oil change??

[sooblack]

newbie here..
i would like to know what brand of oil should i use??
should i use synthetic or fully synthetic??
i heard mobil is good but there are many kind..like 0w30 etc..
what's the different between all of them..
thanks..

[KaynE]

5w40 is what is recommended for Euro spec cars.
I'm pretty sure 0w30 will be fine since another guy on this forum says he used it for his Audi.

[BMWDavid]

You should use an oil that meets VW's 502.00 standard. In the Mobil 1 product line that means 0W-40, its the only Mobil 1 that meets 502.00

Castrol Syntec 0W-30 in the German formula meets 502.00 but its near impossible to find. Some have luck finding it at Autozone. It must say made in Germany on the back of the bottle.

All oil meeting 502.00 is synthetic.

David

[sooblack]

thank you guys..

[excal06]

And do you guys do oil change at 5000 mile? Or is it better to change the oil after the breakin preiod i.e. 1000 miles

[Acoustic81]

I was told by the dealer that I should wait until 5000 for the first oil change. I always thought that the first change should be at 1000mi, but dealer knows best (better than me at least)...

[black2.0t]

Amsoil 0w30

[bilbos]

And do you guys do oil change at 5000 mile? Or is it better to change the oil after the breakin preiod i.e. 1000 miles

I believe the oil change schedule (per the service book) is 1st at 5000, 2nd at 10000, 3rd at 20000.

[Wild Hare]

I'd go with Amsoil 5w40 or the 0w30 both would work great... the 5w40 is less expensive and is specific to the VW 502.00 standards.

Always go with a pure synthetic as the blends are regular oil based and don't have the protection for our engines/turbos. Amsoil is the best there is. Mobil 1 is a good oil don't get me wrong... but would you put the best in your engine or just settle for good?

Do a search in here and you'll seem my oil deal offer to members only and you can have it delivered to your door. If you are interested P.M. and we can chat. Always happy to help!

And as always feel free to visit my site for the facts on oil comparisons and our product info.

[davis_grad]

I will be scheduling my first oil change at 2500 miles, 5000 thereafter. Cheap insurance.

[Dubdr]

I do it every 3000 thousand miles. I have seen to many engine blow not to.

[bilbos]

I still don't get this every 3000 mile oil change that seems to be common in the US.
Don't get me wrong, there can't be any harm in doing it, but both my previous Audi's were on extended service programs and could "go" 19000 miles between oil changes.
So my question is, why the big difference?

[RJS5689]

lol i aggree... many poeple dont change their oil for 15000 miles... and their cars work fine

[Wild Hare]

As an Amsoil guy... I've been doing mine every 12.5K or 6 months whichever comes first. Using OUR Oil Filter (created for Long drain intervals) and the 0w30 Synthetic Oil we have.

Now we have our new Ea Oil Filters that last 25K... although having a modded Audi w/ 1.8t, I just play it even more safe and do the 12.5K or 6 mo.

You must keep in mind that cars of long ago (before O2 sensors and other related emissons came about) used to run about 180 degrees F.... Now it's not uncommon to see 210-230 F in our newer cars. The cars are buring cleaner and polluting way less and your insides are staying much cleaner too! And if you are running Regular oil... it's breaking it down that much faster.

It's a must to run Synthetic no matter who's brand you choose! Regular oil was intended for the old 180 degree engine temp cars (and there's wax in it, that creates sludge and varnish -- build up), it was okay for the times, yet didn't really offer the protection of the PURE Synthetic that's on the market today.

Unfortunately Amsoil has not developed the Oil Filter yet for this new car. I sell tons of the one for the 1.8t's.
Our oil works great with the OEM filter "for the manufactures recommended drain interval."

Once we come out with the new filter I will inform everyone here.

And stay away from the Quick Lube joints. Even though they change the regular oil every 2-3K... there's still little protection in there for todays hot running engine.

Happy Motoring!

[sooblack]

i wanna go to track with my friend on april 22
but now my car has only 650..
do u guys think i should go to track ??
if i am goin, do u guys think i should oil change first few days before track day??
thanks

[EMB145Driver]

According to the VW service department at my local dealership, you should use the VW 505.00 oil standards for the 2.0T.

[feuerdog]

Same as my mk4 - Mobil 1 0w40 - every 10k or 6 months whichever comes first.

[trick000]

Same as my mk4 - Mobil 1 0w40 - every 10k or 6 months whichever comes first.

Wow 10k miles? Hows does the oil look after that long?

[KaynE]

How many quarts do we use per oil change on the GTI?

