Non VW Certified Oils

OrthodoxosK

OrthodoxosK

Joined
Apr 5, 2025
Messages
8
Location
CY
Hello everyone, I have a 2018 VW Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (CZDA) and i am from Cyprus. In the summer i switched from Castrol 5w30LL to Amsoil EU 5W40 FS. I saw a drastic change to the time that takes the oil to cool down, lower highway temps also the engine is quiter and running great. Im doing 10,000km oil intervals now the car has 177,000KM.
I wanted to try the Amsoil SS 0w40 due to the SP rating and the Better LSPI protection because my engine is a TGDI engine but the oil is not VW certified. Anyone else tired it to give some feedback or other oil recommendations? Thanks.
  • 2018 Volkswagen Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (177,000KM) Amsoil EU 5W40FS
  • 2019 Mitsubishi L200 2.4DID (209,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 5W40
  • 1992 Mitsubishi L200 2.5D (301,000KM) Amsoil Premium Protection 20W50
  • 2001 Toyota Hilux LN145R 2.4D (312,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 15W40
  • 2024 Ducati DesertX (5000km) Amsoil Metric 15W50
  • 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4S (12,000KM) Amsoil Metric 15W50
 
OrthodoxosK said:
Hello everyone, I have a 2018 VW Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (CZDA) and i am from Cyprus. In the summer i switched from Castrol 5w30LL to Amsoil EU 5W40 FS. I saw a drastic change to the time that takes the oil to cool down, lower highway temps also the engine is quiter and running great. Im doing 10,000km oil intervals now the car has 177,000KM.
I wanted to try the Amsoil SS 0w40 due to the SP rating and the Better LSPI protection because my engine is a TGDI engine but the oil is not VW certified. Anyone else tired it to give some feedback or other oil recommendations? Thanks.
  • 2018 Volkswagen Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (177,000KM) Amsoil EU 5W40FS
  • 2019 Mitsubishi L200 2.4DID (209,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 5W40
  • 1992 Mitsubishi L200 2.5D (301,000KM) Amsoil Premium Protection 20W50
  • 2001 Toyota Hilux LN145R 2.4D (312,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 15W40
  • 2024 Ducati DesertX (5000km) Amsoil Metric 15W50
  • 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4S (12,000KM) Amsoil Metric 15W50
Click to expand...
That's amazing just due to a brand change. How are you measuring "oil cool down"?

I doubt that anyone "trying" it will be able to determine if the oil meets all the various requirements of an approval. However, Amsoil does state that the oil is acceptable for use where certain approvals are required. Is one of those the approval you need? If so, then it should be acceptable.
 
If it's a 2018 you almost certainly don't have to worry about warranty.

SS is a dexos additive pack rather than euro. Basically like running M1 0w40 supercar instead of M1 0w40 FS.

On a stock 1.4 I think you're just wasting money but why not try it and see how it goes?
 
200,000 NO VW oil except the free change in 2001 BUT i dumped it as soon as i got home for the amsoil i used then that the STEALER would NOT put in!! my wolfsburg was NEW + i never had the sludge issues early models had from dealer oil changes!!
 
Last edited:
Zee09 said:
I fully believe some VW dealerships don't even use oils with the correct approvals...

I have been at my VW dealership when a huge delivery of automotive goodies were delivered from Walmart...
Click to expand...
I think it's super common for dealers to use cheaper bulk oils. My local Subaru dealer (who's also the local VW dealer) definitely uses synthetic blends on oil changes, just to pocket a few extra bucks.

Walmart sells plenty of fine oils, I'd actually trust most of the options there over whatever they're grabbing by the drum to save at volume.
 
OrthodoxosK said:
I have a 2018 VW Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (CZDA) and i am from Cyprus.
I wanted to try the Amsoil SS 0w40 due to the SP rating and the Better LSPI protection because my engine is a TGDI engine but the oil is not VW certified.
Click to expand...

Your 1.4 TSI does not suffer from LSPI.

