Mix engine oil
Yes, in principle, different engine oils, whether synthetic or mineral oil-based, can be mixed with each other if they fulfil the same requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. This can also be determined through overlaps in the approval classes on the respective engine oil label.
Engine oils with different requirements should only be mixed in an emergency if the oil level is low and there is a risk of engine damage. Mixing different oils reduces the quality of the original product. The additives may be different, for example, which can have unpredictable long-term effects. If mineral oil is mixed with synthetic oil, the performance of the synthetic oil is reduced, as mineral oil has a much lower viscosity index. Furthermore, if you fill your engine with oil that has not been approved, the manufacturer's warranty will be invalidated and expensive repair costs will not be covered.
Mixing engine oil from different manufacturers
Engine oils from different manufacturers can certainly be combined. If you want to mix oils from different manufacturers, pay attention to the following key points to rule out major problems:
Mixing engine oil of different viscosity classes
The manufacturer's approvals must be observed. There are engines that can be operated with both 0W30 and 5W30 oil. In this case, both SAE classes can also be mixed. However, there are engines that only require 5W40. If these vehicles are topped up with 5W30 oil, damage may occur after some time as the oil does not meet the required performance class.
When should I change the mixed engine oil?
Especially if you have mixed engine oils that fulfil different requirements in an emergency, we recommend a complete oil change as soon as possible. It is difficult to predict how the oil mixture will behave in the engine over a longer period of time and whether it can lead to engine damage. In case of doubt, the usual change intervals cannot be taken for granted.