[kirk180]

Wow 10k miles? Hows does the oil look after that long?
I've changed the oil in a couple cars that I had every 10-15k miles and never had a problem with either one of them. One was a 1988 Chevy Cavalier and I sold it with 160k miles on it and no engine problems. The other a Honda Prelude. With the Cavalier I even used Dino oil and still didn't have any problems. Correct me if I'm wrong Euro's, but I thought changing the oil every 3K was strictly an American thing. Could be wrong but I thought it was just something that we did to "keep Americas money moving" since we live in a service industry and they want us to spend. Therefore they tell us to change our oil every 3k. Now they are starting to say 5k or even 7k at places though. Oh well, live and learn. But myself, I never worry about oil changes so much after the first one or two.

[bigdyno]

I spoke with my dealer at great length about this when I picked up my car. The engine is assembled with the crank, pistons, cams and valves (and any obvious bits for these parts) and then cycled with compressed air to aid break in. It then takes an immersion bath in oil to clean out any metal shavings and then assembly is completed. I think this is done to ensure that the motors produce what they are claimed to produce, since VW has more control over the initial and extremely important initial break in.

There is an additive in the oil that helps condition the metal in the engine and that is why VW recommends leaving the oil in until the 5000km interval. I am a licenced motorcycle mechanic so I understand this information and have 100% faith in my dealer, he wouldn't make this stuff up.

As far as interval after the first oil change, I intend to stick to 5000km (3000mile) between changes unless the oil looks like it needs changing before that. I put some oil on my finger (from the dip stick) and if I can still see through it, it's ok. If it is so dark that it has become opaque, it is well past needing changing. I am a firm beliver that the oil is the life blood of your engine, but remember that this is Synth. oil and what it costs if you think you want to change the oil more often...

[sublyme]

The concern regarding the long duration between oil changes is that normally in turbo cars, the oil gets so hot from the turbo that it tends to burn and coke inside the turbo and the lines if you do not cool the car down properly. Ive read that as long as your car's turbo is water cooled then this problem shouldnt occur as much, and if Im not mistaken, Ive read that the oil pump still works for some time after shutting the car off? This should help circulate the oil to prevent the burning and coking. So going by this I can understand why we wouldnt need to change oil as often, but the duration that VW suggests is rather long.

I'll trust them since they made the cars, and when you think about it, VW wouldnt want to have to fix/replace your turbo/engine under warranty as a result of a lack of maintenance. Therefore they are confident that the servicing schedule they've recommended would be sufficient enough to prevent this from happening.

[Big Jerm]

i wanna go to track with my friend on april 22
but now my car has only 650..
do u guys think i should go to track ??
if i am goin, do u guys think i should oil change first few days before track day??
thanks
i would wait to put your car on the track, until your car has at least 2,000 miles on it. in the owners manuel it says *by memory* not to drive the car hard untill after 1,600 miles. the brakes need to be broke in and waiting will also break your motor in better by driving easy untill the 2,000 mile break. hope this helps cause I was wondering it myself, when to really give the car hell!! I feel like for some reason I going to break this car it feels so toyish

[conflicted]

how much oil do these cars hold if its like 2 gallons like my parents mercedes benz that could be a nother reason why it gose for so long... just shooting in the dark....

[plac]

I'd go with Amsoil 5w40 or the 0w30 both would work great... the 5w40 is less expensive and is specific to the VW 502.00 standards.

Ive put the Amsoil 5W-40 Euro blend in my two Vw's too. Always with OEM filter which has proven to have excellent filtration per my previous analysis logs.

[GTI2007]

According to the PDF-file of the specifications of the NA GTI, the GTI has 4.4 quart or 1.1 gallon of engine oil.

[KaynE]

Hmm.... Amsoil or Royal Purple isn't on the VW approval list.
that sucks.

[Wild Hare]

Hmm.... Amsoil or Royal Purple isn't on the VW approval list.
that sucks.

Wrongo! Amsoil Euro 5w40 is! Check the site in my post:http://www.amsoil.com/

And Royal purple is nothing in comparison to Amsoil.

Further more running a high quality oil in your car "that's' approved for long drain intervals along with recommended filters" (turbo equipped as well) will NOT harm your car.

I have run Amsoil in all my rides for several years now. In my turbo 1.8t Audi A4 I run to 12.5k or 6 months whichever comes first. Oil analysis has been done on numerous occasions and I have found degradation in protection or oil qaulity.

On my GMC Denali 6.0 I drop the filter at 12.5k or 6 months and add a Qt, then go another 12.5k/6 mo and drop all the oil and filter and replace and then repeat the process.

The Gentleman (plac) that said he used the stock oil filter and the 5w40 Amsoil... is right on for the manufactures recommended interval!

