Approvals: an important parameter
As a result, oil approvals are the most important parameter
In this section: 6 articles
That's exactly why many carmakers develop their own standards and requirements for engine oil for each engine (or line of engines). At the oil makers' request, the necessary research and testing is carried out, and as a result a specific grade of oil from a specific manufacturer is cleared for use in a specific engine. All of this is formalized with a certificate, and only then does the oil maker have the right to put the carmaker's approval on that particular oil's label.
It should be noted that given the sheer variety of automotive oils on the market, as well as the number of structurally different engines and their makers, having a car manufacturer's approval certificate for an oil is a strong argument in favour of using it. Conversely, the absence of an approval makes such use quite risky.
For illustration, here are some approvals from leading carmakers along with a brief description (we especially recommend paying attention to the notes). Let's stress right away that this description alone cannot tell you the exact approval for your engine — you need to check the approval in your car's documentation (for example, the service book, the manual, and so on).