Another engine oil question...sysnthetics

[johngenx]

I bought my first 190E, an 87 2.3L version with about 40,000km's on the odo.  I switched it to Mobil 1, and changed the oil/filter every 7500kms.  I also change the engine air filter very frequently, to make sure a clean supply of air.  I sold the car with a tad over 400,000 on the clock, and the engine had never been open.

When I sold my 190E 2.3-16V at 330,000kms, the buyer had a PPI done, and the leakdown and comression were NEW spec.  Mobil 1 every 5000kms.  (the 16V engine is hard on oil, reason unknown)

The 190E 2.6 in the garage has 397,000km's on it, and the engine has never been open and it runs great.  It's tight and strong and burns no oil.

My C230 has 166,000km's, so it's a baby.  But, in the end-of-warranty inspection at 158,000, the dealer did a compression test.  New spec, all four pots exactly the same.  Mobil 1 every 7500kms.

I'm not pushing Mobil 1.  Use whatever you like.  But, I do know that I have used it with success.  About the only reason I still use Mobil 1 is that I can buy it for a reasonable price, unlike Amsoil.  Since I use a farily frequent interval, the price of the oil is more important than some esoteric specs that might mean something if I had a race engine or extended intervals to 25K or something like that.

[duck]

Where does Snowman live?   In Vancouver or Victoria?  

[ovr50]

Duck - can you not pull Snowy's profile and see he lives in Sudbury? What does the question have to do with anything?

[Roadrunner]

Ovr, let them figure that stuff out on their own.

[ovr50]

OK.

[dart]

I'm looking for 5W40 or 0W40 grade synthetic but they are difficult to find. It is the recommended grade for a VW Passat with the 1.8T engine. Any suggestions? Cdn. Tire does not seem to have them.

Also is there a difference between synthetic oil for diesel or regular gas engines?

[articsteve]

You know walmart might have a 0W40 in Mobil 1.

But, if it was my Passat I'd use 5W50 in the Canadian Tire Brand which is Shell.  It comes on sale occasionally and you can load up.

The only reason VW says to use syn in a 1.8 is because it is a known sludge motor.

[inco]

Wallymart does have the Mobil and Costco has Quaker State.

I have been using QS and for 6 litres the cost has been $30 per case for synthetic.  

My engine is the 2.8 V6

[safristi]

Yeh but the banner says "Sysnthetics"...a new sys.op...far slippier than us mere oily batards use.....does it do well in the 4 ball test?

[ajmerc]

Valvoline Synpower - a great synthetic oil avilable at Walmart (5 liter jug - 5w30 or 10w30) for just $22.00 compared to $6.50 for a litre.

[brian]

I think diesel engine users also like an actual Shell branded oil named Rotella T sold at Canadian Tire in 4L jugs.  They go on sale occasionally too.  It's also synthetic and well regarded I think, but I can't recall the exact grade of that stuff.  Check a larger store and see if they sell it.

[barrie1]

Rotella is used by many Diesel builders including Locomotive engines built by GM Canada. This engine is also used in heavy shipping applications with 3 or 4 on each ship.

[mark]

Rotella T synthetic is normally 5W-40, and is formulated for diesel engines.  

I have yet to find Mobil 1 0W-40 at any Walmart.

I use the (german) Castrol 0W-30, which is available at Walmart, and sometimes Cdn Tire for my 1.8T.  It meets both the VW specific test specs (VW 501, 502, 505) and is ACEA A3 rated - a European spec.  

[ktm525]

Dart if your VW is still under warranty be sure to use an oil that meets VW approved list. If you don't they could be sticky with engine realted warranty claims. I use Mobil 1 0W-40. I could not find it in any retail outlet so I buy from the local Esso Bulk lubricant dealer. My cost is around $8/L.  The local VW dealers will use Mobil 0W-40 when requested, they charge $15/L. The Esso dealer said the only customers for 0W-40 is me and the VW dealers.

