All good information but I would add that Mobil 1 Truck & SUV, readily available, is rated SAE 5W-40, API CI-4,SL/CF. This is well within the parameters your manufacturer requests.
Best regards, Ron Kim, I took this from the tdiclub.com . I use Shell Rotella T (synthetic) because that's what I could get locally. I suggest visiting that website if you need to know more about your VW TDI. There is a wealth of knowledge in the forums. Start with the TDI FAQ. Please note that this does not apply to new 2004 PD (unit injector) models. http://tdiclub.com/TDIFAQ/TDiFAQ-4.html # Specifications - The oil specified for use in the Volkswagen TDi for current models meets the "API Service CG-4" rating. This mark means that the oil has been tested for use in Diesel (C = compression ignition) engines to meet the requirements of a test level called "G" in a 4-stroke engine. The oil may also have been tested for use engines fueled by gasoline, methanol, propane, or other fuels ignited by a spark plug (S = spark ignition). The "S" ratings (SG, SH, SJ, etc.) have no bearing on the suitability of the oil to protect a Diesel fueled engine from the special demands imposed by the higher compression ratios and the tendency for all diesel engines to place soot in the oil. Since there is little difference internally between the earlier and later engines, it is only prudent to use oil meeting the latest standards, even in the earlier models. The latest standard is CH-4, and the one previous to that is CG-4. Many oils which have CG-4 printed on the packaging actually meet CH-4, but due to the time taken to use up old packaging, it is only the labeling which is not up to date. Back to Top #Semi and full Synthetic - According to a service bulletin, Volkswagen recommends the use of synthetic oil in the TDI engine. Herein lies the dilemma, as if you take your Volkswagen to a dealer for service, they may try to use an oil which is not CG-4 rated and isn't really a full synthetic. There are a limited number of oils on the market in North America which satisfy the following criteria: CG-4 or CH-4 rating, full synthetic, viscosity 5w30 or 5w40. These oils are suitable for VW's full recommended oil change interval and the viscosity range is suitable for all climates in North America. Contrary to what dealers may tell you, neither Mobil 1 nor Castrol Syntec fulfill all of these requirements - and that information is right on the bottle. The information in this section refers to API service classes which are North American standards. Different standards for engine oils are used in Europe and elsewhere. It should be noted that since this vehicle was developed in Europe, it is much easier to determine whether a European engine oil is suitable. Any synthetic oil meeting the specification VW 505.00 is suitable for use with this engine with the full recommended oil change interval. The VW 505.00 is the manufacturer's own specification, but in North America this specification is rarely seen, so we must rely on the API grades. Oils which are suitable for the full recommended oil change interval in all climates include, but aren't limited to: Mobil Delvac 1, 5w40 (full synthetic, a reformulated version of Mobil 1 which is intended for diesel engines) Chevron Delo 400, 5w40 (full synthetic version) Shell Rotella T (full synthetic version, not to be confused with Rotella SB synthetic blend or regular Rotella T non-synthetic) Amsoil Series 3000, 5w30 (full synthetic, CH-4 rated) Amsoil High Performance, 10w40 (full synthetic, CH-4 rated) Amsoil semi-synthetic 15w40 (CH-4 rated and high quality, but almost as expensive as the full synthetic, and higher viscosity at low temperatures) Redline, synthetic version (make sure you get the type meant for diesel engines, with the CG-4 or CH-4 rating) There are intermediate classes of oils in between full synthetic oils and conventional oils. These include synthetic blends, and so-called "Group III" hydroisomerized oils, and are also available in viscosity ranges suitable for all climates. They include: Shell Rotella SB (synthetic blend) Petro-Canada Duron, various viscosity's (Group III, various grades available, ensure CG-4 or CH-4 rating on the bottle) Castrol Syntec 5w30, 5w40 (Group III - note that this oil is frequently recommended by VW dealers but is NOT rated CG-4 or CH-4, and isn't a full synthetic - which calls into question what the dealer is telling people ... this forum is generally of the opinion that Castrol Syntec is not the best choice for this engine) In warm weather, a good-quality non-synthetic oil meant for diesel engines with CG-4 or CH-4 ratings may be used. They're not suitable in cold weather due to reduced cold-pumping properties, and it's prudent to shorten the oil change interval because non-synthetic oils may not resist breakdown at high temperatures as well as the synthetic oils (remember that turbocharger). These oils are much easier to find. These include: Mobil Delvac 1300, 15w40 Shell Rotella T, 15w40 Chevron Delo 400, 15w40 Beware of other brands that claim to be diesel-rated or turbo-rated, but are actually just plain cheap. Use the good stuff. If you doubt this, ask transport truck drivers that own their rigs what they use. Chances are it will be Delvac or Rotella. In cold weather, if CG-4 or CH-4 rated synthetic oil cannot be found, regular Mobil 1 rated CF in viscosity grades 0w30, 5w30, or 10w30 may be used, but with a shortened oil change interval because this oil doesn't have as much capability to handle soot. So what's the deal if something else is used besides the expensive and sometimes hard-to-find 5w40 full-synthetic CH-4 rated oil? Conventional oils that are meant for diesels are usually viscosity SAE 15w40. That's okay in warm weather, but not in cold weather. You want oil to reach that turbocharger as soon as possible after a cold start, and it takes longer to get there if the oil won't pump easily. Synthetic oils have many advantages over conventional oils, not the least of which is better cold pumping characteristics, and hence the common 5w40 viscosity grades. It is possible to get some non-synthetic oils with viscosity's such as 0w30, 5w50, etc. In non-synthetic oils, these can only be achieved by heavy use of viscosity-index modifiers, a type of additive, whereas synthetic oils can easily achieve a viscosity range like 5w40 with little or no use of viscosity-index modifiers. For various reasons we'd rather not get into, it's better to have the viscosity right in the base stock, than to tinker with the viscosity using additives. Oils that lack the CG-4 or CH-4 rating don't have the same level of anti-foaming and soot-dispersing capability. The best quality diesel-engine oils deal with it and render the soot as harmless to the engine as possible. Oils that don't meet the CG-4 or CH-4 ratings can't handle as much soot, so you need to change them sooner. Finally, cheaply made oils (not the same as cheaply priced ...) usually won't have the same resistance to breakdown at high temperatures, that good quality oil does. High temperatures are found in the turbocharger. When oil breaks down at high temperature over a period of time, it "cokes" or builds up deposits in the high-temperature area, which then restrict lubrication. Bye-bye, turbo. There has been one reported turbo failure which was traced to lubrication failure. Do a search of the forums for "turbo failure" to find out what oil he was using... Todd On Feb 10, 2005, at 10:02 AM, John Hayes wrote: > Kim & Garth Travis wrote: >> Greetings, >> Are there any TDI owners on list. My owners manual says to use 5W30 >> oil, but I thought you were suppose to run DeLo in deisel engines. >> It seems weird to run ordinary oil. > > Hi Kim. > > Assuming you're talking about a VW TDI, the answer depends on the > model year. > > Up through 2003, you should use Mobil Delvac 1 which only comes in > gallon jugs. To confuse things, Mobil also repackages this very > product in quarts as Mobil 1 Truck & SUV. Catepiller also sells Delvac > 1 relabeled as Cat Full Synthetic 5W-40 Oil. > > Do not confuse these products with Delvac1300 which is not a full > synthetic or regular Mobil 1 which is not for diesels. > > For 2004 on, you *must* use a VW certified 505.01 oil. Dealers stock > Castrol 505.01. You can also get Elf or Motul branded 505.01 oil > online. Do NOT let anyone try to convince you that 505.00 oil "good > enough." > > jh > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): > http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > Todd G. Hershberger, CTS Certified Technology Specialist ITSMedia - Goshen College 574.674.2149 - Pager 574.535.7735 - Work _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
