Hello everyone,

I know Fiat recommends ACEA C3 oil for the 1.2 MPI 8V (51kW) engine.

However, I've read that I can safely use a better performing ACEA A3/B4 oil, reason for this being that ACEA C3 oils were designed for Diesel DPF engines and Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) ones.
MPI engines are said to work better with ACEA A3/B4, as per design.

Has anyone had any bad experience with A3/B4 oil in the FIRE engine?
I'm not looking for compromises, just want the best for the little 500.

I'm particularly planning to use Ravenol VST USVO 5w40 for the next oil change.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I have used the Ravenol VMO SAE 5W-40 in my car, without any issues. Replaced every 18 months and so drove approx. 15,000km on it.

Hi Oliver,

Thanks for your reply! Yes, VMO is the recommended ACEA C3 oil from Ravenol. Should work with no issues.
I'd go a little bit further and use Ravenol's latest USVO technology that's found in their VST oil.

Regards.

I´m sure you can use it, too without any problems, but I think also with any benefit.
This 1,2l 8V fire engine can normally also work with standard 10W-40 if you install a proper oil sump like in the old first generation Puntos, were they had more than one litre more....

Well, it's an endless discussion about which one performs better or not...

A3/B4 could potentially go for longer drain interval while C3 could potentially have cleaner combustion chamber from burned oil ashes and possibly longer catalytic converter lifespan.

AFAIK Fiat changed the oil recommendation from A3/B4 to C3 at some point.
But in any case you should trust the manufacturer of your engine by following the owners manual. In case they changed something on the engine design that we don't know.

At the end of the day, best thing for your 500 is to use the good stuff and changing it regularly. Both VMO and VST are great oils but the VST seems to be a bit better and more expensive as well...

Thank you both for your opinions and recommendations!

I will give the VST oil a chance and change it on a whim.

It´s amazing that ravenol offers 11 different oils in the vicosity class 5W-40....

https://www.ravenol-shop.de/PKW/Motoroel/SAE-5W-40/

Different engine, I know, but I used Petronas Syntum 5000CP 5w/30 ACEA C2 oil in my wifes 1.3 Multijet diesel, as that is what specification is recommended by Fiat, and I wont use budget oils and never have in any car that I/we have.

I normally use the well known oil from a company near to me, and that is Millers. They also do a fantastic range of fuel additives. I was using their products around 20 years ago, and recently changed my oil in my Skoda Octavia to their oil made for VW 507.00 specification.

Quinny1 said:

Different engine, I know, but I used Petronas Syntum 5000CP 5w/30 ACEA C2 oil in my wifes 1.3 Multijet diesel, as that is what specification is recommended by Fiat, and I wont use budget oils and never have in any car that I/we have.

I normally use the well known oil from a company near to me, and that is Millers. They also do a fantastic range of fuel additives. I was using their products around 20 years ago, and recently changed my oil in my Skoda Octavia to their oil made for VW 507.00 specification.

Click to expand...

I use Miller's 10-40 triple ester oil in my Panda 100hp. Also there 10-50 in my GT4. Millers makes one fantastic oils and fuel enhancer products. They also make the Gulf competition oils.

Miller's were the only manufacturer I could find that made a high quality 10-40 synthetic engine oil.

Ah, the great oil debate!! This has been discussed so much so one way or another that it’s banned in some car forums. I get the fact that some want the best for their pride and joy, but there are questions that should be asked at the least. OK you have chosen your oil for your car, and in your eyes it’s the best, so why would they produce extra additives? It’s actually thought in today’s start stop driving the best way to go is obviously the correct grade oil and six monthly change which I do. I’ve done this especially on my daily.

Now I’m well aware there are some who will not agree with me, but there are others who will. I’ve said before how certain oil companies have been taken to court in the past for false advertising and falsely claiming what their oil or additives can do. I’m certainly not having a go here but there are things that some take for granted.