[tpl]

THat Castrol Syntec 0w-30 meets every ACEA spec for light duty engines with long drain intervals including the Diesel B3 spec so it should be good in any current vw engine

I have seen Mobil 1 0w-40 at Walmart in Scarberia once

[ktm525]

Again if your 1.8T is still under warranty you must use an oil from the new (Summer 2004) VW approved list. The only Castrol oil is the syntec 5W-40. The Castrol German made 0W-30 also meets the specs but for some reason did not make the list. This could be due to that there is two different Castrol Syntec 0W-30's. One is made in Germany and meets all the specs and the second is a synthetic blend  "dumbed" down NA version. To avoid further confusion VW may have left it off the list. Now you know.

[tpl]

So: Syntec 5w-30 meets nearly everything but it does not admit to VW specs   0w-30 meets everything except B5 which I think is  the 0w-xx for diesels.

I suggest that Castrol Canada would not dare to show specs on their public web site that did not match the products

As for the 5-30...its new that it meets A5 and SM only a year ago it was A1 and SL...marvellous stuff product improvement.

My BMW is specified to use BMW's own oil  ( SL &  A3  made by Castrol Germany)OR Syntec 5w-30...it actually looks as if the 0w-30 would be good as well as the Mobil 1 0w-40

From the Castrol Syntec Canada website

SYNTEC 0W-30  
API SL/CF. ACEA: A3, B3, B4. VW 502 00, 505 00, 503 01. BMW Longlife-01. MB 229.1, 229.3. Porsche approved.  

SYNTEC 5W-30  
API SM, SL, SJ/CF. ACEA: A1, A5, B1, B5. GM 6094M, GM 4718M. Ford WSS-M2C929-A. ILSAC GF-4, GF-3, GF-2.  

From infineum website " consumer language"

A3  Stable, stay-in-grade oil intended for use in high performance gasoline engines and/or for extended drain intervals where specified by the engine manufacturer, and/or for year-round use of low viscosity oils, and/or for severe operating conditions as defined by the engine manufacturer.
 
A5  Stable, stay-in-grade oil intended for use at extended drain intervals in high performance gasoline engines designed to be capable of using low friction, low viscosity oils with a HTHS of 2.9 to 3.5 mPa.s. These oils may be unsuitable for use in some engines. Consult owner manual or handbook if in doubt.

 
B3  Stable, stay-in-grade oil intended for use in high performance car and light van diesel engines and/or for extended drain intervals where specified by the engine manufacturer, and/or for year-round use of low viscosity oils, and/or for severe operating conditions as defined by the engine manufacturer.

 
B4  Stable, stay-in-grade oils intended for use in cars and light vans having direct injection diesel engines but also suitable for applications described under B3  

 
B5  Stable, stay-in-grade oil intended for use at extended drain intervals in car and light van diesel engines designed to be capable of using low friction, low viscosity oils with a HTHS of 2.9 to 3.5 mPa.s. These oils may be unsuitable for use in some engines. Consult owner manual or handbook if in doubt.

 

[ktm525]

Sounds like the 0W-30 Syntec available in Canada is the "German Castrol" and not the USA version. Good stuff and interesting why it is not on VW's apporved list. Could be the viscosity rating is too low? When the 1.8T's first came out VW reccomended 5W-40. As you know this is/was a very tough viscosity oil to find in North America. VW realizing this relented and said 5W-30 was OK too. I think a lot of people (VW dealers included) took this as meaning any old 5W-30 was OK. Use of Dino oils at longer change intervals combined with the 1.8T's small sump (3.7L) and hot turbo added up to some sludging problems. Anyhow perhaps 0W-30 is a little too thin for a car that original required 5W-40??

[brian]

In Canada you can still find old stocks of non-German Castrol Syntec 0w30 lying around, so it's really best to look on the back for the "Made in Germany" label.  The most reliable source I've seen for this stuff in Vancouver is Wal-Mart, although recently I see they've raised the price slightly from the last time when I bought some.

Maybe it is the viscosity preventing it from making the VW list.... at room temperature this stuff is almost a 10 weight-like oil.  Not sure if it's anywhere near a 40 weight at high temps though....

[mark]

There are some good UOA's (used oil analyses) on bobistheoilguy.com for German Castrol 0W-30.  The german version is available in Canada, but when you buy it (from WalMart) check each bottle, because I have often found the less effective American made version stocked in with it.  There are differences in the bottles/packaging.  Check the back label for the ACEA specs & "Made in Germany".  I don't think its too thin, as it borders right on the edge of becoming a 40 weight oil at temperature.