2013 VW TDI Oil Weight

[Nick1994]

My aunt's 2013 TDI VW Beetle will hit the 10k mark late next week. Her commute is 30 miles each way to work, 25 of it highway with maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of it traffic. The owners manual requires 507 VW spec oil and it doesn't lean on 5w30 or 5w40, it says you can use either one. It comes with 3 years/36,000 miles free maintenance at 10k mile intervals. I've asked the VW dealer if they stock both 5w30 and 5w40 and they said they do.

Now which one should we ask the dealer to use?

 

[HTSS_TR]

5W40 is better for Arizona summer heat, also 5W40 is good for winter when you can see temp drops down to the 30's.

 

[drolds]

5W-40 without question since you live in Phoenix.

 

[Nick1994]

I thought since modern cars are liquid cooled well, oil weight by temperature (the 30 or 40) the outside temperature doesn't matter.

She has a 2004 TDI that is notorious for the camshafts wearing out, especially if the proper weight wasn't used. I know this engine is a whole other animal, just looking for longevity. A gas mileage hit doesn't make a difference, it does great regardless.

 

[Darwin1138]

It doesn't matter which one since the important bit is that both have a HTHS viscocity greater than 3.5. BUT the 5W-40 cannot pass the VW 507.00 spec so you are stuck with 5w30. The dealearship oil probably is a VW 505.01 or in the worst case scenario is just the cheapest oil they could find.

Ask them specifically about the specifications, maybe the "free" oil is not the recommended and you will have to pay extra for the correct oil.

More info here

 

[shDK]

507.00 Can only be a 5w30. There is no such Thing as a 507.00 approved 5w-40.

By the way I have a mate that swears his 2012 2.0 tdi runs best on liquid moly toptec 4200. But I know it only judged by the feel of the engine and not a used oil analysis.

 

[DuckRyder]

USA dealer oil for a TDI should be Castrol SLX professional 5/30. Aka "gold bottle".

 

[Delta]

As others have said the new VW spec is 5w30, IIRC TDI's and even gassers (like mine) used to be spec'd 5w40. The 507 spec isn't even available in 5w40 is there?

I find it interesting looking at the oil analysis on the newer TDI's that use the 5w30. Seems the engines might not be playing well with a thinner oil than previous years. If it were me I'd want the 5w40...

 

[WeenieHutJr]

We use VW #G0521951L 5w30 on all 2008+ Diesels

 

[benjy]

a 10-30 oil should be better as the closer spread on a non real synthetic that the stealer surely uses requires more fragile VII. a real synthetic would be my choice

 

[2004tdigls]

although this is not vw 507 approved it is a low ash dpf friendly oil, some of the guys over at the tdi club are using it as an alternative to the 5w30 oils


http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_ESP_Formula_M_5W-40.aspx