Recent content by dgcamero

The automatic 2.5 was more efficient than my 2.0t FSI, DSG GTI, in the loaner MK5 Jetta or Rabbit, and MK6 Golfs I drove when my GTI was in for service. The 2.0t FSI automatic, Passat was more efficient on the highway, but way less so in town than my DSG. But the 2.0t fsi needs premium fuel...

They make Bluetooth cassette adapters. Might be worth an inexpensive try, and something to let live with the van.

Artificial clay bar with waterless car wash and good removal towels. Wash it regularly with good practices. Reapply some kind of spray ceramic wax every 6 months. Repeat the former every 2 years, but get better ceramic wax next time if there is any :-P

The Purolator Boss cartridge filter for Mercedes 3 valve, 112/113 V6-8s, is a German produced filter (not sure of the exact number), and appears identical to the Mann fleece filters. The Purolator Boss PBL35581 (for vw 2.0t fsi, 2.5L 5-cylinder) is made in Germany too. Perhaps they make one for...

Run Motul 8100 5w40 in the family's 1995 flat tappet 351 boat these days...along with a Purolator Boss oil filter. It seems to maintain the oil pressure best at idle. Mobil One 0w40 was used for eons before that, (and Rotella 15w40 before that), but probaby 8 years ago they switched the...

On that vehicle (passed around between my Mom, my Dad [since deceased], to me, to my brother, my step dad), we follow the Flexible Service System (FSS). And the max interval has been 2 years or 18k miles. Usually ending up somewhere between 12k and 18k miles in the early years and closer to 10k...

Following FSS, 15w40 is probably not a good idea. That's what the dealer threw in my Mom's when bought new in 1998...and at 60k it needed new rings and a de-sludge. Since the complimentary engine refresh, it gets 229.5 oil, the fleece filter, and FSS oil changes (2 years or 18k miles max). Still...

The work van got an oil and filter change today @34049 miles. It's a work provided 2017 NV200. Out went Castrol Magnatec 5w30 with 5500ish miles. In went conventional Formula Shell 5w30 (from the bulk container label) or Havoline 5w30 (according to the receipt and it was a Havoline instant...

If you have the ability to afford the maintenance, it has a reasonably complete maintenance and repair history, and there's an indie with the powertrain drop tray that's familiar enough with the Phaeton / Touareg / Audi Q7 / Porsche Cayenne / Bentley Continental / Audi A8(?) powertrains of that...

Originally Posted by Scout1 Just finished 2 weeks of driving a 2019 Jetta while on vacation in South Carolina. Thought I'd share my impressions; The car was virtually new when I got it with only 400 miles on the odo and I put close to 2000 miles on it. It had the 1.4 L turbo and 8 speed...

Originally Posted By: terminaldegree When I lived in Wisconsin and the ski boat wintered in an uninsulated barn, I started up on the hose, ran it up to temperature, shutdown. Drained the exhaust, block, transmission cooler, and all other elbows and low points outside the engine, hooked...

Originally Posted By: SavagePatch Originally Posted By: rooflessVW It's on the thicker side of 5W-30, but it still an A5/B5, GF-5, Dexos1 oil. It may work fine, but an A3/B4 oil w/ 502 is what Audi recommends and this doesn't meet it. PDS Info: Vis @ 100C (cSt) 11.0 Vis @ 40C (cSt) 62.8...

My OC plan is going way up next year, but my subsidy is going up enough to make my monthly payment less, and overall it will cost me the same as now with 2 PCP visits in addition to the one included in the plan, and slightly less with one PCP visit. I think the max out of pocket is $600 vs $500...

If you had an Audi with that engine, the first oil and filter change would be at 5k. Won't hurt you to change it early the first two times (5 & 10k) which was specified on VW cars prior to the carefree maintenance program. Get the jug of 0w40 from Walmart or Advance Auto Parts and a Mann (OE)...

I know two people who either had or have a 5.3L that pinged really bad...and a new catalyst or two fixed it on both of them. One of the truck's cat(s) went at around 120k, and the other at about 200k. I know they both went aftermarket, so the cost wasn't unreasonable. Something to look into...