Hi,
What would you suggest as an oil for a 2002 1.4 litre (3-cyl) TDI, PD injectors, no DPF (but it does have a catalytic converter), fixed-vane turbo, 55kW (75HP) engine?
I've run Castrol EDGE 5W-30 (the LL version) at the manufacturer specified 1yr/15,000km 'fixed' interval, and replaced it approximately yearly, usually at around 15,000km, for the past 4 years or so. I think I've added only ~0.5l (to max. mark) at ~10,000km, since the last change.
The car's sometimes driven on very short trips, 2,10,20km, but sometimes (especially in the winter), on trips of ~150km. The car is in Poland, and the winters where it is aren't very cold -- night time lows are maybe -5C, daytime highs around 0C, maybe a few times a year the lows get to -15C or even -20C, with the highs around -5C or -10C. The car has ~220,000km on the odometer, though I bought it at ~150,000km, and it came into the country with I think ~135,000km. It had a replacement timing belt and unit injectors installed around then. Really, it might even have done 420,000+km to date, who knows, though the computer and odometer matched when I bought it.
The engine has been somewhat clakkety at times lately, and I've been thinking of switching to 5W-40, something like Orlen MaxExpert C3 5W-40, which is fairly inexpensive (compared to say, "Motul 8100 X-Clean 5W-40", or "Motul Specific 505.01 502.00 5W-40"), and doesn't look bad to me. There is some info on it here: http://www.orlenoil.pl/EN/OurOffer/...t=PLATINUM%20MaxExpert%20C3%205W-40.aspx, and a VOA (though about 4 years old) here: https://www.oil-club.ru/forum/topic/12894-orlenoil-platinum-maxexpert-c3-5w-40-svezhee/. I've also considered "Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30" (which is the same as Pennzoil Euro LX in North America) mainly because of the short trips, though it's a bit thinner, and am not sure how it would work out over a year of use. The price is not much higher.
So, what characteristics would you look for in and oil for this engine and type of use? What oil(s) would you suggest and why? Please show all work
, and more technical and scientific answers get more marks.
Thanks in advance.
What would you suggest as an oil for a 2002 1.4 litre (3-cyl) TDI, PD injectors, no DPF (but it does have a catalytic converter), fixed-vane turbo, 55kW (75HP) engine?
I've run Castrol EDGE 5W-30 (the LL version) at the manufacturer specified 1yr/15,000km 'fixed' interval, and replaced it approximately yearly, usually at around 15,000km, for the past 4 years or so. I think I've added only ~0.5l (to max. mark) at ~10,000km, since the last change.
The car's sometimes driven on very short trips, 2,10,20km, but sometimes (especially in the winter), on trips of ~150km. The car is in Poland, and the winters where it is aren't very cold -- night time lows are maybe -5C, daytime highs around 0C, maybe a few times a year the lows get to -15C or even -20C, with the highs around -5C or -10C. The car has ~220,000km on the odometer, though I bought it at ~150,000km, and it came into the country with I think ~135,000km. It had a replacement timing belt and unit injectors installed around then. Really, it might even have done 420,000+km to date, who knows, though the computer and odometer matched when I bought it.
The engine has been somewhat clakkety at times lately, and I've been thinking of switching to 5W-40, something like Orlen MaxExpert C3 5W-40, which is fairly inexpensive (compared to say, "Motul 8100 X-Clean 5W-40", or "Motul Specific 505.01 502.00 5W-40"), and doesn't look bad to me. There is some info on it here: http://www.orlenoil.pl/EN/OurOffer/...t=PLATINUM%20MaxExpert%20C3%205W-40.aspx, and a VOA (though about 4 years old) here: https://www.oil-club.ru/forum/topic/12894-orlenoil-platinum-maxexpert-c3-5w-40-svezhee/. I've also considered "Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30" (which is the same as Pennzoil Euro LX in North America) mainly because of the short trips, though it's a bit thinner, and am not sure how it would work out over a year of use. The price is not much higher.
So, what characteristics would you look for in and oil for this engine and type of use? What oil(s) would you suggest and why? Please show all work


Thanks in advance.
Last edited: