Hi, I am new to this site and have a few questions about my newly acquired car. I picked up a 2003 VW GTI VR6 (24V) with 90,000 kms (56,000 miles) on it. I have never owned a German vehicle before and I am about to do my first oil change on it in a couple days. It runs excellent and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I am curious as to what grade of oil (0w-30, 0w-40, 5w30, 5w-40, etc) I can run safely in this car as it seems any of them will work. I want an oil that I can run year round with a temperature variance of +30 celsius in summer to -40 celsius in winter (I live in Canada). I would like the oil to provide great performance with good fuel economy and protect my engine during extreme cold starts, I plan on running an 8000km (5000 mi)service interval. I was looking at a few different oils. 0w30 German Castrol, 5W-40 Amsoil European Car Formula, and Lubro Moly 0W-40 Synthoil Energy. Price does not matter to me, but I am very curious which oil would provide the best of both worlds during winter and summer. I am also consider using a Mann oil filter and was wondering your thoughts about them. Also, does my car only need to have oil the meets VW 502.00 standards, or would a 505.01 oil make a difference. Thanks in advance.
GTI VR6 Oil
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Mann makes great filters.
Hm, -40C to +30C, that pretty much means the 5w40s are out (due to the low-end). Look into the 0w30, 5w30 and 0w40s.
It's spec'd for 502.00, but oils that are 502.00/505.01 are generally tested to higher standards.
I'd spring for Redline. Contact Dave @ Redline, tell him your operating conditions and driving style, see which he recommends.
/EDIT: There might be some ACEA and API oil that are allowed to, check the owner's manual.
Hm, -40C to +30C, that pretty much means the 5w40s are out (due to the low-end). Look into the 0w30, 5w30 and 0w40s.
It's spec'd for 502.00, but oils that are 502.00/505.01 are generally tested to higher standards.
I'd spring for Redline. Contact Dave @ Redline, tell him your operating conditions and driving style, see which he recommends.
/EDIT: There might be some ACEA and API oil that are allowed to, check the owner's manual.
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I wouldn't waste your money on the Lubro-Moly 0W-40. It meets some pretty old BMW and Mercedes specs.
I would recommend the Castrol Syntec 0W-30. You guys can pick it up at Wal-Mart in the 51st State. Do a couple runs with that oil, and then send it in for a Used Oil Analysis. Or Mobil 1 0W-40 would work also.
Frankly, with that temp swing, I would use a lighter viscosity oil in winter and a heavier oil in summer. Change the oil twice a year, and you're golden.
-30C is the problem area - you want a good synthetic with a very low pour point to prevent oil circulation problems at start-up in winter, unless you have heated garage.
I would recommend the Redline 0W40 for winter, with its -60C pour point (about the best you will find), and run the 0W30 German Castrol in summer (which is actually much more like a 5W-40 oil), and is 502 compliant if that's important to you.
-30C is the problem area - you want a good synthetic with a very low pour point to prevent oil circulation problems at start-up in winter, unless you have heated garage.
I would recommend the Redline 0W40 for winter, with its -60C pour point (about the best you will find), and run the 0W30 German Castrol in summer (which is actually much more like a 5W-40 oil), and is 502 compliant if that's important to you.
The GC is a good suggestion. The price has come down significantly in Canada. A 5 litre jug would be nice, but the price coming down at all is something I'll gladly accept.
Originally Posted By: OldBaldy
Frankly, with that temp swing, I would use a lighter viscosity oil in winter and a heavier oil in summer. Change the oil twice a year, and you're golden.
-30C is the problem area - you want a good synthetic with a very low pour point to prevent oil circulation problems at start-up in winter, unless you have heated garage.
I would recommend the Redline 0W40 for winter, with its -60C pour point (about the best you will find), and run the 0W30 German Castrol in summer (which is actually much more like a 5W-40 oil), and is 502 compliant if that's important to you.
He could run Red Line 0w40 year-round... I expect it to handle the spirited driving (I assume, who drives a GTI and doesn't romp it) better.
[URed Line]http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=126&pcid=21[/URed Line]
Frankly, with that temp swing, I would use a lighter viscosity oil in winter and a heavier oil in summer. Change the oil twice a year, and you're golden.
-30C is the problem area - you want a good synthetic with a very low pour point to prevent oil circulation problems at start-up in winter, unless you have heated garage.
I would recommend the Redline 0W40 for winter, with its -60C pour point (about the best you will find), and run the 0W30 German Castrol in summer (which is actually much more like a 5W-40 oil), and is 502 compliant if that's important to you.
He could run Red Line 0w40 year-round... I expect it to handle the spirited driving (I assume, who drives a GTI and doesn't romp it) better.
[URed Line]http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=126&pcid=21[/URed Line]
I would forget about chasing VW standards and use oils BobFout and Finklejag suggested. Many oils are are superior to 502-tested oils but are never tested. Some good oils such as GC were not on the 502 list and now are. Some oils that were on the list have dropped off. The spec is more a function of which company is willing to pay the huge expense of having their oils tested than anything else.
UOA results have shown that simply relying on 502 testing is not good enough in some engines (such as the VW/audi 2.0 FSI) but they may be good enough for other engines. I would use a proven oil (which means holds up based on real-world used oil analysis) and not just rely on VW's specs.
