Bad Idea? Maxlife Dino in my 1.8T Passat

valaker · Nov 22, 2006

Howdy,
My Passat has 112000 miles on the clock, all with me in the drivers's seat. I typically use VW 502.00 syn oils changed between 4-5k intervals (GC or Maxlife syn). I picked up 5 qt. jug of 10w-40 maxlife dino because it it states that it is ACEA A3 rated, which to me seemed a good thing. I just put 4 quarts of it into the sump plus approx. 3/4 of a quart of maxlife syn to top it off. I'm running a giant Wix 51333 filter. My average daily drive is a 30 mile roundtrip 70 mph cruise to work. California-moderate weather (Bay Area).
Any comments/concerns?
-eric

Quattro Pete · Nov 22, 2006

Personally, I would never use dino in a turbo application. Dino's resistance to coking under high temps is much lower than synthetic's. Have you read all the sludge stories in the 1.8T engines? They were a result of dealers using dino oil.

I'd definitely use an oil that is VW 502.00 compliant (or whatever the spec is that superceeded it).

JohnBrowning · Nov 22, 2006

IF you want a cheap oil that will get the job done look at Rotella-T Synthetic at Walamrt. It is designed for commercial turbo diesels and will take the heat just fine with out cokeing.It is usualy $14-$15 a gallon at most Walamrts. You could also try Delo 400 15W40 $6 a gallon it is a GII+ so it is almost a synthetic in the modern sense of the word synthetic. It too is designed for turbo diesels and will not coke easily.

Reg# 43897 · Nov 22, 2006

You are definitely helping out the longitudinal 1.8T with that filter. That's all that I used on my 1.8T Jetta. As regards the oil choice, I'm not so sure. Don't leave it in there all that long and perhaps give your engine a little idle-down time when you get to where you are going. I always used GC.

John.

valaker · Nov 22, 2006

I'll probably dump it at 115K and resume my normal routine. Rotella Syn. will be my summer choice as it does get into the high 90's here. I ran Castrol GTX 10w-40 for about 4 OCI's early in my ownership of the car. My personal belief regarding the sludge issue is that it was an owner neglect/being too relaxed about OCI's, coupled with the vague VW oil requirements/dealers throwing 5w30 brand "x" oil in the sump. After all most vehicles can put up with a certain amount of neglect without sludging at 45,000 miles,right?
Is the A3 cert. not rigorous enough for my VW?

427Z06 · Nov 22, 2006

Quote:

Is the A3 cert. not rigorous enough for my VW?

If it was, why would VW come out with their own specifications?

Max_Wander · Nov 23, 2006

Quote:

Quote:

Is the A3 cert. not rigorous enough for my VW?

Click to expand...

If it was, why would VW come out with their own specifications?

Same reason Honda came out with their own? Personal interests. GM's never used 'Mercon' per se

JohnBrowning · Nov 23, 2006

RTS 5W40 will easialy work year round in your application in California. I use RTS dureing the winter in Michigan. WHen was the last time you heard of a Tractor Trailer haveing sludgeing issues? RTS will work just fine I am preety sure RTS does not see VW as a large enough market segment to spend money to test and certify to VW's spec.!

valaker · Nov 23, 2006

I think RTS will be my go-to from here on (though I have 9 qts GC left from my Autozone raid awhile back when they were under 5 dollars each). I'm not really into 6 dollar a quart oil, so i'm investigating some alternates to the 502.00 oils which are generally not available in wal-mart economy jugs, at least since the demise of TSUV 5-40 (which wasn't vw certified, but certainly capable), which has yet to return to any stores that I frequent under its new name.

Gene K · Nov 23, 2006

Pssst... Pssst... Whisper... Whisper... 5w30 Saab Turbo Oil that last I heard was around $10.00 a 4L Jug from the Saab Dealer. Its only ACEA A1 but designed for the oil destroying 2.3L 9-5.

Gene K · Nov 23, 2006

Forgot to mention its a Synthetic Blend but seeing how its imported from Europe this could mean Group III/IV. Its also got a very robust add pkg. There is a UOA or VOA on it here somewhere.

LargeCarManX2 · Nov 23, 2006

I think your fine with it. Maxlife Dino has some group 4 and 5 in it is the word on the board. Plus, with the quart of group 3 you put in your fine. Do a uoa at 5 K and pass the results on to us please.

valaker · Nov 24, 2006

Any other info/proponents for SAAB turbo oil? 10 bucks a gallon is really speaking to me! My Passat has been a wonderful car, but it will be retired in a few years- thus my reasoning for finding a nearly-good-enough but lower-cost oil. AmI discriminating against my aging car?

Marshalus · Nov 25, 2006

I only run VW502 synthetics in my 1.8T Passat, but I'm paranoid

CosmicFlash · Nov 26, 2006

Quote:

I only run VW502 synthetics in my 1.8T Passat, but I'm paranoid

Me too

Don't cheap out on some non-specd oil. Keep in mind you've got a bit time on that 8 year/unlimited mile sludge warranty. Use a non-specd oil and you're SOL.

pipebender · Nov 26, 2006

5w30 Saab Turbo Oil is a blend.
0W-30 is full syn.

valaker · Nov 27, 2006

Quote:

Quote:

I only run VW502 synthetics in my 1.8T Passat, but I'm paranoid

Click to expand...

Me too

Don't cheap out on some non-specd oil. Keep in mind you've got a bit time on that 8 year/unlimited mile sludge warranty. Use a non-specd oil and you're SOL.

I'm SOL regardless due to my spotty OCI recordkeeping. My rationale is that I've reached a point where my ownership of the vehicle or at least its status as a primary driver is nearing the end. I plan to go at least 2 more years and get to at least 150K before i retire it. I'm just trying to investigate other avenues other than bow down to the VW gods and buy "special" oil. As stated before, I'm using the last 9 qts of GC on my next two OCI's and than stocking up on many gallons of Rotella Syn 5w-40 and calling it a day

Marshalus · Nov 27, 2006

While Rotella Syn 5w-40 isn't VW502 certified, I can't imagine you'd have sludging issues using it compared to anything else. I would think with proper OCI the difference between using VW502 approved oils and any other full synthetic (#@$%!, even some of the 502 approved oils are not "full") is minimal.

My feeling about the VW502 certification is mostly VAG trying to make it difficult for DIYers to change their own oil and stay under warranty... and thus force them to go to the dealer for service. That said, I do it myself but stay within the 502 spec using GC 0W-30.

SSQ · Nov 27, 2006

My local VW dealer use 0w30 Pennzoil dino for the 1.8T. Although I tend to bring my own oil in, others have been running that oil. Doesn't seem like there's a problem there.

I usually recommend people to use Synpower 5w40 for the 1.8t

Finklejag · Nov 27, 2006

Quote:

My local VW dealer use 0w30 Pennzoil dino for the 1.8T. Although I tend to bring my own oil in, others have been running that oil. Doesn't seem like there's a problem there.

I usually recommend people to use Synpower 5w40 for the 1.8t

What dealer is this? Yes, Synpower 5W-40 was the first VW502 spec oil in the US, besides the Syntec from the dealer. It showed up before Mobil 1 0W-40. It's a good oil.

Bad Idea? Maxlife Dino in my 1.8T Passat

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