ACEA A3 B4-16

ACEA A3/B4 oils are Upper Mainline lubricants. They are designed for a use in high performance gasoline and light duty diesel engines and are typically used in newer vehicles as they provide the minimum performance demanded by many OEM specifications.

ACEA A3/B4 oils are probably seen in the widest range of viscosity grades. The most common being:

  • SAE 10W-40 based on a mix of API Group I and Group III, or API Group II base oils.
  • SAE 5W-40 and SAE 5W-30 based on API Group III base oils.
  • SAE 0W-30 based on API Group IV base oils.

The main physical and chemical requirements for ACEA A3/B4 are shown below:

Requirement Method Unit Limit
HTHS viscosity CEC L-36-A-90 cP ≥ 3.5
Sulphated Ash ASTM D874 %wt ≤ 1.0 and ≤ 1.6
Phosphorus ASTM D5185 %wt Report
Sulphur ASTM D5185 %wt Report
Evaporation loss (NOACK) CEC L-40-A-93 % ≤ 13
Total Base Number ASTM D2896 mgKOH/g ≥ 10.0

Depending upon the viscosity grade blended, ACEA A3/B4 is usually coupled with a range of OEM specifications including:

SAE 10W-40/30

  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.1
  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
  • Volkswagen VW50101
  • Volkswagen VW50200
  • Volkswagen VW50500

SAE 5W-40

  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.5
  • Volkswagen VW50200
  • Volkswagen VW50500
  • BMW Longlife 01
  • Porsche A40
  • PSA B71 2296
  • Renault RN0700/710
  • GM / Opel Longlife B (Obsolete)

SAE 5W-30

  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.3
  • Daimler MB-Approval 229.5
  • Volkswagen VW50200
  • Volkswagen VW50500
  • BMW Longlife 01
  • Renault RN0700/710
  • GM / Opel Longlife A (Obsolete)
  • GM / Opel Longlife B (Obsolete)

 

ACEA A3/B4 was first introduced into the ACEA Oil Sequences in 2004, however, it is based upon the original ACEA A3 and ACEA B4 sequences that were introduced in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

For ACEA 2016 a number of changes to the requirements for ACEA A3/B4 have been made which raise the performance required to meet ACEA A3/B4-16. The inclusion of the new OM646LA BIO engine test and CEC L-109 oil oxidation test with Biodiesel shows the increasing importance of biodiesel in the marketplace.

Additionally, the new DV6 engine test, as a replacement for the DV4 test along with the PSA EP6 engine test highlights the increased piston cleanliness and soot handling requirements of ACEA 2016.

The changes for ACEA 2016 are summarised below:

Test Change for ACEA 2016
CEC L-112 New seals materials for oil elastomer compatibility
CEC L-109 Biodiesel Oxidation test added to replace GFC-LU-43A-11.
CEC L-106 DV6 Oil dispersion at medium temperature now compulsory, replaced DV4.
CEC L-111-16 PSA EP6 piston cleanliness test added
CEC L038-94 TU3M scuffing test removed
CEC L-088-02 TU5JP-L4 high temperature deposits test removed
Daimler M271 Evo Black Sludge test added (required once available)
CEC L-104-16 OM646LA BIO Effects of Biodiesel test added