Quartz and ELF for German Cars: Why Official OEM Approvals Matter

Codes such as VW 504 00/507 00, BMW LL-04 or MB-Approval 229.52 are more than just technical designations. They indicate that a specific engine oil has undergone a process defined by the vehicle manufacturer and received its official approval.

When choosing an engine oil, car owners often start with the brand and viscosity grade, such as 5W-30 or 0W-20. These are important pieces of information, but they do not provide the complete answer as to whether an oil is approved for a particular engine.

Modern vehicle manufacturers develop their own engine oil specifications, linked to engine design, its lubrication system, emissions-reduction technologies and the prescribed maintenance requirements. An oil submitted for official approval must meet the requirements of the specific specification.

That is why an OEM approval is not a marketing claim but the result of a formal technical validation process.

Quartz and ELF for German vehicle brands 

The TotalEnergies passenger car range includes Quartz and ELF engine oils with official approvals from Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as VW approvals relevant to Škoda and Audi models whose service documentation specifies the corresponding Volkswagen Group specification.

When a Quartz or ELF product carries the exact official approval specified by the vehicle manufacturer in the service documentation, the driver does not have to base the decision on brand reputation, habit or someone else’s recommendation. The vehicle manufacturer has confirmed the product’s technical validation against that specification through its own approval process. 

Engine oil is not a product that can be considered separately from the engine. The way the oil circulates, the pressure it needs to maintain, the temperatures it is exposed to and the materials it comes into contact with are linked to the design of the powertrain. 

As new generations of engines are developed, the requirements placed on engine oil also change. Turbochargers, direct injection, variable valve timing systems, particulate filters, as well as the drive towards lower fuel consumption and emissions, increase the number of tasks a lubricant needs to perform. 

How is an official OEM approval obtained? 

The exact process may vary depending on the vehicle manufacturer. In general, the lubricant manufacturer develops a precisely defined formulation and then carries out the testing programme required by the specific OEM specification. 

The results and technical documentation are then submitted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s procedure. Only when the specific formulation meets the required criteria and successfully completes the prescribed process can it receive formal approval for a particular specification. 

It is important to note that an official approval is not automatically granted to an entire engine oil brand but applies to a specific product and a specific manufacturer specification.

Drivers will, of course, not notice the result of an individual laboratory test while commuting to work or travelling on holiday. When an oil with the exact required approval is used, the vehicle manufacturer has formally confirmed that the formulation is approved for the applications covered by that specification. Depending on the specific OEM standard, this means that factors important to the oil’s in-service performance have been evaluated. 

A specific oil for a specific engine 

The correct viscosity and formulation are important for maintaining the engine’s designed characteristics, particularly for systems whose operation depends on proper oil flow, pressure and behaviour at different temperatures. 

Therefore, oils with official OEM approvals are not “alternative” oils compared with some assumed default choice. From a technical perspective, the key point is that the specific oil has the appropriate, valid approval required for the specific engine. 

That is why, when choosing an oil, the first step is to check the designation specified in the vehicle’s service documentation and then verify whether the same designation is listed among the official approvals of the specific oil. 

Consult LubAdvisor for recommendations on oils and fluids for your vehicle, find more detailed technical information in the product catalogue, or contact us with any questions, suggestions, or feedback.