VW Golf TDI 2.0 Urgent Oil Topup

[craigdmb]

Hi Guys,

Have just ordered a VW Golf TDI from VW Ballarat. As the car is late in delivery they have given me a Loan Car which is an 04 TDI 2.0 Manual. Its done about 45000 K's and Im doing round trips of about 160 kms per day, great fuel economy. The oil light has just come on and the oil level looks low. What type of oil can I put in to top up the oil levels. There was no instruction manual placed in the car so im not too sure what to put in.

Thanks

Craig

[mr_walker]

What type of oil can I put in to top up the oil levels.

If I was in your situation I'd be careful about what I put in, because it's a loan car, and you don't want anything coming back to haunt you down the track. The oil specs for the TDI engine are very specific, so officially you need a VW 507.00 (corrected - thanks gregozedobe) certified oil that I think you can only get at VW service centres. It's about $20-25 for a 1l top up bottle, from memory.

Give the service centre a call, and they should be able to advise you. They might be happy for you to substitute something else, and give it an oil change when it's returned.

That's my $0.02 anyway.

[99gti]

Dont put anything in it yet. Speak to the dealer ASAP and tell them the light has just come on.

[gerhard]

Ditto the others.

Ring Ballarat VW, (surely they are open today?) and ask them what time today they can put some in.

[craigdmb]

VW Service in Ballarat are closed on weekends. Ill be driving back home which is about 80k's. The light has just come on now should it be OK for that distance?

[phaeton]

Try Penrite HPR 0

http://www.penrite.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?art_id=476&nav_cat_id=127&nav_top_id=55

or Castrol (which VW uses)

CASTROL SLX PROFESSIONAL VW 505.01
Castrol SLX Professional VW 505 01 is an SAE 5W-40 synthetic lubricant for VW Pumpe Duse, 'unit injector', diesel engines. It is also suitable for a range of petrol engines.

http://www.datateck.com.au/lube/castr_au/default.asp

[STV4SYT]

Yeah, its a loaner so i wouldnt be putting anything in it. if the light has just come on and the dipstick isnt dangerously low id wait til tomorrow and give em a call 45000 it will prob be due a service anyway.

[brad]

I reckon in emergencies, any oil is better than no oil.

The VW spec is designed to enable long service intervals. If the service department is unavailable then just go & grab anything that is full or semi-synthetic around 10w40 or 5w30. It will do the job as a short term fix.

Stuff that is available fairly readily will be

• Castrol Edge 5w30
• Castrol Magnatec
• Shell Helix Ultra 5w30
• Valvoline Durablend or Synpower
• BP Visco 5000

Even if the chemical makeup is slightly wrong it will still be better than having a low oil level & low pressure. The dealership will change the oil if they think it's an issue.

[99gti]

I reckon in emergencies, any oil is better than no oil.

The VW spec is designed to enable long service intervals. If the service department is unavailable then just go & grab anything that is full or semi-synthetic around 10w40 or 5w30. It will do the job as a short term fix.

Stuff that is available fairly readily will be

• Castrol Edge 5w30
• Castrol Magnatec
• Shell Helix Ultra 5w30
• Valvoline Durablend or Synpower
• BP Visco 5000

Even if the chemical makeup is slightly wrong it will still be better than having a low oil level & low pressure. The dealership will change the oil if they think it's an issue.

What he said x2. Just don't over fill it...

[gregozedobe]

The current spec for VW TDIs is VW 507.00 It may be hard to find though.

[mr_walker]

What gregozedobe said:

[brad]

And using the current spec is exactly what you should be doing under normal circumstances.

BUT! If there is a warning light flashing on the dash & the oil level is below the lower mark on the dipstick then you've got 4 choices:

1. Park the car & find alternative transport
2. Ring around & find somebody with VW507 spec oil, then arrange for somebody to deliver it to your car - because you really shouldn't drive it if the warning lights are on.
3. Ring your motoring organisation and the RACV/NRMA guy will come out & add some oil from the can that he keeeps in the back of the truck - who knoiws what spec that might be considerring he uses it for any car that happens to have low oil.
4. Buy some oil that is as close as possible to the correct spec. Add enough to fill to the top mark of the dipstick, continue your journey knowing that there is sufficient lubricant to do the job required. Tell the VW Service Centre about it first thing Monday & ask them what else needs to be done.

I can assure you that if you carry out option 4 the Service Manager will thank you for your consideration of not driving the car with low oil level.

It's a temporary fix for an emergency and no long term damage will result.

20 years ago i had a loaner Galant from a panel beater. The oil pressure light came on & I added 3 litres of Mobil JetOilII to a 3.5L sump. It was the totally wrong oil (there is no additive pack in JetII) but it was better than no oil. The panel beater thought it was great because so many of his customers just drive until the car expires in a smoking mess.

[iampivot]

1. Ring your motoring organisation and the RACV/NRMA guy will come out & add some oil from the can that he keeeps in the back of the truck

What about calling VW roadside assistance?

[brad]

What about calling VW roadside assistance?

Forgot about them

Haven't had access to that experince yet

[jaydude02]

vw roadside is the number you call through to someone in a call centre but vw does'nt show up i can assure you of that!! it will be private roadside assist company who carries only what is needed in emergencies (not full syn oil)

as for the oil i would choose option 4 like brad suggested and maybe not even fill it totally, just enough to get it half way up the mark using the closest spec oil you can find.