owners vs service manual oil recommedation

[huffmuds9320]

Ok in the VW owners manual it says to use 5W-40 or 5w30 if 5W-40 is not available. However in the service manual it gives a chart showing the different grades of oil.

Energy conserving multigrades(all temperatures): 5w30,5W-40,10W-30,10W-40

Multigrades only:
(all temperatures): 5W-50,10W-50,10W-60
(below 15C/60F): 5W-40,5W-40
(-5C to 15C/5F to 60F): 10w30,10W-40
(above -15C/5F): 15w40,15W-50,20W-40,20W-50

As you can see the service manual gives a whole lot more different choices than the owners manual. The manual also says the preferred viscocity is 5W-40 or 10W-40. When chaning or adding oil use 5W-40, 10W-40 or 15W-50. 5w30 Energy conserving should not be used for chaning and for top off only. So the questions I have is if the service manual says 5w30 should not be used, then why does the owners manual list that. Also what exactly does the chart mean by energy conserving multigrades and multigrades only. Because there is no such thing as 5W-40 or 10W-40 energy conserving. Therefore if I were to put that in it would be only good for below 15C/60F? Thanks for your responses.

 

[TallPaul]

IMO the owner's manual is severely dumbed down. I would go with the service manual. If you look at older owner's manuals (15, 20 or more years older), you should see more oil choices.

I don't believe the "energy conserving" has much if anything to do with cold flow properties. Generally a 10wxx should be good down to zero F, but of course there are variations and some 10wXX oils are much better in cold than others. You should look at the tech data sheets on the company web sites. For example Valvoline Maxlife 10w40's pour point is -36C, whereas Valvoline Durablend 10w40 has a pour point of -39. Better than pour point is CCS (a cold cranking viscosity) and best (so I am told) is MRV (which comes closest to simulating what the oil does in the actual cold engine under pressure).

For 5w40 I believe you will be using a synthetic as I don't think that grade is available any other way.

 

[huffmuds9320]

Yeah the owners manual gives like a one size fits all thing. Their recommendations are for all engines I assume. Well here it doesn't get very cold or hot. I did use 5w30 before and it consumed oil(1 quart per 2000 miles). So the manual is right about don't use 5w30. I'm running 10w30 now and it is not consuming any oil right now(about 1000 miles on the oil so far). The service manual probably gives more current information.

 

[dB]

I was using Synpower 5w-40 in my Audi A4 and my wifes Jetta until I realized it was group III. Both cars recommend 5w40. I now use Mobil 1 0W40. I've always used some kind of xw40 in our German cars. They seem to like it.

 

[Bruce T]

TallPaul, does MRV (Mini-Rotary Viscometer) = BPT (Borderline Pumping Temperature)? I know they require the BPT to be set 5 C below the CCS (Cold Cranking Simulator) as a safety feature, so any engine that starts (turns over) will also pump the oil needed for lubrication. Here is a link that includes the SAE J300 chart:

http://www.texacoxpresslube.com/carcare/article_viscosity.html

[ September 14, 2004, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Bruce T ]

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bruce T:
TallPaul, does MRV (Mini-Rotary Viscometer) = BPT (Borderline Pumping Temperature)?

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[Bruce T]

They're apparently related, but not the same thing. I did a Google search and found the following definition:

Mini Rotary Viscometer - An instrument used to measure the borderline pumping temperature (BPT) of engine oils from 0ºC to -40ºC. BPT is the lowest temperature at which engine oil can be supplied in adequate amounts to the oil pump inlet. (see http://www.north-american-lubricants.com/misc_pages/glossary.htm#m )

[ September 14, 2004, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: Bruce T ]

 

[Ken2]

lpcmidst128,

Which engine? 1.8L turbo? Clean it with Auto-Rx and conventional oil, then use only synthetic 5W-40 on VW's list. Those engines are getting serious carbon/sludge when conventional oil has been used. My local VW dealership used bulk 5w30, and that is a bad idea.

V-6 or other engine? I'd still prefer an oil from the list above.

Diesel?...5W-40 diesel lube oil.

Ken

 

[TomJones76]

quote:

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Originally posted by lpcmidst128:
Ok in the VW owners manual it says to use 5W-40 or 5w30 if 5W-40 is not available.

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What car is this?

 

[huffmuds9320]

The car is 02 VW Jetta GLS with the 2.0L engine. If I mention oil consumption and VW, you'll know that its a 2.0 engine.