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

[TexasTDI]

CI-4 is the most current API rating, followed by CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, and
finally CF.  CI-4 is the ONLY rating that's specifically designed for a
diesel engine with an EGR.  So CI-4 oils are the best choice for the EGR
equipped TDI engine.  Shell Rotella T 5w-40 is API CH-4.

5w-30 is acceptable in the TDI engine.  So, as mentioned in the quote,
AMSOIL users often use Series 3000 5w-30.  (I personally use full synthetic
15w-40 in both of my diesels).  But AMSOIL now offers a full synthetic CI-4
5w-40 as well.  I plan on switching to AMSOIL 5w-40 in the TDI at 100k miles
to see how the oil performs and see if I notice any change in fuel mileage.
(Some folks believe using a thick oil like 15w-40 hurts fuel mileage.  But I
get 45mpg on the highway in my chipped TDI using AMSOIL 15w-40 with the A/C
on at traveling at 70mph.  Not bad IMO).

I've never seen Castrol Syntec 5w-40 anywhere except at the stealership.
It's VWoA's choice of oil.  But it's way overpriced.  Especially considering
it's only a Group 3 oil.  You can get higher quality Group 4 oils for the
same price, or even cheaper, than the Castrol Syntec 5w-40.

Christopher J. Thornton
1991 VW Jetta 2 Door 1.6 Diesel - 241k miles
2000 VW Golf 1.9 TDI (turbo diesel) - 99k miles
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants Dealer #1098500
http://www.amsoil.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Brier" <DrDotgain at cox.net>
To: <CCarnoha at itd.state.id.us>; <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] RE: New oil standards for TDI PD motor, VW 505.01


> 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.