What brand engine oil

[vdubbed12]

I’ve had my 15K service done on my Tiguan Allspace at a dealership today and noticed that they have used Valvoline Synpower XL-III 5W30. I’ve always had Castrol put in my other VW’s when serviced at dealerships but just wondered if VW are using Valvoline now or is it dependent on the dealership? How does it compare to Castrol?

On a side note, I noticed when I bought my Allspace a year ago, they had a Castrol service reminder sticker on the windscreen rather than the official VW sticker although on the back of it had the dealership’s name. Now I’ve got a Valvoline sticker on.

[Guest001]

Interestingly that oil is only listed as "Suitable" for VW when we are supposed to use "Approved" for VW oils. I use Penrite Enviro + and have for 10 years but recently picked up some Approved Castrol for 1/2 price so am using that ATM

As long as it is an APPROVED 504/507 oil it really doesnt matter too much what brand it is as long as it meets the 04/07 criteria as per the sticker by the bonnet catch on your car

YOUR STUFF Lube Guide | Valvoline Australia

Ist the Valvoline on the Approved list??? Should also be a 504.507 rated oil

[vdubbed12]

Interestingly that oil is only listed as "Suitable" for VW when we are supposed to use "Approved" for VW oils. I use Penrite Enviro + and have for 10 years but recently picked up some Approved Castrol for 1/2 price so am using that ATM

As long as it is an APPROVED 504/507 oil it really doesnt matter too much what brand it is as long as it meets the 04/07 criteria as per the sticker by the bonnet catch on your car

YOUR STUFF Lube Guide | Valvoline Australia

Ist the Valvoline on the Approved list??? Should also be a 504.507 rated oil

Thanks for the information. I’ve had a look at the website and it only mentions, “ This oil can be used where VW 503.00, 506.00, 506.01 is specified. ” but then on Supercheap Auto says “Valvoline SynPower XL-III OEM approved where Volkswagen VW 504.00/507.00, Mercedes-Benz MB 229.51 and BMW LL-04 specification oils are required.”

I’ve emailed the dealership so we will see what they say. But when I had a look at their email address I noticed that they are part of a franchise dealership - Penfold Group in Melbourne. I think they have Penfold Audi, Mazda but didn’t know this VW dealership was one of them. Anyway I had my Mazda CX-9 serviced there about 2 years ago and I recall they also put on a Valvoline service reminder sticker. They probably have a contract/deal with Valvoline? I wonder if Penfold Audi gets Valvoline as well.

I never knew different dealerships use different engine oils - had my VW’s for a while but never had anything else put in by dealers other than Castrol. Next time I book I’ll be asking what brand engine oil they put in - probably wouldn’t matter but still like to use Castrol.

[Johnbu]

I suspect there could be more than one type of Valvoline SynPower XL-III.

I know Valvoline SynPower XL-III C3 is 504 507 approved.

I'd say the dealer is using the 504 507 approved version.



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[vdubbed12]

I suspect there could be more than one type of Valvoline SynPower XL-III.

I know Valvoline SynPower XL-III C3 is 504 507 approved.

I'd say the dealer is using the 504 507 approved version.



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Thanks for the heads up. I noticed that there are 3 different ones under that name, one of them being C3 - on the invoice it just says Valvoline SynPower XL-III. I haven’t read up on differences but hopefully that’s just a clerical error. No need to check with them now as I know what they will say. Would draining and refilling it be an overkill?

[Guest001]

Thanks for the information. I’ve had a look at the website and it only mentions, “ This oil can be used where VW 503.00, 506.00, 506.01 is specified. ” but then on Supercheap Auto says “Valvoline SynPower XL-III OEM approved where Volkswagen VW 504.00/507.00, Mercedes-Benz MB 229.51 and BMW LL-04 specification oils are required.”

I’ve emailed the dealership so we will see what they say. But when I had a look at their email address I noticed that they are part of a franchise dealership - Penfold Group in Melbourne. I think they have Penfold Audi, Mazda but didn’t know this VW dealership was one of them. Anyway I had my Mazda CX-9 serviced there about 2 years ago and I recall they also put on a Valvoline service reminder sticker. They probably have a contract/deal with Valvoline? I wonder if Penfold Audi gets Valvoline as well.

I never knew different dealerships use different engine oils - had my VW’s for a while but never had anything else put in by dealers other than Castrol. Next time I book I’ll be asking what brand engine oil they put in - probably wouldn’t matter but still like to use Castrol.

Well buy it yourself and get them to use it.Ive been doing that for 10 years without problems.

Ever since I found out the oil was $93 for 5L at the spares desk and they charged me $119 for 4L on the service invoice.

[Lucas_R]

Im sure the dealership is using the correct VW specification oil when they service new VW cars day in day out.

As for the brand changing from Castrol to Valvoline, VW has had a long relationship with Castrol but oil companies will approach dealerships trying to get deals to supply their brand, and im sure price and supply times etc play a huge part in decision making as like any business, the dealership wants to maximise their profits. At the end of the day, your car is being serviced with good quality synthetic oil that meets the VW spec then no harm done.

If you want to be able to control the oil being used in your engine then (as mentioned above) you can buy it yourself and supply it to the mechanic. I have done this previously and it was no problem.

[vdubbed12]

Well buy it yourself and get them to use it.Ive been doing that for 10 years without problems.

Ever since I found out the oil was $93 for 5L at the spares desk and they charged me $119 for 4L on the service invoice.

