Redline 5w40 . . . how does it compare?

crew219 · Dec 14, 2005

To oils such as GC, Motul 0w40, Amsoil 5w40, Mobil 0w40 . . .

Searched and couldn't find too much info on this oil. Is it a full ester synth or ester / PAO blend? HTHS info?

Here's a VOA from 2003 . . .
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000039

Considering this oil because of the nice lump of moly.

Currently been running M1 0w40 with a dose of VSOT & LC . . . looking for an oil that I won't need to supplement with additives.

Engine is an Audi 2.0t FSI.

Dave

crew219 · Dec 14, 2005

Found the HTHS . . . 4.6

JAG · Dec 15, 2005

http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/4.pdf
http://www.redlineoil.com/products_motoroil.asp?pvID=51&prodID=45&subcatID=14

Above should answer your questions. I've used Redline motor and tranny oil. It caused leaks in a new Subaru engine and tranny I had. Not only that, it's expensive. IMO, Redline oils should be used with caution (seal issues, possible issue of using it too early during break-in) and are not worth it IMO for passenger vehicles considering all of the factors...racing maybe.

Of those listed above, I've used all but Motul 0W-40 which is ester based (not sure how much). It uses a different kind of ester than Redline uses. And unlike Redline, that Motul oil has true approvals, taking some risks out of the picture. It has a propensity to sheer in certain engines and your 2.0T is probably one of the engines that will sheer it, given how the 1.8T sheers many 0W-40 and 5W-40 oils. If an oil sheers down might as well use something that starts out slightly thinner like GC. M1 0W-40 has been discussed to death here already.

GC and Amsoil 5W-40 are proven, high performers. Amsoil 5W-40 is the only 0W-40 or 5W-40 I've seen in UOAs on this site that the VW 1.8T engine didn't sheer. GC noticeably reduced turbo lag in my VW 1.8T compared to all 40 weight oils I've used. It's price is great for what you get and it meets the necessary approvals for your engine. There are many factors to consider with oil choice in a turbo VW/Audi and GC seems to be one of the best bets given all of the factors, IMO. But if you have different priorities than I do, you may correctly come to a different conclusion than I have.

Blake Sobiloff · Dec 15, 2005

Redline is a Group V oil (synthetic esters from plant material), so it is extremely resistant to shear. However, I believe that the 5W-40 is the one and only viscosity of theirs that has VIIs, so the VIIs will shear.

I just started using it in a six year old motorcycle that's based on a 20 year old design and haven't had any seal compatibility issues. I'd suggest JAG's experience is from faulty seals, not the oil itself.

LC will extend the life of ANY oil. I don't consider it a weakness of any oil that its life can be extended with the use of LC. Using LC with an expensive oil like Redline will allow you to keep the oil in service longer and make the oil more economical. Let UOAs guide you through extended drains.

sprintman · Dec 15, 2005

Do a search in the UOA section for Tyrolkid. He uses that oil in a high horsepower tubo engine with awesome results, basically wear free. If I could choose three oil's to fit any circumstance it would be that along with Amsoil 5W40 and Delvac 1.

crew219 · Dec 15, 2005

sprintman said:
Do a search in the UOA section for Tyrolkid. He uses that oil in a high horsepower tubo engine with awesome results, basically wear free. If I could choose three oil's to fit any circumstance it would be that along with Amsoil 5W40 and Delvac 1.

Ahh Mike Pancheri (sp) . . . good ole Mike from Tyrolsport . . . great guy . . . spoken to him many times about suspension and brakes. Nice to see that he is using it.

Also wondering if I should be considering 5w30 Redline based on its HTHS #s . . . . still close to that of M1 0w40 and other 502 approved oils.

Thanks for the input. Been a longtime user of D1 & switched over to GC recently. Gold GC is all that is left and TBH, it has lost some of its allure by not being green. My dealership uses M1 0w40 included with the free maintenance plan but it only covers 10k OCIs . . . always looking for something different.

Dave

buster · Dec 15, 2005

I like M1 SUV and Amsoil 5w-40.

JohnBrowning · Dec 15, 2005

I used Redline 5W40 in my 2003 Toyota Camry and loved it. I had cold starts that saoked to -24°F over night and I had to start at -18°F. It was quite,smooth and gave great gas milage. I have never had Redline cause any problems in any vechile I have ever owned. A manufaturer would have to have grossly inferior seal for any oil made for automotive use to case any issues!

moribundman · Dec 15, 2005

quote:

Also wondering if I should be considering 5w30 Redline based on its HTHS #s . . . . still close to that of M1 0w40 and other 502 approved oils.

I would expect RL 5w30 to be a better choice for the 2.0T than RL 5W-40. The 2.0T engine requires VW 504/507 oil in Europe. While the same engine requires VW 502 oil in the US, my point is that all VW 504/507 oils (that I have seen) have HTHS 3.5, and they are also 5w30 oils. That means that VW/Audi believe that HTHS 3.5 is the best compromise in terms of protection and efficiency in this engine.

RL 5W-40 has an rather high HTHS of 4.6, while RL 5w30 has HTHS 3.8, which is way sufficient for the 2.0T. RL 5w30 also does not contain and VIIs, from what I hear.

