VW TDI PD "out of warranty" oil selection

[CosmoM]

I am considering buying a used VW TDI currently, and I am leaning more toward the '00 to '03 models to avoid the PD TDI engines of the '04 and later models - due to the 505.01 oil specification, which could cost twice as much as non-PD oil.

But if you had '04 or later PD TDI VW and it was out of the warranty period (in which case means any oil that can meet the intent of the 505.01 specification, to properly lube the PD hardware), which oil would you use, why, and would it be available at retail outlets?

Thanks in advance,


Cosmo

 

[XS650]

Have you been to http://forums.tdiclub.com/

There are some pretty savy people there with a lot of PD experiance.

 

[D-Roc]

I would use Schaeffer's 9000 5W40.

 

[CosmoM]

I took a look at the TDI Club website and found a few interesting statements:

1) "If it was my PD TDI, well past the warranty period, I'd switch to Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w40. Low wear numbers even in a high-soot environment."

2) 2005 Passat GLS Wagon. My first UOA. I've been using Shell Rotella T soon after I bought the car last January. That oil change was at 64,000 miles and I changed it again at 70,000. This UOA was done with 6,700 miles on the oil. Along with this comment from Blackstone:

"Your Volkswagen's TDI is one of the best wearing ones we have tested this week. The universal averages show what wear from this type of diesel look like after an oil run of 7,700 miles. Your oil was run 6,700 miles when it was sampled and all wear read below averages. That is a good indication of normally wearing parts. The oil was in good shape physically, containing no moisture, fuel, or coolant. Plus, the air and oil filters (see silicon & insolubles) are working well too."

Although this information tends to break away from the mfg service recommendations, most UOA's and operators do not.

I would love to be able to use Rotella T in a 2004+ TDI engine as in the #2 example above, since it is readily available from Walmart, and will open up my purchase options.

 

[marco246]

CosmoM,

I have an '04 TDI with about 2000 miles left on the warranty, so I'm at a decision point myself. The VW dealer on my island went belly up and with it the source of 505.01 Castrol oil. One bitoger--a4tdi--has posted some very successful oil analyses using Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 as well as an M1 ESP oil (but I forget which grade).

Unfortunately, M1 TDT is $13 per quart here, so I'm looking for something else. I have settled on Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic 5W-30, which I bought for $5 per quart a couple of years ago at W-M. The bottles I have state "Recommended for engines specifying . . . VW505.01. . ." but this oil is not on VW's list of approved oils. I have enough on hand for a couple of oil changes, then I'll be in the looking around mode again.

I'm very partial to Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40, using it in a couple of old sports cars, and that may be the way to go in the future. But in the final analysis, if I could get Mobil 1 TDT at a decent price, that's what I'd use.

 

[The Critic]

I would probably use Amsoil 5W40.

It's under $9/qt with shipping and is fully backed by Amsoil, FWIW.

 

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted By: D-Roc
I would use Schaeffer's 9000 5W40.


Me too.

 

[OVERKILL]

M1 TDT/Delvac 1. A good friend of mine ran it in his '04. There are results of it's use on here. Very good wear numbers.

 

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
M1 TDT/Delvac 1. A good friend of mine ran it in his '04. There are results of it's use on here. Very good wear numbers.


There are a couple of UOA's on TDI club that shows good results from Delvac, PD or not. It's definitely a good choice.