VW Golf TDI 2.0 Urgent Oil Topup

[gerhard]

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

Being late Tuesday I assume you have resolved this issue?

Many of us would be interested in the outcome.

[Jettinabout]

Firstly is the oil light orange or red...orange means you can drive it to help(ring VW assist as soon as the light comes on if you don't you will void your warranty), red means pull over to the roadside immediately.
Secondly the oil that they use is Castrol Edge...get a castrol catalogue and read it. It states quite clearly that it has been formulated for VW, Audi and FPV.
Had an oil light go orange and it was low oil. Turbo charger was faulty and losing oil through the main seal...rang VW assist and was given the appropriate advice and I complied with their advice(they were great to converse with and very helpful)...top the oil up. They told me what oil to use if necessary(not the brand but the number) and go to my dealer ASAP...turbo and manifold fully replaced under warranty no probs since.

[Blackrod]

I joined the forum on Saturday to answer the question of what to buy to top up my Golf 2.0TDI, which at 11000km was at the bottom of the 'add a bit if you like' range on the dipstick.

This morning I visited Lennock in Canberra (my local dealer) to ask what brands I could use. He said none commercially available except through VW dealers and sold me 1 litre of Castrol SLX Professional for $23.35. The container is clearly marked VW504/VW507. The dealer said they used to use Edge 5W30, but VW now insist on SLX.

250ml restored the oil level, but I hope that as others have found oil consumption diminishes after the 15000km service.

[bazzle]

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.

X3... any oil is better than no or low oil. People get too anal re this stuff..

Bazzle

[brad]

This morning I visited Lennock in Canberra (my local dealer) to ask what brands I could use. He said none commercially available except through VW dealers and sold me 1 litre of Castrol SLX Professional for $23.35. The container is clearly marked VW504/VW507. The dealer said they used to use Edge 5W30, but VW now insist on SLX.

Did you ask for a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin that covers oil types? I think the dealer is telling porkies or hasn't read the bulletin properly.

The Jan 2008 TSB from VW lists a truckload of oils that "meet VW Oil Quality Standard 507" (the latest diesel standard). Castrol Edge 5w30 is listed as OK.

I think these are also commercially available & meet VW504/507:
Penrite Eco5 (???)
Fuchs Titan GT1
Shell Helix Ultra VX
Mobil1 Ow40

I haven't got the manual in front of me but my interpretation of it is that the Long Life oils are for variable service regime (15,000-30,000km) and the recomended oil type for fixed service interval vehicles (15,000km) isn't as stringent.

It only took 250ml to bring your oil level up to spec?

edit: so you were at the bottom of the B-section?

[Blackrod]

Did you ask for a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin that covers oil types?

No. I didn't know such a thing existed, but if it's nearly a year old might it not have been superseded?

edit: so you were at the bottom of the B-section?

Correct.

[brad]

No. I didn't know such a thing existed, but if it's nearly a year old might it not have been superseded?.

Not unless the oil make-up has been changed.

VW set the specification. The oil manufacturer sends the oil (& ~$6000) to the VW laboratory for test. The oil passes or fails & is added to the list accordingly.

[tdi guy]

A suggestion

Perhaps TDI owners should consider packing a refill...

TG

[Transporter]

Did you ask for a copy of the Technical Service Bulletin that covers oil types? I think the dealer is telling porkies or hasn't read the bulletin properly.

The Jan 2008 TSB from VW lists a truckload of oils that "meet VW Oil Quality Standard 507" (the latest diesel standard). Castrol Edge 5w30 is listed as OK.

I think these are also commercially available & meet VW504/507:
Penrite Eco5 (???)
Fuchs Titan GT1
Shell Helix Ultra VX
Mobil1 Ow40

I haven't got the manual in front of me but my interpretation of it is that the Long Life oils are for variable service regime (15,000-30,000km) and the recomended oil type for fixed service interval vehicles (15,000km) isn't as stringent.

It only took 250ml to bring your oil level up to spec?

edit: so you were at the bottom of the B-section?

That Mobil1 is actualy Mobil1 ESP 5W30 not Mobil1 0W40.

[brad]

That Mobil1 is actualy Mobil1 ESP 5W30 not Mobil1 0W40.

Thanks