Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Thanks. But does the VW approved oil have poor TBN retention over the same OCI to the point where it causes engine issues? You should also be looking at TAN, by the way.
An oil such as M1 0w-40 or Castrol 0w-40, in addition to being VW approved, is also approved for a number of other Euro mfg specs, some of which have very strict deposit and wear limits.
Considering that these VW approved oils don't cost any more than HDEO, I don't see what the benefit of running HDEO is.
It was a better TBN retention, which is why he mentioned it. This is the same principle as using a high efficiency filter vs. a budget tiered equivalent.
As far as the number of spec's M1/ Castrol carries, I really don't care.. nor should anyone else for that matter. If it "holds up" (however that may be) better than an approved oil, ideally it would be better to use.
I see you're still running that Castrol HM synthetic. I realize it is an A3/ B4 and a stout oil, but I am assuming you're only running it because it makes you feel good.. unless of course a BMW of that vintage has no required oil approvals. (My Jeep is this way.) How is this any different?
As far as cost, I mentioned that in my OP. I also service enough diesels/ use enough diesel synthetic that it is about the convenience as well.
No it does not hold better.
Let's start from application. This engine is NOT DI engine. Reason why T6 is used among some VW owners is that 1st generation of 2.0TFSI engines as well as 3.2 V6 FSI engines, V8 FSI engines had huge issues with dilution. It is not TBN per se (M1 has higher TBN) but the fact that cst of T6 is 14.2.
This 3.0 V6 is not DI engine and does not require any improvisation.
If however the case is that it is 2.0T engine, T6 again is not good choice or is not good choice as M1 0W40, Castrol 0W40 or Pennzoil Platinum 5W40 etc. Reason is NOACK. T6 has more evaporation loss and poorly designed intake manifold on these engines will experience more deposits with higher NOACK oil. NOACK in T6 is 12.4% compare to 9.1% in Castrol 0W40 or 8.1% in Castrol 0W30. Pennzoil Platinum could have NOACK as low as 6.8% (that was last Ultra GTL based, not sure about Platinum).
So tehse oils are actually more stout then T6. New M1 has TBN of 12.3, which I personally think it is not good due to carbon deposit issues, but if M1 managed to lower NOACK even more then before (8.7% in VISOM version) then it will leave less deposits. In the end, when it comes to deposits, MB 229.5 is most stringent spec. and Castrol, M1, PP are meeting that spec. According to some updated BMW LL-01 spec. right now is the ahrdest to meet, and castrol and PP are both meeting this spec. and M1 0W40 FS does not, but they did some changes and I think thatw as done for that reason.