Not sure about Cyprus, but VW 504 00 oils are generally easily available
and fairly cheap in particular across Europe. There's no single reason to
use (costly) boutique oils. You didn't provide a reason at least. That said,
0W doesn't make sense in Cyprus. You could easily run some 15W-30 if
it was available (and meet VW 504 00). So any VW 504 00 5W-30 would
be ideal for your needs (or any VW 511 00/5W-40). Anything API doesn't
beat VW 504 00/511 00.


OrthodoxosK said:
  • 2018 Volkswagen Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (177,000KM) Amsoil EU 5W40FS
  • 2019 Mitsubishi L200 2.4DID (209,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 5W40
  • 1992 Mitsubishi L200 2.5D (301,000KM) Amsoil Premium Protection 20W50
  • 2001 Toyota Hilux LN145R 2.4D (312,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 15W40
  • 2024 Ducati DesertX (5000km) Amsoil Metric 15W50
  • 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4S (12,000KM) Amsoil Metric 15W50
Click to expand...

Why the heck do you send it with this post and why is not part of your
signature? :unsure: Your account > edit signature. Done. :whistle:
.
 
OrthodoxosK said:
Hello everyone, I have a 2018 VW Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (CZDA) and i am from Cyprus. In the summer i switched from Castrol 5w30LL to Amsoil EU 5W40 FS. I saw a drastic change to the time that takes the oil to cool down, lower highway temps also the engine is quiter and running great. Im doing 10,000km oil intervals now the car has 177,000KM.
I wanted to try the Amsoil SS 0w40 due to the SP rating and the Better LSPI protection because my engine is a TGDI engine but the oil is not VW certified. Anyone else tired it to give some feedback or other oil recommendations? Thanks.
  • 2018 Volkswagen Golf MK7.5 1.4TSI (177,000KM) Amsoil EU 5W40FS
  • 2019 Mitsubishi L200 2.4DID (209,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 5W40
  • 1992 Mitsubishi L200 2.5D (301,000KM) Amsoil Premium Protection 20W50
  • 2001 Toyota Hilux LN145R 2.4D (312,000KM) Amsoil SS Max Duty 15W40
  • 2024 Ducati DesertX (5000km) Amsoil Metric 15W50
  • 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4S (12,000KM) Amsoil Metric 15W50
Click to expand...
I would recommend Mobil1 ESP 5w30 for this engine. The new version is API SP certified with calcium levels below 1000ppm. The EA211 engine is very undemanding on oil and used oil analysis from this engine show pretty good results regardless of the oil used. Out of curiosity what oil temps do you see in Cyprus?
 
kschachn said:
That's amazing just due to a brand change. How are you measuring "oil cool down"?

I doubt that anyone "trying" it will be able to determine if the oil meets all the various requirements of an approval. However, Amsoil does state that the oil is acceptable for use where certain approvals are required. Is one of those the approval you need? If so, then it should be acceptable.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply!
When I said "oil cool down," I meant after I park the car from a long drive and let it idle while watch the oil temp drop from around 100°C down to 95°C or lower. I noticed with the Amsoil 5W40 FS, the oil cools a bit faster compared to when I was using Castrol 5W30 LL where it was very difficult to cool down. Not a super scientific method, just what I observe from the car's oil temp display.


As for the approval, yeah, I saw that Amsoil says it's "recommended where" certain specs are required, but it doesn’t officially carry VW 502/505 approval. That’s what makes me a little unsure. I really want to avoid any risk to the engine long term.
 
Costas00 said:
I would recommend Mobil1 ESP 5w30 for this engine. The new version is API SP certified with calcium levels below 1000ppm. The EA211 engine is very undemanding on oil and used oil analysis from this engine show pretty good results regardless of the oil used. Out of curiosity what oil temps do you see in Cyprus?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely look into the new Mobil1 ESP 5W30 sounds like a great fit, especially if the calcium levels are that low.
Yeah, from what I've read, the EA211 is pretty forgiving with oils, but I’m a bit picky because of the hot weather here and the mileage I have on the car.

