TDI Oil: What Oil Do You Use?

Hi there,

I'm about to change the oil again... so far, I've been using 15w40 oil at a price of 1 euro per liter from a large container. I can imagine that it would be better, especially now that I've had my car chipped, to use a decent, or even fully synthetic, oil.
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about that.

What can you recommend for switching to a modified AFN (Air Fuel Nitrogen) system?
What are you driving?

Thanks,
Best regards,
arne

I'm not sure if there's been a detailed discussion about this in the forum before. But I don't think you should use 15W40. VW specifies a minimum of 10W40 for the 1Z/AFN engine (VW standard 505).

Best regards.
David.

Hi, I use 5W40 full synthetic oil from Liqui Moly. A 5-liter bottle costs around 35 euros.

Gruß, Gasherd.

I've been using exclusively 0W-40 oil in my 1Z since the engine overhaul, approximately 76,000 km ago. I believe this is the best oil to use, especially considering the engine has been rebuilt.

In the summer, use a cheap 10W-40 oil, and in the winter (also a cheap one), use a 5W-something. The 5W oil makes the engine turn much more easily when starting in cold weather. If you drive a lot of short distances, a 0W-something might also be worth considering.

Hi!

Definitely use an oil that meets the standard required for your engine (specified in the owner's manual), such as DIN 500 followed by some numbers. I would recommend a 0W oil; contrary to popular belief, it is NOT thinner than a 10W or 15W oil at operating temperature, only during cold starts. This offers advantages, especially in winter, such as reduced wear and improved cold starting.

Best regards,
Uwe

0w60 - Did I read that in another post, or is that nonsense and a waste of money?

I have absolutely no idea about that .

Thank you in advance for your help.
arne

Hi!

"0W60 is fine if it meets the VW standard. You'll be just as well off with 0W30 or 0W40, and it's also a bit cheaper. The important thing is the correct standard (I'm sorry, I don't have the specific one for the AFN engine in my head right now)!"

Best regards,
Uwe

Huh?
Where can I buy 0W-60 oil?

'From a testing lab? I've never heard of such a thing!'
You probably mean 0W-40, right?

Greetings, H-P.

Hi!

Actually, I've even seen 0W-60 oil, it really exists!

Best regards,
Uwe

Hello,

Okay, for VW diesel engines that don't use the 'Longlife' specification, there are essentially only two standards.
The specification 505.00 is for all TDI engines without a PD (common rail) injection system and without the 'longlife' oil change interval. The specification 505.01 is for all TDI engines, including those with a PD injection system, but without the 'longlife' oil change interval.

If I were you, I would use an oil that meets the 505.00 specification, which is specifically designed for diesel engines (e.g., Castrol GTD, Valvoline Diesel Turbo, etc.).
10W40 should be sufficient; 5W-40 is for those who feel guilty.

By the way, a 0W-60 oil for street use (or possibly racing) would be unusual. There's only one viscosity grade available in the 60-series oils: 10W-60. However, it's not very suitable for diesel engines. It's more appropriate for high-revving gasoline engines or motorcycles.

0W-40 or 0W-30 oil is a waste of money. The difference between 0W and 5W is almost only measurable under laboratory conditions.
As I mentioned, I'm talking about the standard oils here; with long-life (WIV) oils, the situation is different.

Hi!

A friend of mine runs a courier service. The vehicles, which include Ford Fiestas, Combos, and Transits (a total of 20 vehicles), have driven approximately 200,000 km each. He uses the cheapest oil he can find. When you pull out the dipstick, the oil looks like black, sticky honey. He uses about one to two liters of oil per week per vehicle. Despite this, the engines don't break down, but the wear and tear is enormous. The cars still run.
Your TDI will run with all types of oil, and it won't break down immediately.
You can drive safely and with minimal wear using high-quality oil. Whether you choose 0W, 5W, or 10W is a matter of personal preference. You could technically use cheaper oil, and using a 10W oil that meets the required standards fulfills your obligation, but using a 0W oil gives your engine the optimal performance. It's possible that our TDI doesn't even need it. I still use it, at least to ease my conscience and to take advantage of all the benefits of a modern oil (it really doesn't need to be a 0W-60; that thin 0W-30 lubricates exceptionally well!).

Best regards,
Uwe

Thomas K. wrote:

... when it comes to Longlife (WIV), the situation is different again. ...

VW Standard 506.01 for TDI PD engines with extended service intervals.

...with the gasoline engine, it was a different standard...

@ David!

There's a Veedol oil that's 15W-40 and meets the VW standard 505.00. I've been using it for 208,000 kilometers in my 1Z.
The workshop always included this when they did the service.

Oil consumption: less than 1 liter per 15,000 kilometers.

I am now switching to Castrol GTD 10W40 oil because I am changing workshops.

Best regards, D.

I use a relatively inexpensive 5W40 oil (5 liters for around 19 euros) that meets the VW standard. The oil consumption is less than 0.5 liters over 15,000 km. Additionally, I've recently started using Slick50.

@ D.

I honestly didn't know. I always thought that the VW Norm 505.00 was necessarily at least 10W40. Well, you never stop learning...

I always use Castrol GTD in my 1Z. But I always feel a bit guilty because you can buy it at the hardware store, which puts it in the category of 'cheap hardware store oil.'

Okay, so I'm getting the oil changed at VW again, this time as a gesture of goodwill. They always use the good Aral Basic tronic oil. (Which is quite expensive for a 10W40.)

Best regards.
David