Which 5w40 oil is the best from these oils??

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Clouds23

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Hello, I have a 2006 Audi A3 with a 186,000 miles. I have due for an oil change and want to know the best 5w-40 (VW 505 01) oil from the below by comparing their data sheets:

1. Motul X-Clean 5w-40

PROPERTIES
Viscosity grade SAE J 300 5W-40
Density at 20°C (68°F) ASTM D1298 0.845
Viscosity at 40°C (104°F) ASTM D445 84.7 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100°C (212°F) ASTM D445 14.1 mm²/s
Viscosity HTHS at 150°C (302°F) ASTM D4741 3.6 mPa.s
Viscosity index ASTM D2270 172
Pour point ASTM D97 -39°C / -38.2°F
Flash point ASTM D92 234°C / 453.2°F
Sulfated ash ASTM D874 0.80% weight
TBN ASTM D2896 7.5 mg KOH/g

2. Castrol Edge FST 5w40

Density @ 15C, Relative ASTM D4052 g/ml 0.85
Viscosity, Kinematic 100C ASTM D445 mm²/s 13
Viscosity, CCS -30C (5W) ASTM D5293 mPa.s (cP) 5800
Viscosity, Kinematic 40C ASTM D445 mm²/s 75
Viscosity Index ASTM D2270 None 174
Pour Point ASTM D97 °C -42
Flash Point, PMCC ASTM D93 °C 202
Ash, Sulphated ASTM D874 % wt 0.8

3. Millers NANODRIVE EE LongLife 5w-40

SAE Viscosity 5w40
Specific Gravity (at 15°C) 0.848
Kinematic Viscosity (at 100°C, cSt) 14.1
Kinematic Viscosity (at 40°C, cSt) 85.9
Viscosity Index 170
Pour Point (°C) Flash Point (°C) >200
Cold Crank Viscosity (cP) 6,600

4. Red Line High Performance 5w40:

API Service Class: SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG SM/SG/CF SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG SM/SG/CF SM/SL/SG SM/SL/SG
CF CF CF CF CF CJ-4/CI-4 CF CF CJ-4/CI-4 CF CF
Viscosity Grade:
Vis @ 100°C, cSt 15.1
Vis @ 40°C, cSt 94
Viscosity Index 170
CCS Viscosity, Poise, @°C 55@-30
HTHS Vis, cP @150°C 4.6
ASTM D4741
Pour Point, °C -45
Pour Point, °F -49
Flash Point, °C 250
Flash Point, °F 480
NOACK Evaporation Loss,
1hr @ 482°F (250°C), % 6


The Red Line oil is significantly more expensive than the others but will it be worth it? I change my oil once a year (every 12 months) and do circa 5k miles a year (70% city and 30% motorway). Note, I live in the UK.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
I would look at Shell Rotella T6. If you can find it. Castrol Edge would be popular here as it's available at Walmart. Maybe not in 5W40 however.

Note, I require VW 505 01 specification as the cars engine is a PD TDI. Also I live in the U.K. so no Walmart here. I can order any of the above oils listed online; Fuchs and Castrol around same price, Motul and Millers a little more and Res Line being the most. I would like a technical explaination using their data sheets to understand which is best and why.
 
Last edited:
Your choice may depend on winter or summer driving, how often you change your oil, price point,how you drive and what kind of performance are you putting out. High mileage may need additives
 
Do you drive spirited, or relaxed? Does your car have any problems like consuming oil, or being more sluggish than it once was? The Redline is a group V ester based oil, it'll clean very well and have the best long-term high-temperature stability of any of those.
 
Originally Posted By: GRWOil
Do you drive spirited, or relaxed? Does your car have any problems like consuming oil, or being more sluggish than it once was? The Redline is a group V ester based oil, it'll clean very well and have the best long-term high-temperature stability of any of those.

Thanks for the advise. My car does not really burn any oil. I drive quite spirited once the engine has warmed up. At 186,000 miles I guess it does feel sluggish at times - seeing as I do a lot of stop/start city driving.
 
I'd just go the castrol providing it's cheaper than the motul. Never heard of the other brand. Redline not worth it if changing after 5k miles and being so much more pricy.
 
Originally Posted By: KL31
I'd just go the castrol providing it's cheaper than the motul. Never heard of the other brand. Redline not worth it if changing after 5k miles and being so much more pricy.
The problem with the Castrol is that is has the lowest flash point temperature, of only 202 degrees C - which potentially means its the lowest quality. Found this as a reference from this site:

"Flash point is the temperature at which an oil gives off vapors that can be ignited with a flame held over the oil. The lower the flash point the greater tendancy for the oil to suffer vaporization loss at high temperatures and to burn off on hot cylinder walls and pistons. The flash point can be an indicator of the quality of the base stock used. The higher the flash point the better. 400 F is the minimum to prevent possible high consumption. Flash point is in degrees F."

http://micapeak.com/info/oiled.html
 
Just found the data sheet for the Quantum 5w-40 oil, which is the oil supplied by the VW main dealers here in the UK. See below, it looks like the flash point (like Castrol) is very low too. Apparently some say Quantum is just re-branded castrol and judging by the numbers it seems correct!
SAE Viscosity Rating 5W-40
Relative Density @ 15°C 0.85
Viscosity @ 40°C, mm2/s 75
Viscosity @ 100°C, mm2/s 13
Viscosity Index 173
Flash Point (closed) °C 203
Pour Point °C -42
 
Do these numbers look good compared to the others?
SAE Viscosity Rating 5W-40
Relative Density @ 15°C 0.85
Viscosity @ 40°C, mm2/s 75
Viscosity @ 100°C, mm2/s 13
Viscosity Index 173
Flash Point (closed) °C 203
Pour Point °C -42
 
I have noticed the flash points for certain Ester type oils have low flash point values. For example Fuchs Titan Race Pro S 5w40 has a flash point (closed cup) of only 195 degrees C. While other Ester type oils like the Red Line 5w40 or Motul Sport ester 5w40 have high flash points of circa 240 degrees C. Why is this? And is the flash point value a good measure to go by?
 
How long have you had this car?
186K without major repairs is pretty good going for a VW PD engine.
 
Originally Posted By: Clouds23
Originally Posted By: GRWOil
Do you drive spirited, or relaxed? Does your car have any problems like consuming oil, or being more sluggish than it once was? The Redline is a group V ester based oil, it'll clean very well and have the best long-term high-temperature stability of any of those.

Thanks for the advise. My car does not really burn any oil. I drive quite spirited once the engine has warmed up. At 186,000 miles I guess it does feel sluggish at times - seeing as I do a lot of stop/start city driving.


If it doesn't have the power it use to, then it might not be too clean on the inside. If you look down the fill cap and see a lot of varnish then that's another sign it could be dealing with sludge and carbon build up. I don't know much about the oils you listed, but Pennzoil Platinum and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum are phenomenal cleaning oils. You could also benefit from a fuel system cleaner like Seafoam, or Kreen. I run one through my car before each oil change.
 
Except he's in the UK and it might be hard (or expensive) to get those there... There are alternatives from Euro chemists
smile.gif
 
Castrol and quantum seem to be thinner than the others which would make it more appealing to me since i like thinner oils. For 5k intervals id be looking For the thinnest oil that meets the desired spec.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
How long have you had this car?
186K without major repairs is pretty good going for a VW PD engine.
the car was new in mid 2006 and I purchased it at the end of 2013. Since I've owned it I've had a turbo replacement in early 2016 and new radiator in 2014
 
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