He helped develop VW 504
Oil Selection for 2015 GTI?
- Thread starter McRightclick
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
In Europe was backward compatible since 2009. In the US it is since 2017. The US does not have an official TSB; the EU always had. Both oils are minimum 3.5 HTHS. The difference is in the additive pack, and since the US has ULSG since 2017, using VW504.00 is not an issue in gas engines.
The VW switched 1.8 to VW504.00 in 2017-2018.
Do you know where I could find one?
Really? That's cool.
Do you happen to have a link for the EU TSB for that? Just curious. In your opinion would you run Mobil 1 FS 5w40 over say Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 in the hot Texas summer? I do mostly shorter trips.
Perhaps look into the specific technical requirements for both approvals, and see what the actual differences are. Copies of the Afton handbook are still around.
You may find that much like Longlife-01/Longlife-04 there is minimal difference between 502 00/504 00 that has any real significance in the era of low-sulfur fuels.
Manuals can be bought on erwin, or found on other more VW-specific forums. This place is pretty strict about anything more specific than that.
I have posted excerpts on other threads recently showing the 502/504/508 interchange, but in general you can use 504 in just about any modern VW engine with the full blessing of the VW service manual.
I don't think you'll ever notice a difference between the mobil 1 euro products. If tuned or running ethanol, sure, bump up to 40 grade. But you're not going to see any oil temperature worth worrying about while driving on the street. Keep in mind the factory race cars have been using VW 504 5w30 oils and 270-280F is not a problem for those at all. Coolant temperatures become an issue way before that on a street car with a factory heat exchanger.
Just lower starting TBN in mid/low-SAPS oils that scares some people off.
Your climate shouldn't impact the grade you select, and all VW 502/504 oils have a winter rating that will permit starting in winter anywhere in the US any day of the year.
Both are good options and will be fine. Some people feel that M1 Euro FS 0W-40 has gotten a little diluted down in the last few years with no ester content. M1 ESP 0W-30 (not 5W-30) has ester and PAO base, so it is a very popular selection here for that reason. It will do great for you, as will M1 FS 0W-40.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
I would run Mobil1 ESP 0W30.
Ah, yeah I have the 2019 version in front of me here. It might not be the most up to date but I'm seeing a difference in Phosphorus % wt (0.09 for 502.00 vs 0 for 504.00) and Noack (13% for 502.00 vs 11% for 504.00). Unfortunately there are other tests shown here where they weren't tested side by side. For instance, for 502.00, wear on the exhaust and intake cams, and cylinders and bore polishing was tested but for 504.00, it looks like cam and tappet pitting, cam and tappet wear were measured. Not sure if they're just saying the same thing two different ways. Reading this is making my head hurt.
Similar to what the OP said what was in his manual, mine says the same thing. I keep it bone stock so I don't gotta worry too much about it.
Sweet.
Yeah that's what I'm leaning towards. Seems like one would get the best of both worlds. Better cold flow (not an issue in Texas barring any crazy winter storms), and more shear resistant than many of the "thin" 5w40s that immediately shear into a 5w30. It's splitting hairs, I know, but isn't that why we're all here?
Shear in a Euro oil is a phantom that just won't die. Besides, it is highly dependent on the engine. A Euro approval oil isn't using inferior VII, and early every UOA on here that has supposed shear either has significant fuel dilution or is an analysis from somewhere like Blackstone that simply cannot give a reliable answer for fuel.
Those oils with a 0W winter rating would be beneficial due to better base stocks. But as you note for cold flow, unless you're starting at -30 or below it won't make a bit of a difference. In fact the 5W might be thinner above that temperature.
Those oils with a 0W winter rating would be beneficial due to better base stocks. But as you note for cold flow, unless you're starting at -30 or below it won't make a bit of a difference. In fact the 5W might be thinner above that temperature.
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