Scirocco Central

Hi Guys

I've checked my service book a see that the oil to use is VW50400. I went through to my local dealership, they say this is Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow Long Life 3 5w30 (vw 50400 approved). Checked this with Castrol SA, they're adamant that this is correct.
What I don't understand is why VW recommend using a 5w30 in south african conditions, sometimes it's close on 40 C in summer, surely there should be 5w40 option as used in the mk5 GTi, wouldn't this be a safer option?
I want to sit back and believe that 5w30 is "the right stuff"

Has anyone had similar thoughts or questioned this decision by VW/Castrol?

Cheers

I'm certainly not an expert but my understanding is that those numbers refer to the viscosity (how thick the oil is) at different (engine) temperatures.

Engine oil serves to lubricate moving parts (metal against metal at very high speed) within the engine thereby preventing damage due to friction. The first figure relates to the 'resting' viscosity - I cannot recall whether this standard is the viscosity at freezing, ie Zero degrees Centigrade or something else. If the engine is at this temperature it is either off or just warming up. At these low temperatures you want the oil to be as thick as practical so that it continues to coat the engine parts and doesn't simply 'melt' and pool in the sump (overnight for example when the car is not in use and ambient temperature drops, often considerably). If that did happen then the internal moving engine parts would not be protected and friction would cause damage as soon as the engine was started and during warm up.

At higher temperatures, ie once the engine has warmed up, you want the oil to be thinner (less viscous) in order that it doesn't do the reverse and hinder (add to friction) to internal moving engine parts whilst still viscous enough to provide optimum lubrication/protection. Most modern engines in the last 5-10 years are very well engineered and therefore 0-5 W 30-40 is pretty much standard and unless your engine really is very highly tuned (and that's really race car/F1 etc stuff) then I'm not sure that the exact figures make 'much' difference +/- say 5. However, I would bow to any expert opinions out there..? I believe in simple terms that ambient atmospheric temperature only really affects how hard the cooling system has to operate, as just like the human body (sorry if that's patronising) the car's cooling system will work (very effectively) to ensure that the engine temperature remains at a constant - I believe that that's circa 90 degrees Centigrade (but that may just actually be the temperature of the coolant which will be relative to the engine temperature).

Finally, one other consideration is how often the oil is going to be changed which can have an effect on what the viscosity ratings of choice are - the longer the same oil is going to be in the engine without it being changed the more durable it is going to have to be - I think long-life service intervals generally increase the first figure and reduce the last (if at all).

Hope this helps - apologies if any of this is subsequently corrected...

jon wrote:Hi Guys

I've checked my service book a see that the oil to use is VW50400. I went through to my local dealership, they say this is Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow Long Life 3 5w30 (vw 50400 approved). Checked this with Castrol SA, they're adamant that this is correct.
What I don't understand is why VW recommend using a 5w30 in south african conditions, sometimes it's close on 40 C in summer, surely there should be 5w40 option as used in the mk5 GTi, wouldn't this be a safer option?
I want to sit back and believe that 5w30 is "the right stuff"

Has anyone had similar thoughts or questioned this decision by VW/Castrol?

Cheers

5W - is the winter temperature, to about -25C
30 - viscosity at 100C

http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/ ... osity.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So on that basis, I'd go with the VW recommendation (of 504.00) if the manual, dealer and oil manufacturer are saying the same thing.

Its quite simple. It leaves the factory with Castrol so replace it with what it came with

Hi do we know if this is a fully synthetic oil? for booth TDI and TSI

peter.vw wrote:Hi do we know if this is a fully synthetic oil? for booth TDI and TSI

Does it matter? As long as the oil meets VW504.00 and/or VW507.00 specification then you're using the right stuff. I suspect it's fully synthetic since, IIRC, it's the same oil stated for both time/distance and longlife service intervals.

ayeaye wrote:

peter.vw wrote:Hi do we know if this is a fully synthetic oil? for booth TDI and TSI

Does it matter? As long as the oil meets VW504.00 and/or VW507.00 specification then you're using the right stuff. I suspect it's fully synthetic since, IIRC, it's the same oil stated for both time/distance and longlife service intervals.

Ok did some research, for those of you that think oil is just something you pour in the engine below is guide to the different types of oil.
If you want to read more for your self try this link

http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A quick guide to the different grades of oil.
Fully Synthetic Characteristics
0W-30
0W-40
5W-40 Fuel economy savings
Enhances engine performance and power
Ensures engine is protected from wear and deposit build-up
Ensures good cold starting and quick circulation in freezing temperatures
Gets to moving parts of the engine quickly

Semi-synthetic Characteristics
5W-30
10W-40
15W-40 Better protection
Good protection within the first 10 minutes after starting out
Roughly three times better at reducing engine wear
Increased oil change intervals - don't need to change it quite so often

Mineral Characteristics
10W-40
15W-40 Basic protection for a variety of engines
Oil needs to be changed more often



SLX LongLife III
Clean Performance Technology
________________________________________________________________________________

Applications
Castrol have developed a new lubricant with "Clean Performance Technology" in co-operation with the VW group which sets new standards in the industry. Castrol SLX LongLife III 5W-30 has been specfically developed to ensure cleanliness of the engine, thereby reducing harmful emissions which damage the environment.

Through "clean performance technology" Castrol SLX LongLife III 5W-30 additionally reduces long term blocking thereby prolonging the life of the diesel particulate filter.

Castrol SLX LongLife III 5W-30 is equally suitable for gasoline and diesel vehicles where performance specifications VW 504 00 and 507 00 are demanded. However, with this lubricant, Castrol has also managed to meet the requirement of most of the previous VW oil specifications which means that it is suitable also for most older gasoline and diesel engines.

Castrol SLX LongLife III 5W-30 employs a synthetic base oil in combination with a new antiwear technology which offers strong protection for today's sophisticated FSI, TDI and turbocharged engines.
______________________________________________________________________________

Features / Benefits
A cleaner particulate filter maintains engine performance
Protects the engine from wear all year round
Optimises engine performance
Maintains fuel economy
Reduces environmental impact through lowered emissions
_______________________________________________________________________________

Specifications / Performance
VW 504 00/507 00

found this at: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cac ... JBbSCTsKHQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...
"What is LongLife III oil?

LongLife oil is a high grade, fully synthetic oil with increased resistance to ageing at
high temperatures. When LongLife servicing was originally introduced it was
generally designated SAE 0W-30 and met Volkswagen standards 503 00 for petrol
engines and 506 00 and later 506 01 for diesel engines. With the introduction of new
emission limits for passenger cars in 2005 requiring the fitment of exhaust gas after-
treatment devices, Volkswagen have upgraded their LongLife specifications to 504 00
for petrol and 507 00 for diesel. LongLife oils meeting 504 00/507 00 are now SAE
5W-30 viscosity. Apart from a few exceptions*, these new specifications replace the
earlier 503 00/506 00/506 01 specifications. Oils meeting the new specifications are
designed to work with the latest emissions control equipment, such as diesel
particulate filters (DPF). Use of oil which only meets earlier LongLife specifications
can halve the life of a DPF."

If any of you want to use an alternative to Castrol here is Shells alternative.


Helix Ultra VX 5W-30
Fully synthetic VW long life engine oil, for the latest range of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda vehicles. For normal and long life use in both gasoline and diesel engines to date. Meets VW specification 507.00. For all specs, click for detail.
Meets ACEA A3/B4/C3
API SM
VW 507.00, 506.01, 506.00, 505.01, 505.00, 504.00, 503.01, 503.00 or 502.00

Excellent alternative to Castrol 5W/30