I want oil recommendation for 1.6TDI

chnekn

chnekn

Joined
Mar 25, 2025
Messages
7
Hello everyone, I am joining you from France. I saw that there are people here who think a lot about vehicle oils. That's why I am asking for your opinion on oil selection.

My vehicle is a VW Golf Sportsvan with a 1.6TDI CXXB engine and 100,000 km. It is currently reprogrammed and 150 hp. It is the spare vehicle of our house and is mostly used on weekends. The average annual mileage is around 10,000. The region I live in has a mild climate. In fact, if we exclude a few months of 30+ Celsius air temperature in the summer months, the annual average is around 12-13 degrees. I use my vehicle 50% in the city and 50% on the highway. My house is at the entrance of the highway and the vehicle usually gets on the highway 2-3 minutes after starting. I do not have a very calm driving style. According to the service documents, all oil changes were made with ELF 5W-30 at the Volkswagen service before I bought the vehicle. I plan on doing oil changes once a year. From now on, I am thinking of choosing one of the 3 easily accessible oils below. That's why I am asking you about the ideal option that can protect my engine both in cold and hot conditions. Thanks.


Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 5L/69.90€

Total Quartz Ineo LL 0W-30 5L/55.90€

Shell Helix Ultra Pro. AV-L 0W-30 5L/56.38€

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Can't go wrong with any of them. But I think I'd take ineo LL if I had to choose from those 3. I like the characteristics a bit more than shell and I don't see esp being worth the price jump. How cold does it where you are at in france?. If there are 5w-30's that cost less it might be worth using if it isn't too cold. A 5w is supposed to be good to -30 or -35c
 
@JavierH19
Thanks for your answer. From what I learned from the forums, yes, I think the 3 products are not bad, they are above average. Total oil seems to be between the other two in terms of both price and technical data. I have seen in various forum posts that ESP has very good cleaning properties and low ash content, while Helix Ultra is a GTL based oil that stays in good condition for a long time and is clean itself and has a slightly high ash content. However, there seems to be almost no analysis results about Total and I have no idea how the composition of the oil affects performance/quality. Still, the fact that it is a reputable brand makes me think it will be more than good.

You are right about the 5W. The same products are a few euros cheaper in 5W. It is not freezing cold where I live. However, since I often have to get on the highway and drive before my engine is warm enough, I thought it would be better to use 0W.
 
Not to pick on you but you are on wrong section to ask about passenger car oil. However since you are here, why not try proper diesel engine oil, lite the on for trucks and busses? Mobil Delvac comes to mind
 
In this case, I choose Total ineo, which also has the MB certificate. Thank you.
 
chnekn said:
@JavierH19
Thanks for your answer. From what I learned from the forums, yes, I think the 3 products are not bad, they are above average. Total oil seems to be between the other two in terms of both price and technical data. I have seen in various forum posts that ESP has very good cleaning properties and low ash content, while Helix Ultra is a GTL based oil that stays in good condition for a long time and is clean itself and has a slightly high ash content. However, there seems to be almost no analysis results about Total and I have no idea how the composition of the oil affects performance/quality. Still, the fact that it is a reputable brand makes me think it will be more than good.

You are right about the 5W. The same products are a few euros cheaper in 5W. It is not freezing cold where I live. However, since I often have to get on the highway and drive before my engine is warm enough, I thought it would be better to use 0W.
Click to expand...

If you want the oil to get up to temperature quicker, a higher 40°C viscosity will help. A thin cold oil is worse than a thick cold oil, from a wear protection standpoint.
 
Jetronic said:
If you want the oil to get up to temperature quicker, a higher 40°C viscosity will help. A thin cold oil is worse than a thick cold oil, from a wear protection standpoint.
Click to expand...

Oh. That's interesting. Many people say that a thinner oil will provide less wear because it will lubricate faster until it warms up. But on the other hand, what your're saying makes sense. Thicker oil may heat up faster because of more friction.
 
Jetronic said:
the faster lubrication when cold only applies to oil that is too thick to be pumped, so for a 0W somewhere below -40°C, for a 5W below -35°C.
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My knowledge about oil is only what I learned from forums. The average viscosity value of 0W-30 oil at 40°C is 58.0 cSt, while that of 5W-30 oil is 68.0 cSt, and that of 10W-30 oil is 79.0 cSt. This made me (an uninformed person) think that 0W-30 oil performs its function faster when cold. But now I think about it and even if the oil is thicker, it will reach every point of the engine in less than 1 minute anyway, and in this case, a thin oil will not be of any use except for the first minute. So I will buy standard 5W-30 oil. Moreover, it is cheaper. Another thing I do not understand is the Viscosity index value. For example, 0W-30 oil is 200, but 5W-30 oil is 160-170.
 
