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

Tue Apr 20 11:32:12 EDT 2004

Thanks Bruce~
I'm just to the point of doing my own maintenance on my TDI.  The
stealership is giving me real heartburn here in Twin Falls Idaho!
Anyway, the information you provide is very helpful.  I will pursue an
outlet for the Delvac-1 5w40.  
For my old Rabbit 1.6Lna engines do you have a recommendation for oil?
I know that Hagar doesn't believe in synthetic oils, Texas TDI presses
for the value of synthetic.  I think that the sythetic oil is the way to
go but it sounds like Castrol Syntec is not good stuff!  Why in the
world would the VW dealerships be using it???

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Brier [mailto:DrDotgain at cox.net] 
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 3:44 PM
To: Chuck Carnohan; vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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.

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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