Synthetic or conventional, and what 0W-20 means.
The oil grade on your vehicle's page is two numbers and a letter. Here is what they say, and why the oil your manufacturer lists is the one that goes in.
By the Aperio service team · Updated 26 September 2026
Conventional oil is refined. Synthetic is engineered.
Conventional oil is refined from crude oil, and its molecules come in many shapes and sizes. Full-synthetic oil starts from more uniform, more highly processed base oils and carries stronger additive packages, so it holds its thickness over a wider range of temperatures and resists breaking down under heat.
In practice that means easier cold starts, better protection when the engine is hot, and oil that stays in good condition for longer. Many newer engines, turbocharged ones especially, are designed around synthetic oil, and their manufacturers call for it.
Reading 0W-20: the cold number and the hot number.
An oil grade such as 0W-20 has two parts. The number before the W, for winter, describes how the oil flows when it is cold: the lower it is, the more easily it flows at a cold start. The number after the dash describes how thick it is at normal engine operating temperature.
So a 0W-20 and a 5W-20 behave the same once the engine is warm, but the 0W-20 flows more readily on a cold morning. Prairie winters are why our vans carry 0W-20 and 0W-30 full synthetics: if your manual allows a 0W grade, that is what goes in.
The grade is half of it. The approval is the other half.
Besides the grade, manufacturers list a specification the oil must meet: an industry standard, the manufacturer's own approval, or both. Many European engines require an oil carrying the manufacturer's approval, which is why European makes are $60 a year more on the plan, with that oil included.
Using the grade and specification your manufacturer lists, and keeping a record of every change, is how you show the car was maintained to its manufacturer's standard. Every Aperio visit is logged in a service history you can export and hand to a dealer or a buyer.
Your grade and capacity, by model year.
Every vehicle page on this site lists the oil grade and capacity for each engine and model year, from the manufacturer's specification. If your manual lists more than one grade, it says which one applies to your climate.
Engines that take more than 6 L (6.3 qt) of oil cost a little more on the plan, $7 per extra litre, per year, and your vehicle page shows the finished annual figure for your exact engine.
About oil types.
Can I switch from conventional to synthetic oil?
Yes. Synthetic and conventional oils of the same grade can be mixed, and moving to full synthetic is common. Stay with the grade and specification in your owner's manual.
Is a thicker oil better for an older engine?
Not automatically. The manufacturer chose the grade for the engine's clearances and oil passages. Ask a technician before changing grades, and keep to the manual unless there is a specific reason not to.
Does the Aperio plan use synthetic oil?
Yes. The plan uses full-synthetic oil meeting the grade and specification your manufacturer lists, with an OEM-equivalent filter matched to your engine.
Your grade, and when it is due.
