Volkswagen spec'ed oil: ANY weight will work.

[dbrowne1]

Originally Posted By: felixthecat

"There aren't any 10W-XX oils on any of the lists that VAG has put out, and the reason is that the spec includes low temp performance and flow requirements that a 10W-XX is unlikely to meet."

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-746-vw-50200-oil.aspx#Filter= .......3 different oil choises


Another oil sales site. Not a VAG publication.

Sort of like AMSOIL lists their 5W40 Euro formula as "recommended" for VW 502.00 and other manufacturers specs, but hasn't actually had them tested and approved.

 

[dbrowne1]

Here is a worldwide 502.00 list:

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/3005/V170801.pdf

Notice, once again, there are no 10W-XX oils.

 

[UNC001]

See attached list
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-160681.html
and
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=129311

I believe that NA technical bulletins refers to approved VW 502 oils for use (in NA) and are not a list of all oils that have had 502 approval....and in fact your bulletin does not list GC or 0w30 oils as approved (2008)........unlike later bulletins.....is that not confusing or ambiguous?

Given time I can find documentation that 10w-40 is not a viscosity incompatible with VW 502 certification, and the basis for my comments

 

[Quattro Pete]

Back in the day, Ethyl used to publish a Specification Handbook. This is a page from their 2002 version (so a bit dated), related to VW 502.00 spec:

 

[UNC001]

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZsBdk3WyUq8C&pg=PA199&dq=vw+502+and+10w-40+%5C&hl=en&ei=sXh9TY-nKMS10QGUvsTUAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[UNC001]

.....so I do think that a VW 502 recommendation needs to be qualified by a Viscosity recommendation.

 

[dbrowne1]

Originally Posted By: felixthecat
.....so I do think that a VW 502 recommendation needs to be qualified by a Viscosity recommendation.


Could be, though I swear I remember reading that the VW 502 test sequence included low temp pumpability that would limit 10W-XX approvals.

 

[dparm]

Based on what Quattro Pete posted, it looks like a very wide range of viscosities are allowed. That leads me to believe that VW's viscosity recommendation for a given motor should be followed.

 

[fredf]

So in the end we are left with nothing specific. The manual specifies VW 502 which leads some to believe that ANY 502, independent of viscosity, is ok.
Others see the 5W-40 recommendation as meaning it has to be 502 AND 5W-40 (or 5w30 or 0W-40) but NOT 0w30 so GC would not be acceptable.

In an attempt to answer the question I email VW and they said (believe it or not) 'we don't know, ask your dealer'.
So when you call the dealer, you can a different response depending on the tech you speak to, because, let's face it, most don't know or care too much about oil.

So, thinking GC was the best oil for my 2011 GTI, I bought a stash when it was on sale at Canadian TIre and called my dealer (we don't get free oil changes here in Canada) to ask if they would use it on my next oil change and they said 'as long as it is a VW approved oil, that's not a problem'.

So when I should up the question is: will they look at the VW 502 approval on the package and say 'sure' or will they say 'we can't use 0W-30'? I don't think I will know until I show up for my oil change.


What a nutty situation.

 

[dparm]

Just ask them if the oil needs to be VW502/505. If they say yes, bring in the GC.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: fredf

So when I should up the question is: will they look at the VW 502 approval on the package and say 'sure' or will they say 'we can't use 0W-30'? I don't think I will know until I show up for my oil change.

I think you'll be fine. If they complain, throw this document in their face:
http://www.audiusa.com/etc/medialib/cms4imp/audi2/aoa/company/aoa-specific.Par.0023.File.pdf

Castrol Syntec 0w30 (GC) is listed there as an approved oil. If it's good for Audi, it's gotta be good for VW since it's the same company after all.

 

[dparm]

And the GTI motor is used in Audis.

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: dparm
And the GTI motor is used in Audis.


With respect to USA/Canada market, only the Audi A3 2.0T is shared with the GTI.

The A4 2.0T & Q5 2.0T are different as they have VTEC powah aka Audi ValveLift

 

[dparm]

Fair enough, and thanks for the clarification.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: felixthecat

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2009/01/2008-audi-r8-yet-another-oil-post.html

I will promise you that 95%+ of mechanics don't understand viscosities. I experienced significant resistance in having 0w-40 oil used on my car by the dealership and reference made to the owner's manual.


Truer words have never been spoken.

As for the link; hard to believe. And the writer was "Director of Vehicle Testing"

 

[dparm]

Honestly, the Germans make it way too complicated. My parents' Nissans are really straightforward: API SM or better, 5w30. That's all.

 

[bruno]

Except for some of their powerful cars - super special snake oil required !

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: bruno
Except for some of their powerful cars - super special snake oil required !


On the contrary, the GT-R needs Mobil 1 0w40. They're pretty clear about that.

 

[30valve]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Honestly, the Germans make it way too complicated. My parents' Nissans are really straightforward: API SM or better, 5w30. That's all.


Your parents Nissans aren't running high compression, multi turbos, squeezing high hp out of small displacements, and designed to be able to run near redline all day long at "go directly to jail" speeds like many German cars do. They just want to make sure the oil you put in isn't a generic oil, but one that can handle the strain and protect such a sophisticated engine.

That being said in the US we don't push them that hard either with our 70mph speed limits, and the average American driver would freak at speeds above 100mph. Regardless the German engineers don't know how their cars will be driven, but must warranty against failure. Naturally they want tested oil in their warrantied creations. After the warranty is up run what you want, but sticking to approved oils would always be a good idea.

Pick the viscosity that suits your climate, expected ambient temps, and driving style. I like GC and even though it is rated 0w30 it is actually very close to a 0w40 weight when you look at it's ASTM D445 viscosity rating. Thicker than most xx-30w oils. Flows excellent when cold, doesn't thin when hot, and is approved for VW/Audi running. Finding it at Autozone for under $6.00 a quart on sale is just icing on the cake.

 

[glxpassat]

VW 502 is basically an ACEA A3/B4 oil that will pump in the winter.