In Cyprus during summer, I usually see around 97–110°C oil temps during normal highway cruising (110–120km/h).
What kind of oil temps do you see where you are?
 
930.engineering said:
Your 1.4 TSI does not suffer from LSPI.

Not sure about Cyprus, but VW 504 00 oils are generally easily available
and fairly cheap in particular across Europe. There's no single reason to
use (costly) boutique oils. You didn't provide a reason at least. That said,
0W doesn't make sense in Cyprus. You could easily run some 15W-30 if
it was available (and meet VW 504 00). So any VW 504 00 5W-30 would
be ideal for your needs (or any VW 511 00/5W-40). Anything API doesn't
beat VW 504 00/511 00.




Why the heck do you send it with this post and why is not part of your
signature? :unsure: Your account > edit signature. Done. :whistle:
.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply!
You're right, LSPI isn't a big issue for the 1.4 TSI compared to other TGDI engines, but I had some misfire issues in the past even though the problem is sorted now, it made me a bit more cautious about keeping the engine well protected, especially during short trips and spirited driving.

As for oil availability, Cyprus is a bit tricky we do have VW 504 00 oils, but the selection isn't as wide as mainland Europe and prices are often much higher. That’s why I was considering options like Amsoil, which I can get easily from a local importer also for the higher quality.
About the viscosity, yeah, you're right that a 0W isn't really necessary here we almost never see temperatures below 0°C. I was mainly interested because of the extra specs on the newer 0W-40 formulas, but a good 5W-40 makes total sense.

Appreciate the advice
 
OrthodoxosK said:
Thanks for the reply!
When I said "oil cool down," I meant after I park the car from a long drive and let it idle while watch the oil temp drop from around 100°C down to 95°C or lower. I noticed with the Amsoil 5W40 FS, the oil cools a bit faster compared to when I was using Castrol 5W30 LL where it was very difficult to cool down. Not a super scientific method, just what I observe from the car's oil temp display.


As for the approval, yeah, I saw that Amsoil says it's "recommended where" certain specs are required, but it doesn’t officially carry VW 502/505 approval. That’s what makes me a little unsure. I really want to avoid any risk to the engine long term.
Click to expand...
Wow. That is some oil there. It changes the radiative heat transfer and everything.

It’s not the oil.
 
OrthodoxosK said:
In Cyprus during summer, I usually see around 97–110°C oil temps during normal highway cruising (110–120km/h).
Click to expand...

Not a bug but a feature. VW intended to run near 108°C whenever possible.
Some of the benefits are lower drag (hot will led to thinner oil), reduced oil
dillution (for best possible lubrication and less wear), improved heating during
winter.
When you'll rarely (if not never) see 115°C or 120°C (uphill at +40°C temps)
you'll obviously see the cooling performance is fully sufficient.
Don't get mislead. Your oil temp of up to 110°C is far from being "hot". 97°C
is actually suspiciously cool. I only see numbers below 100°C during winter.
.
 
OrthodoxosK said:
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely look into the new Mobil1 ESP 5W30 sounds like a great fit, especially if the calcium levels are that low.
Yeah, from what I've read, the EA211 is pretty forgiving with oils, but I’m a bit picky because of the hot weather here and the mileage I have on the car.

In Cyprus during summer, I usually see around 97–110°C oil temps during normal highway cruising (110–120km/h).
What kind of oil temps do you see where you are?
Click to expand...
I have the 3 cylinder 1.0 TSI version of the EA211 and in winter my max oil temps where 100°C on the highway(most of the time 85-90°C). Usually I am cruising at 110-120km/h. Now that the temps are going up I saw up to 112°C pushing the engine on an uphill climb at 140km/h. I don't know what engine oil is in my engine right now since the car was serviced at a dealership before I took delivery. Next oil change I am trying Liquy Moly Top Tec 4200 5w30. Here is a VOA of the new version of Mobil1 ESP 5w30

Screenshot_20250428_181240_Chrome.webp
 
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