The best synthetic 5W30 engine oils for your car’s engine

If your car uses 5W30 viscosity motor oil, these are some of the best options you can find on the market to ensure maximum protection under any type of use.

When do I have to change the engine oil? Which oil should I use? Is it necessary to change the filter every time the oil is changed? Is it worth investing in a synthetic oil? synthetic oil? There are many doubts about the importance of the oil for your car’s engine. importance of the oil for your car’s engineand here are the answers to 15 questions about oil that you should know.

But a question that does not have such a simple answer is the following: what is the best oil for my car? And it is not easy to answer for one reason: each vehicle needs an oil with certain characteristics, which also depend on the type of use, the climate… Therefore, the oil that may be the best for one car may not be suitable for another. In this sense, the best advice we can give is that you should ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. From this point on, and with this premise in mind, you can choose one oil brand or another, with one or another technology, depending on what you want to achieve: longer life, less consumption, maximum protection…

Not all 5W30 oils are the same

As a guide, we have made a selection of the best synthetic 5W30 multigrade oils, one of the most common options today. The selection is based on purchase recommendations from users and garages, and on the experience of years of dealing with this subject in forums and in discussions on engines and mechanics. However, remember the following. First of all, not all 5W30 oils are the same, even if they have in common the viscosity defined by the SAE standard, which tells us how the oil flows through the engine according to the temperature.

Two oils with the same viscosity may meet different standards. For this reason, in addition to checking that the viscosity is compatible, you should make sure that the oil meets the minimum specifications – or higher – than those indicated by the vehicle manufacturer. On the other hand, what determines the quality of an oil are the additives it includes. Not even the fact of complying with the same standard indicates that two oils with 5W30 viscosity have the same performance when it comes to protecting an engine. That said, here is our particular Top 5W30 synthetic oils. Keep in mind that the approvals indicate that these oils are specially approved according to the specific specifications of these manufacturers, but this does not mean that they are oils recommended only for vehicles of these brands. As we have already mentioned, what you should pay special attention to is that the oil complies with the regulations specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle for your car’s engine, or higher.

1 Motul 8100 X-Clean EFE 5W30

A “real” 100% synthetic based oil, with high performance thanks to a specific friction modifier, designed to ensure the best protection while maintaining low fuel consumption. This allows it to be homologated under the requirements of BMW, GM or Mercedes. It is suitable for gasoline or diesel engines of the latest generation, with or without turbo, direct or indirect injection. Fully compatible with engines with particulate filters. It stands out for its low friction, and for a very low sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur content. One of our favorites.

• Standards: ACEA C2/C3; API SN
• Approvals: BMW LL-04, GM Dexos2, MB 229.51, WW 50501, Fiat 9.55535-S2,
• Approximate price: 32 € the 5-liter container
• Alternatives: Motul Specific 5W30. Also 100% synthetic, you have it with different specifications designed specifically in each case for the requirements of each manufacturer. Price between 30 and 40 euros 5l container, depending on specifications.

2 Castrol Edge Titanium 5W30 C3

Synthetic oil with Castrol’s patented “Fluid Titanium” technology, which includes a titanium polymer capable of increasing the permanence of the lubricant film, to minimize friction without sacrificing protection. It is suitable for gasoline and diesel engines where the manufacturer recommends ACEA C3 or API SN/CF specifications. Suitable for vehicles with particulate filter.

• Standards: ACEA C3; API SN/CF
• Approvals: Renault RN 0700/RN 0701, GM-Opel Dexos2, MB 229.31, WW 502 09/505 01, BMW LL-04,
• Approximate price: 40 € the 5-liter container
• Alternatives: Castrol Magnatec 5W30, especially recommended for engines with start-stop that circulate a lot in the city. From 30 euros for 5 liters.

3 Shell Helix Ultra 5W30

High-performance synthetic oil with Shell PurePlus technology, designed to keep the engine clean of impurities, with high levels of protection against sludge. It is suitable for diesel and gasoline engines, and also for engines that run on biodiesel, gasoline-ethanol blends or gas (LPG and CNG). Within the Shell Helix Ultra range, there is also a choice of Professional, designed to the specific specifications of different manufacturers.

• Standards: ACEA A3/B3-A3/B4, API SL/CF
• Approvals: Renault RN0700, RN0710, VW 502.00/505.00; BMW LL-01, MB 229.5, 226.5.
• Approximate price: 30 € the 5-liter container
• Alternatives: Shell Helix HX8. Formulated for low oil consumption and improved fuel economy.

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W30

Probably one of the most recognized brands by users when it comes to high performance oils. It is recommended for modern high-performance engines, both gasoline and diesel, and stands out for its low ash content, which benefits the operation of particulate filters in diesel engines, as well as its low sulfur and phosphorus content, with the catalytic converters of gasoline engines in mind. Its formulation also helps to reduce oil aging at long oil change intervals.

• Standards: ACEA C2/C3, API SN/CF
• Approvals: MB 229.31/229.51, VW 504.00/507.00, BMW LL04, Porsche C30, GM Dexos2, PSA B71.2297
• Approximate price: 40 € the 5-liter container
• Alternatives: Currently in Spain, Mobil only markets this oil with viscosity 5W30. An alternative would be Mobil 1 ESP 0W30, with a somewhat higher price, around 50 euros per 5-liter container.

Petronas Selenia WR Pure Energy 5W30

Newly formulated synthetic oil with low ash content to protect particulate filters in modern diesels. It also includes a formulation with special additives to reduce friction, and promote fuel economy. It is also suitable for gasoline engines. It is recommended by Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, and is the oil used by official dealers for maintenance operations on vehicles of these brands.

• Standards: ACEA C2
• Approvals: Fiat 9.55535-S1
• Approximate price: 32 € the 5-liter container
• Alternatives: This is the only 5W30 oil from this manufacturer. It also markets Selenia WR Diesel 5W40, a semi-synthetic specifically designed for turbodiesel engines, priced at around 28 euros per 5-liter can.