That’s a good good idea, too. I didn’t know we could do that. They changed me $102 for 5.7 L GST included so maybe it’s a cheaper one but standard capped pricing anyway.

[vdubbed12]

Im sure the dealership is using the correct VW specification oil when they service new VW cars day in day out.

As for the brand changing from Castrol to Valvoline, VW has had a long relationship with Castrol but oil companies will approach dealerships trying to get deals to supply their brand, and im sure price and supply times etc play a huge part in decision making as like any business, the dealership wants to maximise their profits. At the end of the day, your car is being serviced with good quality synthetic oil that meets the VW spec then no harm done.

If you want to be able to control the oil being used in your engine then (as mentioned above) you can buy it yourself and supply it to the mechanic. I have done this previously and it was no problem.

Yeah I think I’ve been overthinking it. That’s what I thought to myself as well - I’m sure they did. I might look into getting my own oil to supply them next time or just check with them before I make a booking.

[Guest001]

That’s a good good idea, too. I didn’t know we could do that. They changed me $102 for 5.7 L GST included so maybe it’s a cheaper one but standard capped pricing anyway.

I dont get the capped servicing because I didnt buy car off local dealer as they didnt have any when I wanted one. However i mostly get the same price minus the oil cost in it.

[Lucas_R]

Yeah I think I’ve been overthinking it. That’s what I thought to myself as well - I’m sure they did. I might look into getting my own oil to supply them next time or just check with them before I make a booking.

Just as important to me is not leaving the oil in the engine for 15,000km. Too long in my opinion and not good for engine longevity. I get the mechanic to service the car every 12 months (log book service) and then 6 months later ill do an oil + oil filter change and check over the car for piece of mind. 12 months is a long time between oil changes and a check over.

[Guest001]

Just as important to me is not leaving the oil in the engine for 15,000km. Too long in my opinion and not good for engine longevity. I get the mechanic to service the car every 12 months (log book service) and then 6 months later ill do an oil + oil filter change and check over the car for piece of mind. 12 months is a long time between oil changes and a check over.

You are wasting money as overseas they have a 30,000km oil change regime with the SAME OIL

[Lucas_R]

You are wasting money as overseas they have a 30,000km oil change regime with the SAME OIL

And Id love to know how long those engines last with such a long oil change interval. No thanks.

I respectfully disagree with you - although we are all entitled to our own opinions. Service intervals designed by manufacturers are not designed with engine longevity in mind. All they want is to get through the warranty period which a new engine would have to be unlucky to not survive with long oil change intervals. Once you are out of warranty, they dont care if you have engine issues. They want you to buy a new car - that's how they make money.

Think of all of the transmissions these days which do not have a service schedule because the manufacturer say its filled for life. Life does not mean 20-30 years, life means about 7-8 years then your transmission shyte itself and instead of spending thousands to fix your broken car, you go and buy a new one. A good example of this is the ZF transmission in my SQ5. Audi say its filled for life....but ZF, who make the transmission say they recommend an oil change between 80,000-100,000km. I know who's advice I will be following because I want to minimise the chance of having my very expensive transmission shyte itself because I didnt do an oil change at the specified interval.

Plenty of videos on Youtube etc showing cars which have not had engine oil changes done for 30,000-40,000km. Its not pretty. Think of all the fine oil lines and oil galleries inside your engine (turbo feed, oil squirters under pistons, variable valve timing systems etc) and how small those feed lines are. They have very little tolerance for dirt/carbon etc due to poor oil changes.

It costs me no more than $100 to do my intermediate oil change and it gives me piece of mind that my engine always has good quality and fresh oil in it.

[Guest001]

The point I was making was that the OP obviously doesnt do 15,000km a year but like me does the service anyway. Then does one at 6 months again. Our cars do about 5,000km a year and Im stuffed if I will do a 6 month one. No car needs an oil change that often.

But then my Landcruiser was every 5,000km but is a vastly different animal to a VW.

I also would be reluctant to do a long service regime but we dont do we and neither do VW advise it for AUS but the oil obviously "can last" a lot longer without much harm.

[Ozsko]

And Id love to know how long those engines last with such a long oil change interval. No thanks.

I respectfully disagree with you - although we are all entitled to our own opinions. Service intervals designed by manufacturers are not designed with engine longevity in mind. All they want is to get through the warranty period which a new engine would have to be unlucky to not survive with long oil change intervals. Once you are out of warranty, they dont care if you have engine issues. They want you to buy a new car - that's how they make money.

Think of all of the transmissions these days which do not have a service schedule because the manufacturer say its filled for life. Life does not mean 20-30 years, life means about 7-8 years then your transmission shyte itself and instead of spending thousands to fix your broken car, you go and buy a new one. A good example of this is the ZF transmission in my SQ5. Audi say its filled for life....but ZF, who make the transmission say they recommend an oil change between 80,000-100,000km. I know who's advice I will be following because I want to minimise the chance of having my very expensive transmission shyte itself because I didnt do an oil change at the specified interval.

Plenty of videos on Youtube etc showing cars which have not had engine oil changes done for 30,000-40,000km. Its not pretty. Think of all the fine oil lines and oil galleries inside your engine (turbo feed, oil squirters under pistons, variable valve timing systems etc) and how small those feed lines are. They have very little tolerance for dirt/carbon etc due to poor oil changes.

It costs me no more than $100 to do my intermediate oil change and it gives me piece of mind that my engine always has good quality and fresh oil in it.

You are guessing with no basis of fact, get some tests done and come back with some real results.