MKV R32 Engine Oil & Fuel Additives

[noisuf]

Morning all!

Just received my R32 last night which has done 34000 kms. A couple of quick questions as i like to look after my babies :)

1) I know its VW 504 oil i should be using but the manual doesn't state viscosity rating. What oil do you guys recommend?

2) is r32 a long service vehicle that requires oil changes every 15000 kms? If so, should i be changing the oil every 7500 kms as i usually change my other car every 5000 kms.

3) i read about fuel additives from vw i should be using. What interval do i use it? And would the 30000 km service have added it?

Cheers, michael.

[Transporter]

VW504 oil is 5W30 if it says different viscosity, then it most likely isn't VW504 approved oil. I use in petrol engines Interject (http://www.interject.com.au/additives/additives.htm) injector cleaner (415Y) every 3rd fill up.

It depends where you drive and how but 7,500km max. is what I do on oil in engine.

Even the Supercheap Auto is selling Shell Helix UltraExtra for less than $75/5L now, so it is not that expensive to change the oil, especially if you can DIY. :)

[noisuf]

VW504 oil is 5W30 if it says different viscosity, then it most likely isn't VW504 approved oil. I use in petrol engines Interject (http://www.interject.com.au/additives/additives.htm) injector cleaner (415Y) every 3rd fill up.

It depends where you drive and how but 7,500km max. is what I do on oil in engine.

Even the Supercheap Auto is selling Shell Helix UltraExtra for less than $75/5L now, so it is not that expensive to change the oil, especially if you can DIY. :)

Thanks Transporter! I was a little concerned when I read that oil in the long service category can last for 15,000kms...I'll take the halfway route.

[noisuf]

getting two bottles of penrite enviro tomorrow. :)

[Rob Burns]

Not really sure why you wouldn't change at the manufacturer's recommended interval. Oil quality has improved significantly since the days of having to get your oil changed every 5000km. Changing it sooner is really just a placebo.

[noisuf]

Not really sure why you wouldn't change at the manufacturer's recommended interval. Oil quality has improved significantly since the days of having to get your oil changed every 5000km. Changing it sooner is really just a placebo.

Ah, call it paranoia...when I change oil even at 5000kms in my Suby...it's quite dark... Good feeling for around $80...

[Transporter]

Not really sure why you wouldn't change at the manufacturer's recommended interval. Oil quality has improved significantly since the days of having to get your oil changed every 5000km. Changing it sooner is really just a placebo.

Some people like to care for their cars bit better than others.
Hmm, manufacturer recommendation... let me think about it... it is indeed only a recomendation to me. Now, I can already hear you thinking; "Another one who thinks that he is smarter than the VW engineers".

Let me remind you something VW Audi Oil Sludge Class Action Settlement (http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/813-vw-audi-oil-sludge-class-action-settlement) and to that,I can only say that, I rather change oil more often than be one of these 480,000 affected.

:)

[Diesel_vert]

1) I know its VW 504 oil i should be using but the manual doesn't state viscosity rating. What oil do you guys recommend?

The only viscosity range 504/507 oils are made in is 5W-30.

Good to see you've already bought two bottles of Penrite, but for future reference here is a list of known oils available in Oz. (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f112/why-you-need-use-504-507-oils-fsi-tsi-tdi-engines-47140.html) Any of them will do really, they are after all made to the same specification.


2) Is R32 a long service vehicle that requires oil changes every 15000 kms? If so, should i be changing the oil every 7500 kms as i usually change my other car every 5000 kms.

"Longlife" in VW speak refers to "variable service intervals" which range from 15,000 km/1 year to 30,000 km/2 years as determined by the onboard computer, and requires the use of "Longlife oils" i.e. 504/507 oils.

Australian delivered vehicles are on "fixed service intervals" (15,000 km/1 year) so "Longlife oils" aren't required, but that doesn't mean you can't use and take advantage of them.

I'd change the oil between 7,500 km/6 months and 15,000 km/1 year, depending on the type of driving you do. I don't think you'd see much benefit of changing it any sooner, and colour is not really an indicator of an oil's condition.

Alternatively, you can change the oil at 15,000 km/1 year, but replace the oil filter and top-up the oil every 7,500 km/6 months, which is a simple way of extending the life of the oil.

