Why Do European Vehicles Require Special Oil?

Why Do European Vehicles Require Special Oil?

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TLDR:  For many reasons including stricter emissions standards in Europe and the fact that European vehicles are typically designed to require less frequent oil changes and therefore the oil used must have special additives to help facilitate that.

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If you’ve laid down the money for a high-end vehicle from a European manufacturer, you want to make sure you’re giving it the best possible treatment. This means regular washes to get rid of road chemicals and debris, high-octane fuel…and even special engine oil.

​Many people don’t know it, but it’s true: European vehicles require different oil than American ones, and using the wrong kind for your car oil change could lead to big problems down the road. But even more people don’t know why this is. Here are a few common reasons that any luxury car owner in Canada should keep in mind.

Less Frequent Engine Oil Changes

The general standard in North America between oil service – depending on the exact type of synthetic oil used – is somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 km. However, European vehicles are designed to make it up to 16,000 km before they need an oil and filter change. This comes down to the price of the oil, as well as different manufacturer expectations and recommendations, and means that the motor oil used in Europe better protects against build-up and corrosion for a longer time.

Additives For Car Oil

Because the oil change schedule is less frequent, European vehicles must use special additives to enhance lubrication and prevent chemical breakdown. This means that plain oil – like the kind you might get from a cheap oil change – can potentially damage, wear, or otherwise reduce the lifespan of your engine’s parts.

Oil Change Approval From Automakers

Many European OEMs have their own performance specifications, and can only meet those standards if the correct oil is used during every change. Some of the manufacturers with specific guidelines on exact oil technology include Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW. These standards help keep your engine running exactly as it’s intended to.

Emissions Standards

European countries have much stricter standards for emissions than North America, especially for carbon monoxide and dioxide, and nitrous oxides for diesel engines. The special oil used for those vehicles has less of the components, like sulphur, phosphorus, and so on, that can clog up components like diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

A Cheap Oil Change Can Cost You

So you’ve searched “oil change near me” and found a place that will do a full synthetic oil change for cheap. But maybe they just use standard oil, or use a different manufacturer’s brand that’s specialized for something else. How bad could it be?

Turns out – it can be pretty costly! Don’t be fooled by a low oil change cost, because it could add up later on. The wrong oil could break down in your system, have a much lower viscosity range, lack the correct additives to lubricate efficiently, or even cause the failure of valves or engine lines. Here’s a better explanation of why it’s just a bad idea.
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If you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing your high-end European vehicle is taken care of, with the best oil change capabilities (without the high oil change prices), bring it out to Euroworks! Oil changes at Euroworks are just the beginning – we’re Calgary’s best choice to keep your European car looking and performing its best!