VW 508.00 Does it really matter?

[OVERKILL]

So I shouldn't trust what I currently use? Will my engine eventually grenade? It won't last 200K +/- miles?

It just seems crazy to me that a car manufacturer can't trust their own engine if the consumer doesn't use ONE VERY SPECIFIC type of oil.

Hard to believe that a specified oil is so magical.

The manufacturer trusts their approval process and thus oils that carry those approvals have been verified to meet the requirements of that approval. Some of the OEM testing regiments are significantly more rigorous than the basic API stuff.

VW has been down this road with dealers in North America substituting "Syntec" 5w-30 for the Euro long drain spec OE Castrol 5w-30 because it was easier to get and less expensive. There were a lot of sludged and failed engines that came out of that and resulted in VW cracking down on their dealer network.

The OLM will of course also be programmed with an approved lubricant in mind.

Oils are blended to a price point and can be VERY different even if the same grade is indicated on the bottle. The SRT 0w-40 for example is significantly less robust and more volatile than the Euro 0w-40's, which have higher levels of AW additives and also have to come in under the 10% Noack ceiling. They are designed for extended drains as well.

 

[RipperMagoo]

I'd be curious to know if anyone else on here has been running non-508 oil in a VW with no problems. I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary in the oil pan with mine after a change.

Runs great, sounds great, no mpg loss compared to the first 10K.

 

[edyvw]

I'd be curious to know if anyone else on here has been running non-508 oil in a VW with no problems. I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary in the oil pan with mine after a change.

Runs great, sounds great, no mpg loss compared to the first 10K.

You really trying to get here bias confirmation, right?
Engines do not granade bcs. you use the wrong oil. Sometimes later you might ask: why there is sludge in my engine? Or why my turbo is gone?

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I just don't see the advantage to using the "wrong" stuff. Yes the Pennzoil is probably a few bucks cheaper, big deal. The VW dealer or Amazon will have 508 for a reasonable price. The Valvoline 508 is $40 on Amazon for six quarts.

https://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-Eu...s=vw+508+oil&qid=1617814050&refresh=1&sr=8-14

 

[BMW Dom]

You really trying to get here bias confirmation, right?
Engines do not granade bcs. you use the wrong oil. Sometimes later you might ask: why there is sludge in my engine? Or why my turbo is gone?

he just wants to sleep better at night, because he wouldn't spend a few more dollars per oil change to get an approved oil.

 

[OVERKILL]

I'd be curious to know if anyone else on here has been running non-508 oil in a VW with no problems. I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary in the oil pan with mine after a change.

Runs great, sounds great, no mpg loss compared to the first 10K.

No perceived problems. Unless you've performed a tear-down analysis (you haven't), you really have no idea whether your behaviour is increasing wear-rates, causing deposit formation in the ring pack area...etc. All things the OEM will have checked for as part of their approval process.

As an example, this is the Porsche A40 testing procedure:

This test will last 203 hours.
The engine, and the oil, will go through:
- 4 times the simulation of 35 hours of summer driving,
- 4 times the simulation of 13.5 hours of winter driving,
- 40 cold starts,
- 5 times the simulation of 1-hour sessions on the “Nürburgring” racetrack,
- 3.5 hours of “running-in” program

Measurements on the engine and on the oil will be done at regular intervals, and the following parameter will be taken into account to grant the approval or not:
- torque curve (internal friction),
- oxidation of the oil,
- Piston cleanliness and ring sticking,
- Valve train wear protection. Cam & tappet wear must be less than 10 μm.
- Engine cleanliness and sludge: after 203 hours, no deposits must be visible.
- Bearing wear protection: visual rating according to Porsche in-house method.

 

[RipperMagoo]

he just wants to sleep better at night, because he wouldn't spend a few more dollars per oil change to get an approved oil.

More like double price

 

[kschachn]

I would still like to know why you originally stated that the Pennzoil GF-6 product is better and that VW 508 00 approval is outdated.

 

[edyvw]

More like double price

So?

 

[BMW Dom]

So?

You gotta save that 20 dollars a year.

At the very least I would get a European oil.

I am interested to hear what you would use.

 

[edyvw]

You gotta save that 20 dollars a year.

At the very least I would get a European oil.

I am interested to hear what you would use.

You see what I use. Appropriate oil for engines I have.
As for 2nd generation Tiguan? First, I would not get that vehicle, and if I did, VW504.00/507.00.

 

[RipperMagoo]

You see what I use. Appropriate oil for engines I have.
As for 2nd generation Tiguan? First, I would not get that vehicle, and if I did, VW504.00/507.00.

Hmmm, best selling SUV in its category. Probably for good reasons

 

[RipperMagoo]

So?

So? I spend half the price on an oil change with the same amount of problems as people who use the suggested oil. None.

 

[BMW Dom]

So? I spend half the price on an oil change with the same amount of problems as people who use the suggested oil. None.

Not yet...

 

[RipperMagoo]

Not yet...

I'd bet you'd still be saying that at 200K +/- miles.

Hell, some VW mechanics suggest and even still put 5w-40 in these cars so you can't convince me that it's that big of a deal.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I'd bet you'd still be saying that at 200K +/- miles.

Hell, some VW mechanics suggest and even still put 5w-40 in these cars so you can't convince me that it's that big of a deal.

The 5w40 oils they are referring to are also VW approved oil, just a different spec.

You asked why the car requires a special oil, which has been answered. Whether you choose to follow the recommendation or not is up to you.

 

[kschachn]

I'd bet you'd still be saying that at 200K +/- miles.

Hell, some VW mechanics suggest and even still put 5w-40 in these cars so you can't convince me that it's that big of a deal.

Once again this discussion is not about viscosity or grade. That has relatively little to do with anything in this context.

 

[edyvw]

I'd bet you'd still be saying that at 200K +/- miles.

Hell, some VW mechanics suggest and even still put 5w-40 in these cars so you can't convince me that it's that big of a deal.

You are still missing point between approvals and grades.
Actually no one cares whether you are convinced or not. We just post here for those that are willing to learn.

 

[MCompact]

It’s just so darn hard to use the proper oil- you have to actually open your owners manual and read the section on oil. And the you have to find the correct oil(which can only be found at such esoteric locations as AAP, AZ, and WM).
It’s fortunate that some here on BITOG know exponentially more about their car than the OEM engineers...

 

[edyvw]

It’s just so darn hard to use the proper oil- you have to actually open your owners manual and read the section on oil. And the you have to find the correct oil(which can only be found at such esoteric locations as AAP, AZ, and WM).
It’s fortunate that some here on BITOG know exponentially more about their car than the OEM engineers...

Ok, here you have to give owners of VW benefit of doubt. It is not unusual to have one recommendation in the manual, another one under the hood, and dealerships using third oil