Total Oil Selector: What It Does and How to Use It Well
The short answer
The Total oil selector is the online lubricant-finder tool from TotalEnergies, the energy company formerly known as Total. You identify your vehicle, and the tool suggests TotalEnergies lubricants intended for it. These typically include engine oil and may also cover other fluids such as transmission oil or coolant. For passenger cars, recommendations generally come from the Quartz engine-oil range. TotalEnergies also sells other ranges for other vehicle types, including Rubia for heavy-duty use and Hi-Perf for motorcycles.
Treat the selector's result as a starting point, not the final word. The oil your engine needs is set by the vehicle manufacturer. That requirement can vary by model year, engine code, emissions equipment and market. A selector is only as accurate as the vehicle details you enter and the data behind it, so confirm its suggestion against your owner's manual or service schedule before you buy.
What the selector is matching
An oil recommendation has two separate parts, and a correct choice must satisfy both.
Viscosity grade: the SAE rating, such as 5W-30 or 0W-20, which describes how the oil flows when cold and at operating temperature. The manufacturer may allow more than one grade depending on climate. Performance specification or approval: industry standards such as ACEA or API categories, and in many cases a specific manufacturer approval code. Modern engines with particulate filters or long-life service intervals often require a particular approval, not just a viscosity grade.
Two oils with the same viscosity grade can carry different approvals. That difference matters, and it is the main reason to check the recommendation rather than buying by viscosity alone.
Getting an accurate recommendation
Enter the most specific vehicle details the tool accepts: make, model, model year, and the exact engine or powertrain. Petrol, diesel and hybrid versions of the same model can have different requirements. Where the selector offers several engine variants that look similar, use the engine code or power output from your registration documents or manual to pick the right one. Compare the recommended product's stated approvals and viscosity with what your owner's manual lists. If the vehicle is under warranty, follow the manufacturer's stated requirement. Keep records of the oil used at each service. If the tool returns several options, any of them should meet the requirement. Confirm that each one carries the approval your manual specifies.
Limits and open questions
No documentation of the selector itself was available for this guide. This article therefore cannot confirm details of the current tool, including:
its exact name or interface; which countries and languages it supports; how many vehicles it covers; how often its database is updated; whether it handles commercial, agricultural or marine equipment in every market
Product availability also differs by region. A product the selector recommends in one country may not be sold in another. If the selector cannot find your vehicle, or its suggestion conflicts with your manual, go with the manual. You can also ask TotalEnergies' technical support or a qualified technician.