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Technical The oil specification party

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Technical The oil specification party

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MartinMan

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I was about to buy oil for my new grande putno (09' 1.4L 8V), so per usual I've just checked in my (danish) manual:
FIAT 9.55535-M2, ACEA A3, 5W-40
After finding out that a oil with all those 3 specifications seems to be impossible to get here (Denmark), or anywhere else for that matter. The closest you get, is the Mobile 1 New Life, which has the FIAT 9.55535-M2, however it's 0W-40, *not* the recommended 5W-40.
All this made me investigate further.
I've looked in haynes: 5W-40, FIAT 9.55535-S2, ACEA C3
I've looked in eLearn: 5W-40, FIAT 9.55535-S2, ACEA C3
I've looked in other Grande Punto manuals (english, ones from this site): 5W-40, FIAT 9.55535-S2, ACEA C3

The information I can find, show that the ACEA C3 and ACEA A3 are very different. I hope somebody can clear this up for me.
 
I've looked in haynes: 5W-40, FIAT 9.55535-S2, ACEA C3
Click to expand...

That's the spec I put in mine, got Petronas Syntium. The above specification is often used in diesel engines, Castrol Magnatec is available to this standard too.

Cheers

Ben
 
I see, thanks.
However, I'm still unsure what to make of the difference between the specifications in my manual and everywhere else. Why would the specifications in my manaul be different?
 
Not sure why it would be different but everything I have seen for that engine points to the spec I quoted, C3.

I know the local Fiat dealership here in Aberdeen don't stick to the recommended spec anyway and put in semi synthetic. They were going to have to order in the recommended spec oil as they had none in stock hence I got mine from Ebay.

Cheers

Ben
 
andydiver said:
A C3 oil can be assumed to be also to the A5 spec.
Click to expand...
Could you point to a source on that? I'm not able to find anything supporting that claim. All I've been able to find is that A3 and C3 are *not* compatible. Thanks
 
MartinMan said:
Could you point to a source on that? I'm not able to find anything supporting that claim. All I've been able to find is that A3 and C3 are *not* compatible. Thanks
Click to expand...

Sure, this one seemed the most comprehensive:
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Oil_Labelling_Explained, copy of relevant bit below:


A1 Fuel economy petrol
A2 Standard performance level (now obsolete)
A3 High performance and/or extended drain
A4 Reserved for future use in certain direct injection engines
A5 Combines A1 fuel economy with A3 performance
B1 Fuel economy diesel
B2 Standard performance level (now obsolete)
B3 High performance and/or extended drain
B4 For direct injection car diesel engines
B5 Combines B1 fuel economy with B3/B4 performance
C1-04 Petrol and Light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 low SAPS, two way catalyst compatible.
C2-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible.
C3-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible, Higher performance levels due to higher HTHS.
 
andydiver said:
Sure, this one seemed the most comprehensive:
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Oil_Labelling_Explained, copy of relevant bit below:


A1 Fuel economy petrol
A2 Standard performance level (now obsolete)
A3 High performance and/or extended drain
A4 Reserved for future use in certain direct injection engines
A5 Combines A1 fuel economy with A3 performance
B1 Fuel economy diesel
B2 Standard performance level (now obsolete)
B3 High performance and/or extended drain
B4 For direct injection car diesel engines
B5 Combines B1 fuel economy with B3/B4 performance
C1-04 Petrol and Light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 low SAPS, two way catalyst compatible.
C2-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible.
C3-04 Petrol and light duty Diesel engines, based on A5/B5-04 mid SAPS, two way catalyst compatible, Higher performance levels due to higher HTHS.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks, I'll take a look at it. However - what about the FIAT 9.55535-M2/S2 requirement?
 
MartinMan said:
Okay thanks, I'll take a look at it. However - what about the FIAT 9.55535-M2/S2 requirement?
Click to expand...

Well that might be listed by the brand you have chosen such as:

http://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united.../castrol-magnatec-brand/castrol-magnatec.html

(Go to the above link and select the 5W 40 C3 Option)

But you could infer that any brand quoting 5/40 C3 won't be far off.

Also go for a number plate search at a couple of well known web car parts shops - they are unlikely to direct you far wrong.

See also http://www.oilspecifications.org/fiat.php
 
Last edited:
andydiver said:
Well that might be listed by the brand you have chosen such as:

http://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united.../castrol-magnatec-brand/castrol-magnatec.html

(Go to the above link and select the 5W 40 C3 Option)

But you could infer that any brand quoting 5/40 C3 won't be far off.

Also go for a number plate search at a couple of well known web car parts shops - they are unlikely to direct you far wrong.

See also http://www.oilspecifications.org/fiat.php
Click to expand...

The thing is, I will still be going against my manual, since it claims the ACEA A3, and not the ACEA C3. And I still can't find a source that would ensure those two are compatible. I just don't understand why my manual says A3 when every other place claims C3.
 
How old is the car again? Oils have been improving fast to manage long oil intervals and Dpf development. Most oils now are likely better than the expected at time of writing for the manual. Most important advice still is to change oil often and stick to the 5W 40 or whatever viscosity index is set. The rest is to do with how clean the oil burns and more subtle things like that
 
MartinMan said:
The thing is, I will still be going against my manual, since it claims the ACEA A3, and not the ACEA C3. And I still can't find a source that would ensure those two are compatible. I just don't understand why my manual says A3 when every other place claims C3.
Click to expand...

Nothing to worry about. In your engine you can put A3 or C3. (y)

Later manual suggests C3 older A3...that's it. In your engine both are good to go.
 
Thank you all for your input.
Based on all the answers and the suggestions, I'm gonna use the Castrol Magnatec 5w-40. This oil seems to both have the ACEA A3 and the C3 specification, along with the FIAT 9.55535-S2 (not the M2 though). I guess it's the closest I get anyway
I
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