chnekn said:
My knowledge about oil is only what I learned from forums. The average viscosity value of 0W-30 oil at 40°C is 58.0 cSt, while that of 5W-30 oil is 68.0 cSt, and that of 10W-30 oil is 79.0 cSt. This made me (an uninformed person) think that 0W-30 oil performs its function faster when cold. But now I think about it and even if the oil is thicker, it will reach every point of the engine in less than 1 minute anyway, and in this case, a thin oil will not be of any use except for the first minute. So I will buy standard 5W-30 oil. Moreover, it is cheaper. Another thing I do not understand is the Viscosity index value. For example, 0W-30 oil is 200, but 5W-30 oil is 160-170.
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SOME 0W 30 have higher quality base oils.
For france 0W/5W will not make a difference.
M1 ESP 5W30 is basically as good as all the 0W.

Shells 0W30 is about the same price as the Motul 5W30. If you still think it matters.
 
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you really should count revolutions of the engine, the oil pump pumps a fixed amount per revolution. well, in practice slightly more with thicker oil as there's less internal leakage and on top of that less oil is needed as ticker oil leaks out the side of bearings less. If anything, a thinner oil is worse after first startup, though there would be a fuel economy benefit. And that last part is why we see those oils used, it helps in the wltp test.

Viscosity index is nothing more than a calculation performed on kv40 and kv100 viscosities. The closer they are together, the higher the viscosity index.
 
Is the 150 hp at the crank or wheels? I assume wheels as tuners generally report power gains at the wheels.

Generally it is recommended to use thicker oil if your engine is making additional HP and actually using that power will create more heat. Just because your coolant temp is under control, doesn’t mean the oil will be. With that said a C3 5w40 may provide better protection with a minimal loss of fuel economy.

I have a CJAA 2.0 TDI and I use HD 10w30 and 5w40 in it.
chnekn said:
Hello everyone, I am joining you from France. I saw that there are people here who think a lot about vehicle oils. That's why I am asking for your opinion on oil selection.

My vehicle is a VW Golf Sportsvan with a 1.6TDI CXXB engine and 100,000 km. It is currently reprogrammed and 150 hp. It is the spare vehicle of our house and is mostly used on weekends. The average annual mileage is around 10,000. The region I live in has a mild climate. In fact, if we exclude a few months of 30+ Celsius air temperature in the summer months, the annual average is around 12-13 degrees. I use my vehicle 50% in the city and 50% on the highway. My house is at the entrance of the highway and the vehicle usually gets on the highway 2-3 minutes after starting. I do not have a very calm driving style. According to the service documents, all oil changes were made with ELF 5W-30 at the Volkswagen service before I bought the vehicle. I plan on doing oil changes once a year. From now on, I am thinking of choosing one of the 3 easily accessible oils below. That's why I am asking you about the ideal option that can protect my engine both in cold and hot conditions. Thanks.


Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 5L/69.90€

Total Quartz Ineo LL 0W-30 5L/55.90€

Shell Helix Ultra Pro. AV-L 0W-30 5L/56.38€

View attachment 270124

View attachment 270125

View attachment 270126
Click to expand...
 
CleverUserName said:
Is the 150 hp at the crank or wheels? I assume wheels as tuners generally report power gains at the wheels.

Generally it is recommended to use thicker oil if your engine is making additional HP and actually using that power will create more heat. Just because your coolant temp is under control, doesn’t mean the oil will be. With that said a C3 5w40 may provide better protection with a minimal loss of fuel economy.

I have a CJAA 2.0 TDI and I use HD 10w30 and 5w40 in it.
Click to expand...
The crank is 150 and it was reported that there was a loss of 15-17hp at the wheels. However, in the stock measurement, 110hp can only be seen at the crank. It was said that there was about 95hp in the stock wheels. This is a Euro6 CXXB engine. As far as I know, oils with a viscosity of 40 are not approved. :unsure:
 
chnekn said:
The crank is 150 and it was reported that there was a loss of 15-17hp at the wheels. However, in the stock measurement, 110hp can only be seen at the crank. It was said that there was about 95hp in the stock wheels. This is a Euro6 CXXB engine. As far as I know, oils with a viscosity of 40 are not approved. :unsure:
Click to expand...

Your engine tune is not approved either (y) :ROFLMAO:

You can use 0/5W40 with no problem.

Here is another german oil site
https://oeldepot24.de/Motoroel-fuer-Pkw__ACEA-C3__5W40__5-L?Sortierung=3#products
 
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chnekn said:
You are right. Lol. Also thanks for this website. The prices seem very attractive. Some oils are almost half the price in France.
Click to expand...

If you buy 15-20L it ends up way cheaper yes. Postage is not free, and VAT is calculated at checkout.
If you drive normally any good C3, 30visc will be fine though.
 
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