Oil for 2015 GTI

[pauliewa]

Hi guys, just took ownership of my first VW, a 4 door GTI in manual. Looking for a good oil, preferably a group 4. Owner's manual calls for 5-30 or 5-40. I live near the coast in Northern California. My driving style is somewhat hard and fast. I will be driving 12-15k miles a year, on a blend of city, freeway and rural roads...ie a mixture of short, medium and long trips. Mobil 1 0w40 is out, as the dealership doesn't back that viscosity and thus won't warranty the engine with its use. My initial research has led me to motul xcess 5w-40, though I'm here to hear other suggestions as well.

-Will

 

[Quattro Pete]

Congrats on a new ride!

And I'm sorry to hear that your dealer is being a jerk. The grade doesn't really matter. What matters for warranty purposes is that the oil meets the vw 502.00 spec, which Mobil 1 0w-40 does, and so does castrol Edge 0w-40.

I really don't have any good suggestions for you for group IV 5w-40 oils. Personally I use Pennzoil Euro 5w-40, but it's not group IV as I don't think that matters one bit, but we all have different preconceived notions in our heads.

Welcome to BITOG.

 

[badtlc]

Keep it simple. Just get Mobil 1 0W-40 and do 10k OCIs. No need to worry.

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted By: pauliewa
Mobil 1 0w40 is out, as the dealership doesn't back that viscosity and thus won't warranty the engine with its use. My initial research has led me to motul xcess 5w-40, though I'm here to hear other suggestions as well.

-Will


That garbage has got to stop. What is this, the third thread lately on this nonsense?

1. Go back to that idiot dealer and ask them what spec the oil needs to meet. Help them to find it in your owner's manual if they have a problem.

2. Show them that spec on the Mobil 1 0W-40 oil container.

3. Go to a different dealer from then on.

How did it come up in conversation that they specifically told you that Mobil 1 0W-40 would violate your warranty? Did you ask or did they preemptively tell you?

 

[pauliewa]

I know the principle of the matter is mostly at play here, but is it really worth fighting for Mobil 1 0W-40? Is it the best price/performance option for me? Bear in mind I'm dealing with Fahrenheit temps of 20-100, so is there even the need for 0 protection?

I will contest it if need be, whether with this dealer or another.

Also, I'm not quite as married to a group 4 oil as I let on!

 

[WankelRotorHead]

I'm confused how a dealer can decide to deny a warranty if you use a product that is VW approved for the application...

I would tell the dealer to pound sand and use what I want that meets VW's requirements.

Mobil 1 0w-40 would be my first choice, it is mostly Group IV but to be honest the line between Group III and Group IV is pretty blurry these days. I would have no reservation using Castrol Edge or Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w-40 either.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: pauliewa
Mobil 1 0w40 is out, as the dealership doesn't back that viscosity and thus won't warranty the engine with its use.


LOL. On what grounds exactly? It's thicker at most temperatures that you will see in Northern California than any 5w30, yet it is verboten by VW dealer?

Stupid.

You do know that the 0w spec is tested at -35C, don't you? That doesn't say much about what it will be like at 0C.

How is it that so many authoritative sources can know so little about oil?

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted By: pauliewa
Mobil 1 0w40 is out, as the dealership doesn't back that viscosity and thus won't warranty the engine with its use.

-Will


Ask them what they mean. If they say that it is too thin, turn around and walk out never to return.

However, if you like pain, stay there and show them the current approved oil list, highlighting your specific spec:

http://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/Audi-1997-2014-Technical-Service-Bulletin.pdf

Ask them how it can be that an oil on the approved list could violate the warranty.

 

[pauliewa]

I will get on the horn and resolve this, as I'd like to flush the factory fill (I'm at 1200mi). Given my location, should I consider 5w30?

 

[kschachn]

Consider whatever oil you wish that meets the required specification for your specific model and engine.

Originally Posted By: pauliewa
I will get on the horn and resolve this, as I'd like to flush the factory fill (I'm at 1200mi). Given my location, should I consider 5w30?

 

[pauliewa]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
Consider whatever oil you wish that meets the required specification for your specific model and engine.

Originally Posted By: pauliewa
I will get on the horn and resolve this, as I'd like to flush the factory fill (I'm at 1200mi). Given my location, should I consider 5w30?


Right, just looking for a bit of advice. I'm far from an expert on this stuff.

 

[badtlc]

a 5W30 that meets the VW spec is kinda hard to find. The Mobil 1 0W40 is arguably the best oil in the world right now on the consumer market. It meets all the toughest and strictest certifications out there. you won't find an oil that carries more certifications and approvals.

 

[skyactiv]

You can get German made Liqui-Moly Synthoil Premium 5W-40 which is a real synthetic from Napa. Liqui-Moly makes some group III synthetic oils labeled as Synthese Technology.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
a 5W30 that meets the VW spec is kinda hard to find.


Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 meets VW 504/507. It's about 11% thinner at operating temp than the 0w40 (12.1 vs 13.5). It's a whole different animal on the add pack and TBN though being low SAPS.

The OP mentioned 20F temps. Using Widman's calculator and Mobil 1 published data sheets, both 5w30 ESP and 0w40 are over 1000cSt at -10C. I don't see how anything so thick so be too thin for usage.

http://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/Operational.html

http://www.exxonmobil.com/pdssearch/search.aspx

 

[Brons2]

Mobil 1 does also have a 5w40 ESP with 0.6% ash but it does not carry any VW specifications. It does carry MB 229.51 though which is a tough spec. Don't think this will last more than 5K OCI in a VW TSI engine, but it would probably protect well.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_ESP_Formula_M_5W-40.aspx

 

[mjoekingz28]

Looks like you have a dilemna. My truck only prefers 5w30 over 10w30 as the only viscosities and requires the starburst on the front of the container. Says no 10w40 or 20w50, but says nothing about specs and requirements such as SM or SN or ilsac, dexos, etc.

So why is it that the VW requirements differ from the owners manual?

 

[kschachn]

What?? Did you post this on the wrong thread?

There is no dielema btw.

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Looks like you have a dilemna. My truck only prefers 5w30 over 10w30 as the only viscosities and requires the starburst on the front of the container. Says no 10w40 or 20w50, but says nothing about specs and requirements such as SM or SN or ilsac, dexos, etc.

So why is it that the VW requirements differ from the owners manual?

 

[pauliewa]

No dilemma. Just a dealership that's about to either lose a customer or lose an argument. Mobil 1 0W-40 good to go for 10k OCIs?

 

[pbm]

If that were my new GTI it would get Mobil 1 0w40 or Castrol 0w40 (M1 would be my preference) and let that dealer mire in his ignorance....

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Says no 10w40 or 20w50, but says nothing about specs and requirements such as SM or SN or ilsac, dexos, etc.

I just looked it up. You're right. Those are some pretty vague or basic recommendations. I guess they're OK with you using any API oil that was not deemed obsolete at the time when your truck was made.