VW 502 vs 504?

[dvancleve]

Howdy folks.

My wife's 2013 turbo Beetle says 503/503/504 in the manual. The no-brainer oils are Mobil 1 0w40 and Castrol 0w30/40 Euro formulas, all of which are VW 502. I picked up two or three oil changes worth of Pentosin 5w30 that has VW 504/507 for $2/qt yesterday. Unlike the Mobil 1 or Castrol, I wouldn't use this oil in any of my other cars. It seems to me that it should be fine for her VW, but also like 502 rated oils are probably better (especially for the 10K OCI). Am I right or should I just return this stuff?

Thanks and merry Christmas,
Doug

 

[robertcope]

Here in the US, I'd stick to 502 oils.

robert

 

[dvancleve]

Thanks Robert

Are VW 504 oils useful in "normal" vehicles? Would it be dumb to use it in say a Prius or a turbo Subaru (both with short to average OCIs)? I am thinking I should just return it...

Merry Christmas,
Doug

 

[Quattro Pete]

Is your Beetle a turbo gasoline or turbo diesel?

You can run a 504/507 oil in a gasoline engine, just don't run a super long OCI with it.

 

[dvancleve]

Hey QP, it is the 2.0L gas turbo. I am not certain, but I don't think it has a real OLM system. The manual says 10K mile OCI, you are saying that's a bad idea with a VW 504 oil in a gas engine? Realistically, I'm not going to have any used oil analysis done. What kind of OCI do you think is appropriate for a 504 oil in a turbo gas VW?

Thanks and merry Christmas,
Doug

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: dvancleve
Hey QP, it is the 2.0L gas turbo. I am not certain, but I don't think it has a real OLM system. The manual says 10K mile OCI, you are saying that's a bad idea with a VW 504 oil in a gas engine? Realistically, I'm not going to have any used oil analysis done. What kind of OCI do you think is appropriate for a 504 oil in a turbo gas VW?

Thanks and merry Christmas,
Doug

I ran Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 in VW CC with 2.0T engine and in my wife's Tiguan. In those two cars 3K-4K is MAXIMUM on VW 504.00/507.00 oils, until the U.S. switches to ULSG.
Use Pentosin in Subaru if it has port injection. Stick to VW 502.00 (my choice is Castrol 0W40) in VW.

 

[dlundblad]

I bought some of the charcoal colored Pennzoil Euro L (bottled November 2014) quarts from Autozone with the vw504 approval. Interestingly enough, these are A3/B4 oils.

These would still have to be used in a short OCI? I figured if anything, a Jeep or her Volvo would like the stuff.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
I bought some of the charcoal colored Pennzoil Euro L (bottled November 2014) quarts from Autozone with the vw504 approval. Interestingly enough, these are A3/B4 oils.

These would still have to be used in a short OCI? I figured if anything, a Jeep or her Volvo would like the stuff.

You can since those cars are not DI. Problem is that DI engines have issues with fuel dilution (less now then before) and high sulphur US gas is depleting TBN that in VW504.00/507.00 oils starts very low.

 

[JFAllen]

THese Low SAPS oils are specified for DI engines (petrol and diesel) as they leave far fewer deposits in the intake. Port injection effectively 'de-carbonizes / washes' the intake ports.

With today's motors once again fitted with nasty as the 1970 EGR systems, carbon buildup in the inlet is once again a significant problem. This is now doubly with DI. Once build up starts, it is a positive feedback system where the more carbon that builds up the less efficient the engine becomes. (Carbon buildup obviously acts as a restriction in the intake runners.) Thus you then have to burn more fuel to achieve the same performance, leading to more exhaust gases, more soot, more fuel dilution of the oil and poorer fuel economy as a result. Cycle repeats.

Oil vapors (from crank case breathers) with exhaust sot build deposits you can't imagine. Low SAPS oils are specifically formulated to help combat this inherent design flaw/problem. Alternatively you can throw your EGR system where it belongs (like many do, especially in Texas,) buy a catch can and happy days

In Aus our 98RON (premium) is fairly low sulphur, but not euro spec. Even so I recomend all my mates with VW's (both petrol and diesel) use 504/507 oils to lessen carbon deposit buildups. Changes at 10,000kms (6k-miles) or 12 months.

I'd keep and use the oil you purchased, it's the correct spec in my mind.

Regards
Jordan

 

[edyvw]

AGAIN, and AGAIN, this is the U.S. forum, so let's not confuse majority of viewers here. Low-SAPS oils and DI engines in the U.S. are NOT good combination due to sulfur in gas.
I tried it twice, it does not work well.