4 Best Oils For A Fiat 500L [With Other Oil Changing Tips!]

The Fiat 500L is a more spacious version of the 500 that maintains its Italian flare. A complication with owning a car on the fancier side is using the correct oil for routine maintenance. With so many motor oils available at your local automotive store, the choice can be overwhelming. Luckily, we've researched all of the best motor oils for the Fiat 500L and have them on a list for you here.

The Fiat 500L requires synthetic motor oil, the best ones having a viscosity rating of either 5W-30 or 5W-40. Here are a few of the best oils to use on your 500L:

Penzoil Platinum Euro Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Valvoline Daily Protection 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Liqui Moly Leichtlauf High Tech 5W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Castrol Edge 5W-40 Advanced Synthetic Motor Oil

Those are the best oil types for the Fiat 500L, but by name only. Please keep reading this post to learn more about each oil type and how they can help maintain your Fiat. Additionally, we will discuss how often the 500L requires an oil change, how much an oil change usually costs, and how to perform the oil change yourself.

The Best Oils for the Fiat 500L

As we said above, the Fiat 500L is an Italian five-door car that requires full synthetic oil. Because of this, every oil on our list is both full synthetic and has a viscosity rating of 5W-40 or 5W-30.

Each of the oils has different benefits and high points, but all accomplish the same goal. Using any of them will keep your engine running smoothly and keep your Fiat in good operation for years to come.

The oils you find on this list come from those that are approved by auto dealers like Advanced Autoparts. We've included options from a few of the most popular oil manufactures. If your Fiat is on the older side, please be aware that special versions of some of these oils are designed for high mileage cars. Here are a few details for each of the motor oils on our list:

1. Penzoil Platinum Euro 5W-50

Penzoil's Platinum Euro Full Synthetic motor oil helps clean your engine as it runs, leading to great performance. It's a high-quality oil designed for top-of-the-line European cars like BMW and Porsche. Fiat can get in on the quality and action as well. The 5W-40 viscosity rating will keep your engine functioning at both hot and cold temperatures.

Click here to see the Penzoil Plantium Euro oil at Amazon.

2. Valvoline Daily Protection 5W-30

The Daily Protection 5W-30 motor oil from Valvoline is another oil option that improves engine function. This blend includes another feature called the Fuel Economy Formula, which can help boost your car's fuel efficiency. The product listed below is a box of six single quart bottles, which you will need four of to do an oil change on a Fiat 500L.

Click here to see the Valvoline Daily Protection Oil at Amazon.

3. Liqui Moly Leichtlauf High Tech 5W-40

Liqui Moly is a German manufacturer of oils and other automotive products. Their Leichtlauf High Tech motor oil is perfect for the Fiat 500L and will keep the engine lubricated at most temperatures. The oil is also good for improving the function of catalytic converters and turbos.

Click here to see the Liqui Moly Leichtlauf High Tech at Amazon.

4. Castrol Edge 5W-40

The Castrol Edge 5W-40 Advanced Synthetic motor oil is specially designed to help fight build-up in engine systems. The blend is made with European vehicles in mind so that it will feel right at home inside a Fiat 500L.

Click here to see Castrol Edge Oil at Amazon.

Does a Fiat 500L Need Synthetic Oil?

You may have noticed that each of the oils on the list above are synthetic oils. That's because the engine on the Fiat 500 requires fully synthetic oil to function properly. The Fiat 500 vehicles could probably function on traditional petroleum-based oil, but synthetic oil will do more for your vehicle and keep it running longer.

What is the Difference between 5W-30 and 5W-40 motor oil?

Two different types of oil are safe to use with the Fiat 500L: 5W-30 and 5W-40. But what's the difference between the two?

Those numbers on the motor oils on this list represent the oil viscosity. The first number next to the "W" is a cold temperature rating, while the second number after the dash is a hot temperature rating. So, oils marked 5W-40 will perform better in warmer climates.

Changing the Oil on a Fiat 500L

Now that you know which types of oil are suitable for the Fiat 500L, we can now look at how to change the oil. But first, a few broad pieces of information surrounding the topic.

How Often Should you Change the Oil in a Fiat 500L?

When planning or keeping a proper oil maintenance schedule, you first need to know how often the oil needs to be changed. Because the Fiat 500L takes synthetic oil, the oil needs to be changed less often than conventional oil cars.

According to this Fiat dealership out of Tacoma, Washington, you should change the oil on the Fiat 500 model vehicles every 8,000 miles at the greatest. A short time before that 8,000-mile mark is preferred and will keep your 500L in the best shape possible.

How Much Oil Does a Fiat 500L take?

The second important piece of info is knowing how much oil your car will actually require. This information will help you whether you are paying someone to change your oil or changing it yourself. According to Fiat 500 USA, the 500L model has an oil capacity of four quarts with a dry filter.

How much is a Fiat Oil Change?

The price of an oil change can vary greatly depending on where you live. One of the drawbacks of having a car that uses full synthetic oil is that the oil changes are more expensive. According to Kelley Blue Book, the cost of a synthetic oil change starts at around $65 and can be over $100 in some places.

How do I Change the Oil in your Fiat 500L on my own?

If you're more of a DIY kind of person, you might want to change the oil in your Fiat on your own. To do so, you will need the proper oil, a wrench, rags or paper towels, a funnel, and of course, your 500L's oil dipstick. Here is the process:

First, lift the vehicle up either using a jack or by driving it up small car ramps. Always double-check the safety of the lifted car and use extra equipment like jack stands or even cinderblocks to ensure your car stays up. Getting under a car is very dangerous.
Next, unscrew the drain bolt found on the side of the oil reservoir.
Then, let the old oil drain into a large open container, collecting it to dispose of it properly later. Tip: you can bring old oil to auto shops like O'reilly's, where they will dispose of it properly for you.
Once the oil is drained, seal up the oil reservoir with the same cap/bolt you just removed.
Using a funnel, pour four quarts of approved fully synthetic oil into the oil port under the hood of your car.
Finally, use your dipstick to ensure that the oil level is adequate and close the oil port.

The video below shows the entire oil change process, including an oil filter change, on the Fiat 500L. It is a little lengthy, so if you don't need to change your oil filter right now, skip to around the 12-minute mark for the oil change.

Also, don't be discouraged by the title. The hard part the creator is referring to is mostly with the oil filter. Meaning that you may want to go to a professional for the filter replacement when the time comes. Here is the video:

In Closing

You have many oil options for your Fiat 500L, just as long as you choose a fully synthetic oil with a viscosity rating of 5W-30 or 5W-40. When it comes to changing that oil, you have two options: either pay a professional or change it yourself.

Conducting a normal oil change on the Fiat 500L isn't terrible, but changing the oil filter is difficult. Consider using a professional service unless you have all the right tools and time on hand.

If you found the information in this post helpful, please check out a few of our others:

Why Is My Car Burning Oil and What to To About it?

Will Synthetic Oil Make Your Engine Last Longer?