The only caveat I can think of would be a high sulfated ash content. Make sure not to use an oil that exceeds a sulfated ash content of 1.5% (VW 502 limit). Otherwise you may shorten the life of emissions-related components (cats, O2 sensors).

BlueWorld · Dec 15, 2005

quote:

It [Motul] has a propensity to sheer in certain engines

I haven't seen anything that shows the current formulation of 8100 to shear.

Care to share?

The Motul is the only Group V, 100% ester base stock oil with 502 aprroval, if you care.

I also have a 2.0t and would run Redline if I could get my dealership to put it in at the 10K intervals, but they scream 502.....502.....502...no warranty...no warranty. I'm doing 5k OCIs, but want don't want to switch oils each OCI, so I'm going to run Motul for the first 50K and see what happens.

After 50K, I'll run Redline to see how the UOAs compare to the Motul.

There is a Motul 8100 group buy going if you're interested -
http://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/39461.phtml

crew219 · Dec 15, 2005

Moribundman: interesting about the sulfated ash . . . any idea where to find that info?

Don't know if you've read his posts but A4NCAR ran redline 5w30 exclusively until he switched to Motul 0w40. He seemed to have quite good wear numbers & etc.

Also, would you still recommend the 5w30 over the 5w40 in a chipped application?

Dave

moribundman · Dec 15, 2005

Sorry, I don't know the sulfates ash figure for RL oils. You could ask RL, I suppose, or maybe someone here knows. I have been considering RP 5W-40 for my 2.8 V6 Audi for a while, but looking at RL 5w30 I think I may actually go with that instead. Its HTHS is almost identical to the one of M1 5W-40 (3.9), which I am currently using.

Compare viscosity of 10.9 cSt for RL 5w30 with 15.1 cSt for RL 5W-40 at 100 C, which is about normal operatinng temperature. I think the 5w30 is sufficient.

Don't know about your chip. How many extra horses over stock does your engine make?

crew219 · Dec 15, 2005

Not chipped yet . . . . but the est figures are +50hp +100 ft/lbs for REVO.

I will mention that I am doing 5k OCIs . . . with that interval, would the VIIs present in 5w40 even be an issue? I'd almost be tempted just to continue running GC over the RL 5w30.

Dave

crew219 · Dec 15, 2005

quote:

After 50K, I'll run Redline to see how the UOAs compare to the Motul.

There is a Motul 8100 group buy going if you're interested -
http://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/39461.phtml

http://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/39461.phtml<hr /></blockquote>

Were you looking at the 5w40 redline specifically?

Already contacted Sia about the Motul GB . . . I'm not that interested in buying 20 quarts at once even if it is at a substantially lower price.

Just not quite ready to make the jump to $10 oil . . . . ready to make the jump from $4 GC + VSOT to $7 RL tho.

What are your thoughts on the 5w40 motul? From what I've read, it doesn't seem to be anything that special.

Dave
[/QUOTE]

boxcartommie22 · Dec 15, 2005

iam using redline and motul chrono 10w40 mix..motul is a double ester all ester with no pao's

boxcartommie22 · Dec 15, 2005

motul 300v chrono 10w40

BlueWorld · Dec 15, 2005

quote:

Were you looking at the 5w40 redline specifically?

For winter yes, then probably the 10w40 for summer just to see if the VIIs make much difference in the 5w40.

quote:

What are your thoughts on the 5w40 motul? From what I've read, it doesn't seem to be anything that special.

No magic. No doubt a very good oil, but not inspiring enough to try over GC. If I'm going to pay Motul prices, I want a full ester base stock.

quote:

motul 300v chrono 10w40

I thought about the 300v after 50k too.

$13 a litre, now there's a boutique oil.

vad · Dec 15, 2005

I don't think that you'll see any benefits over GC, even in a turbo motor.
Especially considering the 5K OCI.

I've been running RedLine in my non-turbo for over 5 years. Finally made my decision to switch to GC.
RedLine is simply not worth the extra $ under the non-racing conditions.

abimanyu · Dec 15, 2005

You could try the ELF Full Synthetic that meets the VW specs. But I think 10 bucks per liter. If you can afford an Audi, surely you can afford $60 bucks of oil every six months or which ever comes first? Yes?

crew219 · Dec 15, 2005

quote:

You could try the ELF Full Synthetic that meets the VW specs. But I think 10 bucks per liter. If you can afford an Audi, surely you can afford $60 bucks of oil every six months or which ever comes first? Yes?

Yes I can easily afford it but IMO there's no point in throwing away money on something that offers minimal or no performance benefit.

Honestly this thread is just making me want to stick with GC in some ways. I was fairly dead set on Redline 5w40 because of its robust add pack + ester content, then I found out that it uses VIIs. the RL 5w30 IMO isn't thick enough for the engine with only a 10.1 cSt @100C. GC is 12.1 cSt IIRC and the HTHS values between the two aren't that far off.

I guess I have to decide whether Moly is worth it or not in a shear-happy turbo engine. Excellent UOAs have been posted with GC sans Moly . . . even Motul has little or no moly and still gets excellent results.

As BlueWorld mentioned, the advantage of GC is that it has full VW approvals.

Dave

Redline 5w40 . . . how does it compare?

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