UOA results have shown that simply relying on 502 testing is not good enough in some engines (such as the VW/audi 2.0 FSI) but they may be good enough for other engines. I would use a proven oil (which means holds up based on real-world used oil analysis) and not just rely on VW's specs.
Personally, I would NOT run the GC in winter at -30C. I think the redline 0W-40 is a much better suggestion, to get the startup flow going quickly.
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons
)
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons
)Originally Posted By: OldBaldy
Personally, I would NOT run the GC in winter at -30C. I think the redline 0W-40 is a much better suggestion, to get the startup flow going quickly.
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons )
GC 0w30 and M1 0w40 have almost identical viscos from 0 to 100C, why would they be significantly different at -30C?
Personally, I would NOT run the GC in winter at -30C. I think the redline 0W-40 is a much better suggestion, to get the startup flow going quickly.
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons
)GC 0w30 and M1 0w40 have almost identical viscos from 0 to 100C, why would they be significantly different at -30C?
Originally Posted By: BobFout
Originally Posted By: OldBaldy
Personally, I would NOT run the GC in winter at -30C. I think the redline 0W-40 is a much better suggestion, to get the startup flow going quickly.
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons )
GC 0w30 and M1 0w40 have almost identical viscos from 0 to 100C, why would they be significantly different at -30C?
-30C is a little different from 0C, and using the manufacturers own specs, the Redline flows another ~18C colder than GC. I'd suggest that's a fairly significant difference in the REALLY cold temps that the OP experiences.
Originally Posted By: OldBaldy
Personally, I would NOT run the GC in winter at -30C. I think the redline 0W-40 is a much better suggestion, to get the startup flow going quickly.
Summer use is debatable between the Redline and the GC, IMO....I think either option (or any of many others) is fine.
I would always stick with a VW spec oil if I had a reasonable choice, unless there is clear UOA proof of something better. (and there is debate about the validity of UOA for THOSE comparisons
)GC 0w30 and M1 0w40 have almost identical viscos from 0 to 100C, why would they be significantly different at -30C?
-30C is a little different from 0C, and using the manufacturers own specs, the Redline flows another ~18C colder than GC. I'd suggest that's a fairly significant difference in the REALLY cold temps that the OP experiences.
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I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20, but a lot of people wil try to talk you out of it. That leaves lighter 5w30 weights, which include Pennzoil Platinum and Edge. I can't think of a 0w30 that would be very good at -30c.
Remember, the cold specs for different visc vary even if they carry the same W rating, that is Mobil 1 0w-40 is allowed to be thicker in their cold test than a 0w30 is.
GC, a thick 30, would be the best single choice if you don't want to change oils for seasons. Your engine might wear fine on a light 5w30, like Edge or PP, you just have to do a used oil analysis after running it to find out.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20, but a lot of people wil try to talk you out of it. That leaves lighter 5w30 weights, which include Pennzoil Platinum and Edge. I can't think of a 0w30 that would be very good at -30c.
Remember, the cold specs for different visc vary even if they carry the same W rating, that is Mobil 1 0w-40 is allowed to be thicker in their cold test than a 0w30 is.
GC, a thick 30, would be the best single choice if you don't want to change oils for seasons. Your engine might wear fine on a light 5w30, like Edge or PP, you just have to do a used oil analysis after running it to find out.
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
As he should do. Nice cool winter air
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
As he should do. Nice cool winter air
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
At -30c I suspect he'll see reduced oil temps and a sump visc that's completely appropriate.
You're trying to imply that these cars never see 30 weight oil in normal use?
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I agree w/Blady, changing viscs for seasons is best.
At -30c, you should actually run a synthetic 0w-20,
And what happens if he decides to drive the snot out of this GTI on a nice winter day?
At -30c I suspect he'll see reduced oil temps and a sump visc that's completely appropriate.
You're trying to imply that these cars never see 30 weight oil in normal use?
Thanks for the replies. Thinking about trying some gc for this oil change and see how it goes. It's nice to see it's so easily available at Wal-Mart in Canada. What about running 5w-40 amsoil euro in the summer?
Personally, I'd run the GC before the Amsoil.
Normally, I'd explain my point by using the example of how I'm using 5w-20 for winter in two cars that spec 5w-40 in Europe. I'm doing this because the spec oil is overly thick in cold (even GC), but that would maybe considered "threadjacking".
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Normally, I'd explain my point by using the example of how I'm using 5w-20 for winter in two cars that spec 5w-40 in Europe. I'm doing this because the spec oil is overly thick in cold (even GC), but that would maybe considered "threadjacking".
Actually, I'd call it a useful point of view. 5w-20 is permissible in my Audi in cold winters, and they don't get much colder than here. So, the thought has crossed my mind. GC might be a good compromise for an all year oil, but I suppose it's hard to find something that's ideal under any and all circumstances.
Normally, I'd explain my point by using the example of how I'm using 5w-20 for winter in two cars that spec 5w-40 in Europe. I'm doing this because the spec oil is overly thick in cold (even GC), but that would maybe considered "threadjacking".
Actually, I'd call it a useful point of view. 5w-20 is permissible in my Audi in cold winters, and they don't get much colder than here. So, the thought has crossed my mind. GC might be a good compromise for an all year oil, but I suppose it's hard to find something that's ideal under any and all circumstances.
You should freezer test some oils, I think you'd be surprised how thick even a 10w30 or 5w-40 is in cold.
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