Simple Question (2.0 VW)

[Ron AKA]

quote:

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Originally posted by yannis:

quote:

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Originally posted by Ron AKA:
. It's only the Europeans that are so confused that they think their cars need it.

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Most of them change the oil at stealerships following the appropriate recommendations.

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The problem in my view it that the "appropriate recommendations" are wrong. Europeans use oil that is way too heavy and OCI's are way too long.

 

[bar1]

Most new European and foreign cars use 5W-30.. is that way to heavy??
I agree that the OCI that many manufacturers recommend is too long.

[ September 09, 2006, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: bar1 ]

 

[Ron AKA]

Check out this European Mazda3 manual. Recommend up to 20,000 km between changes, and up to 20w50 oil. In NA they recommend for the same engines 5w20 and as low as 8,000 km between changes.

http://www.icestormdesign.com/mwcc/mazda/manual/

 

[bar1]

Wrong, for Europe the spec. is 5W-30, 10W-40 and 5W-20.
Also the service manual says OCI is at 20,000 km OR once a year, whatever is first..
The column with xxW-50 is "Except Europe"..

 

[Alcibiades]

For the money, and considering the driving conditions and weather, I'd say get the Valvoline Synpower 5-40. And keep at least a quart extra around, just in case.

 

[Ron AKA]

quote:

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Originally posted by bar1:
Wrong, for Europe the spec. is 5W-30, 10W-40 and 5W-20.
Also the service manual says OCI is at 20,000 km OR once a year, whatever is first..
The column with xxW-50 is "Except Europe"..

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Note that my statement was:

"Check out this European Mazda3 manual . Recommend up to 20,000 km between changes, and up to 20w50 oil."

I did not say the recommendations were for Europe, but that they were in a European manual. I can read and worded my statement carefully. Still for the specific European recommendations are up to 10w40, which I believe is a silly weight of oil to use in an engine like this. My NA Mazda3 manual only recommends 5w20 Starburst oil (currently GF-4, SM).

My apologies on the way I made the initial comment. It was really intended for the Europeans that write these manuals and made widely varying recommendations for exactly the same engine. And also the European automakers that do not participate in ILSAC. That said, it is possible that quality GF-4/SM oils may not be available in all parts of the world and there are some local realities to be considered.

 

[bar1]

Apology accepted

and I agree that for the newer Mazda engines xW-30 or xW-20 is more appropriate. I think the 10W-40 grade is there for "historic" reasons and I can't imagine it's used very much. At least all 10W-40 oil found here is all mineral, and I can't imagine that a mineral oil would survive 20,000 km..

 

[Carlos2.0S]

Ok Guys, i just saw some Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5-40 (NOT PLATINUM)

and

Elf Synthese 5w40.. what do you think???

 

[Carlos2.0S]

This is the Product Sheet of Penn
http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/DomesticMarketing/EngineOils/pdf/SyntheticEuropeanFormulation.pdf

 

[John_E]

I live in San Diego County, in a fairly similar climate, and use Mobil 1 0W-40 in my 1.8T. I have read rumors that VAG may decertify the new Mobil 1 forumla, but have no hard facts or verification of this. Comments eagerly invited!