[Vwdiesel] RE: New oil standards for TDI PD motor, VW 505.01

Bruce Brier DrDotgain at cox.net
Sun Apr 18 17:42:14 EDT 2004


Hi Chuck,

I go to a WalMart in Seekonk, MA and the Syntec has none of the designations
in the owner's manual, just a bunch of ILSAC nubers which are irrelevant to
TDIs. Best thing I found there for TDI is Shell Rotella T full synthetic
(blue jug 1 gal for about $12.88) which carries API Service CG-4

The 2000 TDI owner's manual specifies...
     ACEA B3
     ACEA B4
     API CF-4
     API CG-4 
I would assume API CH-4 and API CI-4 would be OK too, but they hadn't been
invented at the time of printing, 2000). It mentions also
     VW 502.00
     VW 500.00
     VW 501.01

It's not entirely clear to me that the Syntec oil sold at the VW dealer
exactly meets what the 2000 TDI owner's manual specifies. The Syntec from
the VW dealership costs $6.60 per qt and up... it is 5w40 viscosity and the
fine print... 

     API Service SJ/CF
     ACEA: A3, B4/98
     Also exceed the world's toughest
     engine protection requirements
     including Volkswagen's 502.00 and 505.00

So the manual does not mention ACEA A3 or ACEA B4/98 and API CF is not the
same as CF-4. Folks at Fred's are highly critical of the dealership's Syntec
all the time... they say it's not true synthetic and doesn't have the top
additives in the business... they predict long-term problems clogging the
intake runners, and they caution that the turbo needs to cool down for 60
seconds before shutting down the engine when the turbo is hot... like when
you are late for the dentist on a summer afternoon, you get there with a
screaming hot turbo, but you have to wait 60 seconds to go in. If you shut
it down like that, the turbo bearings cook the oil, because it isn't getting
replenished with fresh circulated oil from the sump.  Both problems are
alleviated to a degree by Mobil Delvac-1 (you can buy from AVLUBE.COM $85 +
$16 shipping per 4 gallons). If you have a Freightliner dealer near you,
then try to get Delvac-1 5w40 there and save $16 on shipping. Note that
Mobil-1 is not Delvac-1, and stay away from Delvac 1300 (available from your
Mobil truckstop).. it is not a synthetic oil.

Some folks at Fred's prefer Amsoil Series 3000 even though it is only 5w30.

I no longer use the dealer Syntec, which in my car evaporates into the
intake manifold at a rate of 1/4 qt per 2,000 miles. Nor do I use Rotella T,
with an evap rate of 1/4 qt per 3,000 miles. I am using the Delvac-1, with
an evap rate of 1/4 qt per 5,000 miles. I change it at 10,000 miles. Oil
analyses (from others on Fred's forum) indicates 10,000 miles is not even
close to the limit for Delvac-1, and they say (but I do not recommend)
15,000 miles between oil changes.

I also found some listing on the Mobil website for Mobil-1 in viscosity 0w40
that carries VW 502.00 but do not know anything more on that.

Best place on the web for oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, cabin pollen
filter is VWPARTS.COM bundled price $46. You deposit $46 into a PayPal
account and Dan will ship it to you within three days.

I implore you to confirm the fine print on the back of the Syntec 5w40
bottle at WalMart before you buy it. There's no pressing need to email me,
since I won't be putting it in my car even if it is $3 per qt.

Bruce Brier

> From: Bruce Brier <DrDotgain at cox.net>
> Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 20:34:49 -0400
> To: Chuck Carnohan <CCarnoha at itd.state.id.us>, <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] RE: New oil standards for TDI PD motor, VW 505.01
> 
> Chuck,
> 
> You had better make sure the WalMart Castrol Syntec meets the minimum
> standards in your owners manual. My experience has been that the 505.00 (or
> 505.01 spec for PD engines) that is met by the special Castrol Syntec they
> sell at VW ($7) is _not_ met by the Syntec sold at regular stores. (Do they
> even have the 5w40 spec?) Some brands such as Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5w40
> (blue bottle) meet CH-4 which is fine for my 2000 TDI. However the Mobil
> Delvac-1 and the Amsoil synthetic are considered the first and second
> choices (or the second and first choices) by the lube-geniuses at Fred's
> TDICLUB site. Regarding the 10,000 mile interval, don't worry; be happy. But
> do check that there isn't a time limit ... I don't remember if there is a
> time limit because I hit 10,000 every 4 months.
> 
> Dr. Dotgain
> 
>> From: "Chuck Carnohan" <CCarnoha at itd.state.id.us>
>> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 11:46:47 -0700
>> To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
>> Subject: [Vwdiesel] RE: New oil standards for TDI PD motor, VW 505.01
>> 
>> Castrol Syntec is what the dealership here in Idaho uses.  It is
>> available at Walmart.  My maintenance schedule for a '03 Golf TDI shows
>> 5K mile intervals for the first 10K miles then it drops back to once
>> every 10K miles.  I was misled by the manual until my wife pointed it
>> out!  It's hard for me to accept an oil change at 10K!  Kinda scary.
>> 
>> Chuck Carnohan
>> 
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