M1 0w-40 vs. D1/T&SUV vs. Series 2000 0w-30 for VW/Audi 2.0L

[The Critic]

Of the three oils: Mobil 1 0w-40, Mobil Truck & SUV 5w-40, and Amsoil Series 2000 0w-30, which one would be the best choice for a balance of longivity and good fuel economy for a 10K drain in a 2004 VW Jetta 2.0L

This car has a 10 -15 mile one-way daily commute (20-30 miles round trip), and is driven quite conservatively. The first oil/filter change was done at 5000 at the stealership using Castrol 5w-30 and the OE Mann Filter, and is coming up for its next oil/filter change at 10,000 miles soon. The VW recommended service interval for this car is 10,000 miles, after the first and second service at 5,000 and 10,000, respectively.

From the manual, this car calls for a API SL 5w-30 or 5w-40, it does not require the use of a VW 502.00 oil, although I'm sure that the usage of a VW 502.00 oil is preferred.

For the three oils that have come to my mind, here are the pros and cons of each. (please correct me if I'm incorrect)

Mobil 1 0w-40
PROS: Easy to obtain, low price, least negative impact on fuel economy
CONS: Notorious for shearing down into a 30wt, questionable as to whether it would last the full 10,000 miles.

Mobil Truck & SUV 5w-40
PROS: HDEO, long service life, excellent TBN retention, resistance to shearing, easy to obtain, low price
CONS: Thick 40 wt can “kill” fuel economy by as much as 1-2MPG (my estimate)

Amsoil Series 2000 0w-30
PROS: Long Service Life, supposed to have the best fuel economy, excellent TBN retention
CONS: High price, “thickening concerns,” which would destroy the intent of using this oil. (Long service life and excellent fuel economy)

Lastly, I have a question for the owners of the VW/Audi 2.0L engine. If you are using Mobil Truck & SUV 5w-40 or Delvac 1, on average, how many miles per gallon have you “lost?”

All comments are appreciated,
Michael

 

[Mamala Bay]

How about Amsoil 5w-40.

 

[moribundman]

I din't notice a loss of gas mileage when going from M1 0W-40 to M1 5W-40 in my Audi 2.8 V6. Your engine may react differently.

 

[deepsquat]

NONE! That is too short of a one way commute to heat up the oil properly..in short ..even with one of the best oils your money can buy MOBILE 1 you WILL creat a SLUDGE MONSTER try 4-5000 miles with analysis before you start adding more miles to it...don't belive me ..see this wonderful horror story about a Volkwagon !

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=003008

 

[The Critic]

quote:

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Originally posted by deepsquat:
NONE! That is too short of a one way commute to heat up the oil properly..in short ..even with one of the best oils your money can buy MOBILE 1 you WILL creat a SLUDGE MONSTER try 4-5000 miles with analysis before you start adding more miles to it...don't belive me ..see this wonderful horror story about a Volkwagon !

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=003008

---

Deepsquat,
The VW/Audi 2.0L has no sludge problem, as far as I know. The link you just posted was from the infamous 1.8T sludgemonster engine in the Passat; that engine sludges up on practically any oil. In addition, that engine was run on 5-10K OCIs using Castrol Syntec 5w-50, which is not of the same quality has the M1 0w-40 or the Mobil Truck & SUV 5w-40 since the Syntec 5w-50 is a Group III I believe. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

In addition, to my understanding, the 2.0L engine is incredibly “easy on oil;” Terry recently did a 15K run of GC/LC on his daughter's bug which had this engine in it, and the oil still showed plenty of life remaining despite the fact that the engine may have some mechanical problems after the overheating incident.

Michael

 

[deepsquat]

Micheal I was just posting that as an example ..this is the type of abuse that you are planning as far as I am concerned ...If you want to go 15-20000, or more between oil changes hey ...go for it! ..I myself hold Blackstone Labs ( unoffcial)record for a passenger car I went 44,000 miles and the oil could have easily went further. But I did this with a bypass filter and I have done many analysis along the way so I had a feel for how the oil was doing.
My point is, if you want to go 10k miles between changes, manufactures suggestion or not , you really should spend the 13-23$$ that it cost to have an analysis done at say 5k just to see how the engine is doing and then again at the 10k point to see how it held out to the 10k point you are talking about a $20-30,000 vehicle don't try to save $20 on an oil change and have it cost you a $10000 engine

 

[Bryanccfshr]

That is scarey talk. Reminds me of the well worn 3000 mile OCI or else thought process. AN analysis after a "factory" recomended interval would establish if the factory recomendation is safe. IF it is not it is a record and the interval can be lowered. IF the factory recomendations are not sufficient the first analysis will show it. IF they are then you have confidence to continue or even extend. I didn't see where michael said whe wasn't planning on ever doing an analysis.On top of that he is using empirical data already gathered on his engine type.
Sounds like a logic is being used to me Better than my attitude of let it be until I get a letter from the dealer to please come in for service or the oil monitor goes off on the factory fill of my leased Bimmer.( Not really

or maybe I am

It drives Michael crazy.

 

[The Critic]

Yeah, I forgot to say that I was planning to UOA it after one 10K run.

Sorry.

