Oil-Dacia uses Renault engines and follows the same Renault oil specifications (RN17, RN0720). Despite Dacia's budget positioning, the oil quality requirements are identical to Renault — cutting corners on oil in a Dacia engine causes the same damage as in a Renault.
Renault RN17 — Current Specification (0W-20 / 0W-30)
RN17 is Renault's latest oil specification, introduced in 2019 and now required for current Dacia models. It covers the 1.0 TCe (H5H) turbo three-cylinder and 1.3 TCe (H5H) turbo four-cylinder engines found in the Sandero, Duster, and Jogger. RN17 requires low-viscosity oil — typically SAE 0W-20 or 0W-30 — with low-SAPS chemistry. This specification replaces the older RN0720 on newer engines.
Renault RN0720 — Older Diesel & Petrol Engines
RN0720 is the specification for older Dacia diesel engines (1.5 dCi / K9K) and earlier petrol engines. It requires SAE 5W-30 based on ACEA C4 chemistry with very low SAPS to protect the diesel particulate filter. The Duster 1.5 dCi and Logan 1.5 dCi widely used this spec. While being phased out on new models, millions of Dacias on the road still require RN0720.
Budget Cars, No Budget Oil
Dacia's value proposition is an affordable purchase price, but the engines underneath are the same Renault units found in the Clio, Captur, and Megane. The TCe turbocharged engines are particularly sensitive to oil quality — they run high boost pressures in small-displacement packages, generating significant heat. Using cheap, non-approved oil to save money on a budget car is a false economy that leads to premature turbo failure and carbon build-up.
Dacia Service Intervals
Dacia recommends oil changes every 15,000 km or 12 months for most models, which is shorter than Renault's variable intervals for the same engines. This conservative approach suits Dacia's typical use case — many Dacias serve as practical daily transport with higher annual mileages. For the 1.0 SCe naturally aspirated engine, intervals can extend to 20,000 km in some markets, but annual changes remain the minimum.