Seeing something is one thing. Accurately ascribing it to a particular cause is another
Non VW Certified Oils
- Thread starter OrthodoxosK
- Start date
I've read that before, from several sources. Some claim PAO offers better heat transfer. Not so sure about that.
"Lower operating temperature through better heat transfer and reduced internal friction"
Anyone remember Tooslick?
"The Series 2000, 0w-30 generated the lowest oil temps I've ever seen in my Audi 100. That includes all the other Amsoil formulations. I've run everything from the Amsoil 0w-30 to their 20w-50 racing oil in this 2.3L motor over the past 12 years....
Very effective friction modifiers and it transfers heat very well.
Ted"
"Lower operating temperature through better heat transfer and reduced internal friction"
Anyone remember Tooslick?
"The Series 2000, 0w-30 generated the lowest oil temps I've ever seen in my Audi 100. That includes all the other Amsoil formulations. I've run everything from the Amsoil 0w-30 to their 20w-50 racing oil in this 2.3L motor over the past 12 years....
Very effective friction modifiers and it transfers heat very well.
Ted"
People see what they want to see is basically it.Seeing something is one thing. Accurately ascribing it to a particular cause is another
All kinds of HTFs. My first real job in the 1980's we blended HTFs. From earlier gen UCON fluids.
Sometimes. Other times what they see might really be reality from their POV, but the cause is not clear. See the Boss filter thread running now.
People are notoriously bad at doing objective testing, it's very difficult to actually have a controlled driving environment outside so they attribute oil temps to the one thing they know they changed rather than the 8 other things they didn't control for.Seeing something is one thing. Accurately ascribing it to a particular cause is another
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
But, but, but, lab testing is not real world!
But, but, but, field testing lacks controls
Thermal conductivity is pretty easy to look up. At least for base oils. Fully formulated mixes, with FM? Little tougher.
My favorite was a local kid that swore up and down that LM 5W40 ran 10 deg cooler than (insert whatever Walmart big-name 5W40 here). I have a graph somewhere posted here with a bunch of temp data with controlled (to a rasonable level) variables that showed that all the 40s I ran were the same w/r to temp for highway driving at least. I will say the HPL seems to run at a bit higher temp and I'd say that jives with the >4.0 HTHS vs. the others which will be <4.0.
Edit. Found it. It does look like the HPL was a tick higher than the others based on this. Was cruising at 70mph a lot in the last week on longer highway trips and noted 221-223 deg F on flat sections with ambients in the mid-80s.
Note the post somewhere has all the variables but bottom line...same road, same place on road, same route taken before measurement, same time after start, same speed (cruise).
MOAR data! Here is an update adding the HPL Euro oil I am current running. Bottom line, no difference here. Any slight variation in the trend line slopes is related to simply not having a full range of ambient temperatures when I ran each oil which is seasonal. Info on the control variables here are listed above somewhere. It just de-bunks a common online comment I read that I tried XYZ oil (same viscosity!) and it lowered my temps 10 degrees - not happening in normal conditions.
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Yeah, I’ve heard that too that thinner oil should technically run cooler. But honestly, after switching to the Amsoil 5W40FS, I just noticed the temps were a bit lower, especially on the highway and the oil seemed to cool down quicker when idling after a drive.
Maybe it’s not just about the viscosity could be the base oil quality or additives. Or maybe even just the old oil wasn’t holding up as well anymore. Not trying to overanalyze it, just sharing what I experienced.
Appreciate the input though always good to hear different perspectives!
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Out of warranty, use what you like. The manual only gives you recommendations, not requirements.
The issue is....you "noticed". Hard to say much with a bit more control over it is all I'm getting at. So many variables in oil temps - see my post above.
Yeah, that’s true. I’m well out of warranty now, so it’s nice having some freedom to choose what works best. That said, I still try to stay close to VW specs when possible .
From what I understand, VW 502 00/505 00 oils are pretty demanding in terms of HTHS (High-Temperature High-Shear) they require at least 3.5 mPa·s, which ensures the oil maintains a strong film at high temps and high load. That’s especially important in hot climates like here in Cyprus.
So even if I go with an oil that isn’t officially approved but meets or exceeds those HTHS values and has a strong additive package, I feel pretty confident to use it.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding but it thought if the oil temp was higher that was because it was absorbing more heat from the engine and therefore the engine would be running cooler
If the oil is hotter, the engine is hotter. Where else would the heat come from? And where is that hotter oil going to?
Absorbing heat from the engine is mostly the job of coolant, the heat capacity, transferrability, and viscosity is far and away better than oil. One oil isn't going to be drastically better than another in terms of heat absorption, but they can be better at reducing more friction.