Michael

 

[JohnBrowning]

Michael Wan, I would add one oil to your list of choices! I would switch from Amsoil S2K 0W30 to Amsoil S3K 5W30. I think it would be the best oil for your conditions.The S2K 0W30 is a very inconsistent oil!!! It almost behaves like Redline in that some vechiles love it and some hate it! The S3K 5W30 seems to be much more consistent in turning in great numbers and holding up over long drains!

One thing I am planning on doing this winter that might be of interest is mixing 50/50 M1 0W40 and M1 TSUV 5W40. I did not intend to this it just worked out that way. I am thinking it might well be a good brew. The 0W40 has friction modifers in it for good fuel economy and is a very thin 40Wt. and the TSUV has a better base stock with higher ester content and is a medium 40Wt.!!! The 5W40 should negate the higher iron numbers we sometimes see with the 0W40 and should also keep shearing in check! The 0W40 should enhance the cold weather performance of the 5W40!

 

[deepsquat]

This car has a 10 -15 mile one-way daily commute (20-30 miles round trip), and is driven quite conservatively

at no place did he say he was planning to back it up with analysis ...but he did say, what I quoted up above ..and according to any manufacturer that is sever use! NOT conservitive use...read your manual ..his manual ..or any manual ...that sort of use will beat the holy bej*** out of your oil ...Delvac 1 or not ...just letting him know

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

Originally posted by deepsquat:
This car has a 10 -15 mile one-way daily commute (20-30 miles round trip), and is driven quite conservatively

at no place did he say he was planning to back it up with analysis ...but he did say, what I quoted up above ..and according to any manufacturer that is sever use! NOT conservitive use...read your manual ..his manual ..or any manual ...that sort of use will beat the holy bej*** out of your oil ...Delvac 1 or not ...just letting him know

---

Yes, I was planning on performing an analysis to confirm, but I forgot to mention it.

My Fault.

VW recommends every 10,000 miles, but does say in small print that more frequent oil changes are suggested under severe service, but makes no mention of how often to change the oil while the car is operated under severe service conditions.

Michael

 

[GarrettSocling]

A 15 mile one way conservative commute is 'severe'?

I have a 3 mile one way conservative commute...my UOA have come back just fine. Sure, I have lots of highway driving for work (usually a hundred mile drive once a week, or the equivalent), maybe that does something for it?

I figured lots of stop and go, lots of short trips with turning the car on and off between jaunts, lots of extended idling, towing, low speed high effort dusty...those things are 'severe'?

 

[The Critic]

Anyway, lets get this back on topic, shall we?

Michael

 

[Bio-T]

Michael,

I don't have an Audi, but most that have used the 5W40 Delvac1 in this engine have not complained of a mileage loss.

 

[deepsquat]

hey to each his own as to what is severe... I have just went from a 32 mile commute to a 10 mile commute..as far as i am concerned..my oil no longer gets a chance to heat up and to fully get ride of any moisture...but then again my bypass may just take care of that...so therefore to me I am now driving in severe conditions

Anyway Micheal to answer your question which I never did even attmpt to..sorry..
In my opinion and a lot of other people as well.. Mobile Delvac 1 / Truck and SUV is the best oil you can get your hands on ...so if you are going to go with the 10000 mile interval go with the best ..it is what I run in my bike and I saw no mpg loss

 

[jtantare]

I went from M1 10w30 to M1 5w40 due to an unruly valve train at start up in my Volvo. I didn't see any loss in fuel economy. There was a slight gain over the long term but that has more to do with my right foot.

 

[zoomzoom]

Get GC 0W-30 and forget about it

!

 

[John_E]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Michael Wan:
VW recommends every 10,000 miles, but does say in small print that more frequent oil changes are suggested under severe service, but makes no mention of how often to change the oil while the car is operated under severe service conditions.

---

That is the key issue! Chrysler corporation's owner's manual specifies a half-length OCI (3K mi/5K km instead of 6K mi/10K km) for severe service and goes on to state that 60 or 70 percent of cars fall under the "severe service" rubric. My 1.8T gets new Mobil 1 0W-40 every 3K mi / 5K km; if I had a 2.0, I would push my OCI to 5K mi / 8K km, but that's about it.

 

[Repecat]

I ran Mobil 1 0w-40 in my 1999 Saab V6 for several years, then switched to Delvac. I kept accurate records of fuel consumption both before and after the change and noted no change in overall fuel mileage.

 

[Bugzii]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Michael Wan:
Yes, I was planning on performing an analysis to confirm, but I forgot to mention it.

My Fault.

VW recommends every 10,000 miles, but does say in small print that more frequent oil changes are suggested under severe service, but makes no mention of how often to change the oil while the car is operated under severe service conditions.

Michael

---

Michael -

The VW 2.0L engine is a low stress unit. It's known for oil consumption, which necessitates the use of a thicker oil. If this isn't the case with your engine, I would use Mobil 1 10w-30 year round. Run it for 7500 miles and send in a sample for analysis (with TBN) before you go to 10,000.

As for the short commute, I wouldn't worry about it unless it shows on the UOA.

Niki

[ May 10, 2005, 05:24 AM: Message edited by: Bugzii ]