Those of you changing every 3-5k are just waisting your money. I did that long ago too! Today's cars are more effcient, run hotter, and have more emissions too. That's why the manufactures have gone with longer drain intervals too! Why would they otherwise... wouldn't they be liable if they weren't right on?!

The best out there is Amsoil. Doubt? Visit the site. educate yourself, learn.... that's what I did and now I'm wiser. I don't know all the answers in life, but I do know what does work and perform better and saves you and me lots of money in the long run.

Visually I have noticed that the oil on my dipstick is still clean not pitch black after 5k like the others. I don't have to add a pint after 12.5k... like the others that burn off and you have to add in between changes.

And a biggie: When a buddie who owns a speed shop and does tons of turbo upgrades... saw my old stock K03 when we put on the K04(upgrade), he was amazed at how clean the turbo was an that there was on shaft play whatsoever. He bought the used turbo from me right there to sell to those that wanted a good used K03.

Two Passions I have in life: VW's and Amsoil!

Happy motoring!

[plac]

Wrongo! Amsoil Euro 5w40 is! Check the site in my post:

I was waiting for someone to say that..

[Wild Hare]

Amsoil meets VW standards and actually exceeds it:
http://www.amsoil.com/articlespr/2006/pr_newafl.aspx

[Rabbit GTI]

thank you wild hare...i cant stand all of these people that go crazy for changing their oil after 3k miles...such a waste of time and money.

[GTI lover all over again]

Actually, the turbo is water cooled, and there is a cool down water pump to ensure the turbo does not over heat the oil left in the turbo, the water circulates in revers of the normal flow, the oil pump does not continue to run, it's gear driven by the engine, the secondary water pump is electric, and is triggered by the turbo temp.

[Wild Hare]

thank you wild hare...i cant stand all of these people that go crazy for changing their oil after 3k miles...such a waste of time and money.

They just need to realize and if in question they should really do an oil analysis as I recommend to people all the time. Shortly there after they buy a better product that is designed specifically for long drain intervals and in the end save money/time.

I too was a doubter! Education and research is the key to figuring it all out.:thumbsup:

[tydale3]

castrol 5w-40 is what VW says. the 5w-30 syntec is easy to find the 5w-40 is harder to find. Dosnt anybody read there owners manual???

[bigdyno]

I was recently faced with the first oil change on my Candy white and was concerned about making sure I stick to the VW specs. I didn't want to give VW any ammunition to shoot me down in the future as I refuse to pay $100 cad for an oil change, so I am changing my own oil. I called customer service and while not given a direct answer as to what oil is acceptable, I received a call the next day and referred to this link:

http://www.vw.com/vwcom/content/objects/pdf/service_maint/oilchart.pdf

It lists the accepted oils, but is dated 2004. If you think you want to take on VW by using an oil not on this list, have fun. I don't doubt that there are oils that meet or exceed the spec that aren't on this list, but if you want them to honour the warranty, you have to play by their rules.

If you can get anything in writing from VW that states any oil that is not on this list will be acceptable, please share said document with us so we all can make our choices from the largest sample pool.

I think it is very unlikely that any oil in a similar price point would supply far superior protection than any other. I do encourage everyone to ask lots of questions and do research, but if this is the list that VW say refer to, I would suggest you do that to have as few problems as possible should you ever have to make a warranty claim.

[Flying_Finn]

Looks like Synthetic 5W40 is the way to go. Here is what VW recommends:

Engine Oil (http://www.vw.com/vwcom/content/objects/pdf/service_maint/engoil_gas.pdf)

And it seem's to say that depending on your driving habits, you can and should change your oil more often than the recommended service intervals. Interesting.

-Finn

[nefala]

I’m thinking about getting a GTI in the near future and I was interested in what the different maintenance spec were. I guess ill have to read up on that amsoil stuff.... I have been running Honda's for a long time now.. I don’t know how good the amsoil stuff is but I do know that compared to many other oils Royal Purple is really good. I’ve used Purple for 3 years and it is super clear after 3k .... I usually change it after 10k just because I get bored and v-tech requires clean oil. So.... I’ll have to do my research on the amsoil and find out which oil actually has a slower particle breakdown along with many other things. Also if you wait until 10-20k to change you’re oil it is a good idea that you get an oil filter that can last that long. If you use a normal oil filter the filtering system inside of the oil will collect all of the metal and other particles that that it can but after it is "full" it will not filter any longer... causing particles to be continuously cycled throughout you’re engine.

(my first post)

[Dan GSR]

vw reccomends

5k, another 5k, then every 10k