[Diesel_vert]

Some people like to care for their cars bit better than others.
Hmm, manufacturer recommendation... let me think about it... it is indeed only a recomendation to me. Now, I can already hear you thinking; "Another one who thinks that he is smarter than the VW engineers".

Let me remind you something VW Audi Oil Sludge Class Action Settlement (http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/813-vw-audi-oil-sludge-class-action-settlement) and to that,I can only say that, I rather change oil more often than be one of these 480,000 affected.

:)

So I clicked on the link, and then another link, and this is what I got...



"If you owned or leased one of the following vehicles, your rights may be affected:
Model year 1998-2004 Volkswagen Passat vehicles equipped with 1.8 liter turbo engines:
Model year 1997-2003 Audi A4 and A4 Cabriolet vehicles with 1.8 Liter turbo engines;
Model year 2004 Audi A4 and A4 Cabriolet vehicles equipped with 1.8 Liter turbo engines;
for which motor oil meeting VW specification 502 00 was not required as part of scheduled maintenance (2004 A4 vehicles with VIN Numbers below WAULC68E44A152304 and 2004 Cabriolet vehicles with VIN numbers below WAUAC48H04K014467) imported or distributed for sale or lease in the United States by Volkswagen of America, Inc. d/b/a Audi of America."



So essentially, the American arm of Volkswagen and Audi told owners that VW 502 oil wasn't necessary (ignored orders from German HQ???) and then ended up with lots of angry owners with kaput engines?

Who made that stroke of genius? :facepalm:

[Transporter]

Yes, somebody was smarter and thought that it would be OK. :duh:
SA dealer no longer sells Castrol oil, they have fully imported oil from EU. I wander what triggered the change? ... but I think I already know the answer.

[noisuf]

Did my first oil change in the R32 over the weekend with Penrite Enivro+...

Even at 7,500 kms, the oil was dark and well, yuck. Wouldn't have wanted that in there for another 7,500kms.

I know that the oil may have been ok even though it didn't look it...but I always feel 'cleansed' after an oil change...very therapeutic. :)

[Stalker]

Good work. I picked up a few packs of Shell Helix Ultra Extra 5w-30 at the Repco 20% sale a month or so ago. Her first service under my ownership is due in a couple of months and will be about 7,500kms. Very interested to see what the used oil comes out like.

[noisuf]

If you're going to do it yourself, make sure you have a 36mm socket amongst other tools.

Still getting use to euro cars from jap cars...apart from the indicators being on the other side:

1) wheel bolts reversed
2) filter elements instead of filter cans

[balkanac]

I changed the oil and filter in mine fe weeks ago. I used Castrol 5w30 and the car is running much smoother. The oil was black that came out, eventho it did 6K km since the last oil change (it was a year ago tho)
changing the filter was the biggest pain in the a$$, there is a plastic cover that goes from the bumper to just after the filter. I cut my hands so much to get it out!! Hope its different on MK5s

[noisuf]

I changed the oil and filter in mine fe weeks ago. I used Castrol 5w30 and the car is running much smoother. The oil was black that came out, eventho it did 6K km since the last oil change (it was a year ago tho)
changing the filter was the biggest pain in the a$$, there is a plastic cover that goes from the bumper to just after the filter. I cut my hands so much to get it out!! Hope its different on MK5s

Yep, still a plastic cover...but after taking out 8 or 10 bolts, the cover slides off pretty easily.

The most this baby is going to see from now onwards is 7,500 kms between drinks. :cool:

[R36FTW]

I'd never recommend running an engine for 15000kms on the same oil. Some engines are easier on oils than others (operating temps, shearing etc) and Audi/VW engines do not have a good reputation, rather they sludge up very easily and are very hard on oils. Long life or not, 5000-7500kms would be as far as I'd go. Have a look over on the BITOG forums and check out some UOA's and see the wear metals increase when pushed past 5-7.5K kms, not worth the extra wear and tear IMO, I'd rather just change the oil.

Fuel additives I have on good authority (fuel injection specialist who was a good mate of my tuner and whom I spent a fair bit of time with) are a bit of a wank. Some will work a little, but good quality 98RON has additives that should keep things pretty clean, and that after about 40-50K kms, you should pull the injectors and have the ultrasonically cleaned (~$22 per injector). No additive comes close to a proper ultrasonic clean. Just use 98, and get them properly cleaned every 50K kms or so, much cheaper than buying fuel additive all the time.