What is the grade of A3B4 engine oil?
3 Answers
A3B4 belongs to a higher grade of engine oil. A3B4 is one of the standards certified by the European Union, where 'A' stands for gasoline engines for passenger cars, and 'B' stands for diesel engines for passenger cars. The numbers represent the oil quality grade. A3B4 is a higher-grade mainstream lubricant, which is a catalytic type of gasoline and light-duty diesel engine oil. A3B4 is an engine oil standard set by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), representing gasoline engine oils. API is the oil standard certified by the American Petroleum Institute. Although these are two different oil certification standards, there is a certain relationship between ACEA and API. For example, A3B4 is only equivalent to the SL grade in API. The viscosity of engine oil should not be too high or too low. If the viscosity is too low, it will increase engine wear. If the viscosity is too high, it will affect the increase in resistance during engine operation, leading to reduced engine power and increased fuel consumption. When the engine is working, the oil forms a film on the surface of various components inside the engine, which can reduce friction between the components and lower the operating resistance inside the engine. If the oil viscosity is too low, the oil cannot form a stable film, which will exacerbate engine wear. The viscosity of engine oil changes with temperature, so special attention is needed to its performance under low and high temperatures. For example, in 5W-30, the first number represents low-temperature fluidity. 5W means it can withstand low temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius. The smaller this number, the better the low-temperature fluidity. 0W is -35 degrees Celsius; 5W is -30 degrees Celsius; 10W is -25 degrees Celsius; 15W is -20 degrees Celsius; 20W is -15 degrees Celsius; 25W is -10 degrees Celsius. This ensures smoother cold starts for vehicles. The second number represents the kinematic viscosity of the oil at 100 degrees Celsius. The higher the number, the better the oil can maintain its viscosity index at high temperatures, which can also be understood as better lubrication performance under high temperatures. Relatively, the better the low-temperature fluidity, the smoother the cold start for the vehicle, and the better the protection for the engine. For full synthetic oil, the recommended replacement interval is one year or 10,000 kilometers. For semi-synthetic oil, the replacement interval is slightly shorter, requiring replacement every 7,000 kilometers or six months. When choosing engine oil, the following points should be noted: Engine oil should be selected according to the engine's requirements. It is unnecessary to use overly high-grade oil in engines with lower requirements, nor should lower-grade oil be used in engines with higher requirements. Multi-grade oil should be preferred. Due to its savings, long lifespan, and high efficiency, multi-grade oil provides better protection for the engine. Based on the characteristics of multi-grade oil, it may appear darker and have lower oil pressure compared to regular oil during use, which is normal. Since engine oil greatly affects the performance and lifespan of the engine, it is essential to strictly follow the vehicle's manual to select oil of the same series, service grade, and viscosity grade. The engine oil recommended in the vehicle manual is based on the engine's performance and the temperature of the sales region, providing certain guidance for oil selection and leaving a considerable safety margin.
I first heard about A3B4 engine oil after switching to a German car, when the dealership recommended it to me. A3B4 actually comes from the European ACEA standard, indicating high-performance oil, where the 'A' part is for gasoline engines and 'B' for diesel engines, with the numbers 3 and 4 representing high viscosity grades. This type of oil is particularly suitable for cars with turbocharged or high-compression ratio engines, such as Volkswagen and BMW. After using A3B4 oil, I found it offers excellent protection, reduces wear, and extends the oil change interval to around 10,000 kilometers. The downside is that it's a bit more expensive, but in the long run, it can save on repair costs. After driving for a while, the engine noise is significantly reduced, which is quite practical. For someone like me who loves long-distance driving, choosing the right oil grade is really important—never skimp and use the wrong oil.
As an automotive enthusiast, I've researched the ins and outs of A3B4 engine oil. It's one of the top-tier standards in the ACEA specifications - 'A' denotes optimization for gasoline engines while 'B' targets diesel engines, with '3' and '4' indicating high viscosity and stability. This oil offers multiple benefits: excellent high-temperature resistance and oxidation stability, protects turbocharged components from oil burning, and slightly reduces fuel consumption. It's particularly compatible with hybrid vehicles. The downside? It might be too viscous for small-displacement engines. When changing oil, I compared it with other grades like A1/B1 - A3B4 clearly suits performance vehicles better. For daily driving, always check your manual for specifications rather than blindly trusting sales pitches.
