What oil for an 04 VW Golf?

[Chris142]

I have this Golf in the shop for other things and the customer wants me to change the oil. I'm totally unfamiliar with this car and don't want to put the wrong oil in it. I stock regular "sn" oils but I'm wondering if it calls for something else.


It has the 2.0L 4 cylinder non turbo.No owners manual and the customer don't know.

Thx guys.

 

[Falken]

I'd get something with the latest VW spec.

I have heard a buddy at school say the valvetrain could take on heavy wear in some VWs if you don't use the right oil.

At a minimum, I'd use German Castrol in this vehicle.

 

[dparm]

These oils are VW approved and available at most auto parts stores:


Mobil 1 0w40
Castrol Edge 0w30
Castrol Edge 5w40
Castrol Edge 0w40
Valvoline SynPower 5w40


I'd run whichever of those is on sale at the time.

The spec you're looking for is VW 502/505, and if you can't find that, it should be ACEA A3/B4. You can ignore the API ratings...VW doesn't use those.

 

[Chris142]

Great thx

 

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted By: dparm
These oils are VW approved and available at most auto parts stores:


Mobil 1 0w40
Castrol Edge 0w30
Castrol Edge 5w40
Castrol Edge 0w40
Valvoline SynPower 5w40


I'd run whichever of those is on sale at the time.

The spec you're looking for is VW 502/505, and if you can't find that, it should be ACEA A3/B4. You can ignore the API ratings...VW doesn't use those.


Bingo! Mobil 1 0w40 seems to be readily available at Walmart for a good price.

 

[T_CUDA]

Do you not use any kind of automotive software in your shop?

 

[izualangel]

Stick with the VW 502.00 oils for a 5K/5 month interval. The dealership flavor is Syntec 5w40, but there are plenty that meet the VW spec.

 

[Chris142]

Got some Liqui-Moly 5w40 oil. Cheapest oil I could find

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: T_CUDA
Do you not use any kind of automotive software in your shop?
Nope. Still using books for the Labor guide. We are a Radiator shop and not a full blown auto repair shop. 99% of my jobs are swapping in a new Radiator or AC compressor. I don't normally do actual car repairs.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Got some Liqui-Moly 5w40 oil. Cheapest oil I could find


Really? You can always get one or more of the oils I listed above for $5/qt.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Got some Liqui-Moly 5w40 oil. Cheapest oil I could find


Really? You can always get one or more of the oils I listed above for $5/qt.
I gotta have it delivered. I don't have time to go looking for oil. Cost us more in lost labor driving to Walmart than the oil cost.

 

[fdcg27]

While VW applies the same oil spec to the 2.slow that it does to everyting else, the engine would probably be perfectly happy with any API 5w30.
A two liter NA with less than sixty BHP/liter doesn't need anything real special.

 

[T_CUDA]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: T_CUDA
Do you not use any kind of automotive software in your shop?
Nope. Still using books for the Labor guide. We are a Radiator shop and not a full blown auto repair shop. 99% of my jobs are swapping in a new Radiator or AC compressor. I don't normally do actual car repairs.



Well I assume you have internet. Look at the monthly specials from your major Auto Parts supplier. This month from Advance is QS full synthetic and a oil filter $19.99(I have stocked up)

 

[racer12306]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
While VW applies the same oil spec to the 2.slow that it does to everyting else, the engine would probably be perfectly happy with any API 5w30.
A two liter NA with less than sixty BHP/liter doesn't need anything real special.


Our 98 2.0 Beetle was perfectly happy with 10w40 conventional in the summer and 5w40 syn in the winter. Although I don't know what may have changed between 98 and 04.

 

[Chris142]

The only auto parts stores we deal with is undercar and they are way expensive on oil and napa. The other brands of oil were more than the lubramoly. I'm not the boss I just work here. He's not going to send me to azone after oil and. No cell phones except during breaks so no internet. I have pkenty of oil at home for my stuff. This vw was a suprize.

 

[RD_3]

My two choices would be:

M1 - 0w40

Castrol (BC) - 0w40

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
The only auto parts stores we deal with is undercar and they are way expensive on oil and napa. The other brands of oil were more than the lubramoly. I'm not the boss I just work here. He's not going to send me to azone after oil and. No cell phones except during breaks so no internet. I have pkenty of oil at home for my stuff. This vw was a suprize.


The Lubro-Moly will work just fine, though it's not really a good value in my opinion.

 

[Chris142]

Ugggh. The underside of the oil cap is sludge city!