficial for catalytic converters.


http://www.lubrizol.com/EngineOilAdditives/ACEA/Sequences/ACEA-C3-10.html

lil.smartie said:

It used to be that oil could be labeled for both, the Quantum Platinum 5w40 used to be both but a couple of years ago regs changed and then it became just C3 labeled. ACEA C3 is a diesel spec as it relates to SAPs levels which doesn't affect petrol cars. Doesn't mean it will harm petrols but might be too 'clean' for them. The A and B spec oils are spec'd against criteria that IS important for petrols hence if you drive a petrol you need to ensure it meets specs for your engine and C3 oil may not.

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I'm not sure where you are getting your information from, but I promise you, Quantum Platinum fully synthetic 5w40 oil is ACEA C3 spec. This is why my trusted Fiat indy specialist uses it. Please take the time to read the following data sheet:

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists...02131 Quantum Platinum Product Data Sheet.pdf