oil change questions

BigFatDuck

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Joined
Apr 14, 2006
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SLC, Utah
TDI
'98 New Beetle GLS TDI
Hey all, i just have 2 quick questions to ask you all for input. I would greatly appreciate it if i could get some responses. i have a '98 beetle tdi with around 120k miles. i use mobil 1 5w40 "turbo-diesel truck".

first: oil change intervals to my knowledge are every 10k. the problem is i don't put many miles on my car, like less than 10k per year. 2 part question, should i maintain the 10k interval with 120k miles, and what is the timeframe i should change oil if it takes over a year to reach that point?

second: how important is it that the oil level be maintained precisely inside the depression of the dipstick? i recently changed my oil and it's slightly over, past the curved part and barely up into the flat section above the oil fill mark. should i be concerned and suck some oil out?

Thanks in advance for your input.
 

Bob_Fout

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2003 Jetta - Alaska Green (sold) / 2015 GTI 2.0T
1. Interval is 10K miles or 1 year, whichever happens first. The interval doesn't change with mileage. You have only 120K miles :)

2. No
 

Joe_Meehan

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Most maintenance items on any car are based on a mileage and a time limit. It is whichever comes first.

No, don't worry if the oil is a little above or below the full mark. You just don't want it to go much above or any below the low mark.
 

TornadoRed

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BigFatDuck said:
i use mobil 1 5w40 "turbo-diesel truck".
first: oil change intervals to my knowledge are every 10k. the problem is i don't put many miles on my car, like less than 10k per year.
IMO it depends on how you put those miles on your TDI. Plus it matters that you are using an oil designed for long drain intervals.

If it's a 4-mile roundtrip commute every day, then yes, go ahead and change once a year. That is the kind of driving that is hard on an an engine and on the oil.

But if you making 200-mile trips a few times a month, then the oil should be good for a couple years, if that's how long it takes to accumulate 12k-15k miles.
 

T_D_I_POWER

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'04 VW PASSAT GLS TDI '06 Audi A4 q Avant 6-Spd Sport Pkg
Don't forget to do this, because this is the most important thing when you change oil. Fill the OFH with oil approx 350 ml ~ 12 fl.oz. (A).
This way upon first start up after an OC, there's immediate oil supply to the valvetrain, turbo bearing etc. No oil starvation ;)





1st in TDIClub

All the best on your OC

Rev. A = 350 ml = 12 fl.oz. was 700 ml ~ 24 fl.oz.
 
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Bob_Fout

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The engine cares which oil is poured in though. How have the latest MB oils fared in 2.0L PDs?
 

TornadoRed

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The Mobil 1 ESP Formula M is a 5w40, which IMO would be better than the 5w30 version in any engine. Plus it should be available at MB and some Chrysler/Dodge dealerships.
 

TornadoRed

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Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck has no VW approvals either, but it's working out very well in a great many PD engines.
 

velociT

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TornadoRed said:
The Mobil 1 ESP Formula M is a 5w40, which IMO would be better than the 5w30 version in any engine.
This is the same thing I was thinking.

But I was wondering, in regards to the additives 229.51 has, does it have similar additive levels like 507.00, it's just is a 40w?
 

Bob_Fout

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That's what I asked. Has anyone tried an MB oil in 2.0L PD? That's uncharted waters as far as I know.
 

yatzee

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see sig
...and done a UOA to confirm if the oil is any good or not? I can find that stuff up here no problem, but the 5w30 is no where to be found (this for an 09 CR)
 

T_D_I_POWER

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LOL, some of you guys are to funny. I knew it this would happen. This is just like opening a can of worms, since this is a very sensitive subject. How sensitive is it? I asked a fellow TDIer about M1 ESP F 5W30 vs M1 ESP FM 5W40, he wouldn't answer my question.... I would rather wait and see what others use......and I will follow.

Here are the specs

Typical Properties
Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30​
SAE Grade 5W-30
Viscosity, ASTM D 445
cSt @ 40ºC 72.8
cSt @ 100ºC 12.1
Viscosity Index, ASTM D 2270 164
Sulphated Ash, wt%, ASTM D 874 0.60
HTHS Viscosity, mPa·s @ 150ºC, ASTM D4683 3.58
Pour Point, ºC, ASTM D 97 -45
Flash Point, ºC, ASTM D 92 254​
Density @ 15ºC, kg/l, ASTM D 4052 0.850

Typical Properties
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40​
SAE Grade 5W-40
Viscosity, ASTM D 445
cSt @ 40ºC 81.1
cSt @ 100ºC 13.35
Viscosity Index, ASTM D 2270 167
Sulphated Ash, wt%, ASTM D 874 0.63
HTHS Viscosity, mPa​
s @ 150ºC, ASTM D4683 3,8
Pour Point, ºC, ASTM D 97 -39
Flash Point, ºC, ASTM D 92 236

Density @ 15ºC, kg/l, ASTM D 4052 0.850

 

TornadoRed

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DD: That is an interesting tool, but it does not allow you to compare the VW507.00, MB 229.51, and API CI-4 oils directly.

However, it shows the 229.51 oil is at least as good as the 507.00 oil. Just slightly stronger in some categories, maybe slightly weaker in others; but 229.51 appears to be far superior to 505.01.
 

dieseldorf

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TornadoRed said:
DD: That is an interesting tool, but it does not allow you to compare the VW507.00, MB 229.51, and API CI-4 oils directly.
J: same old problem. They don't compare truck oils against car oils. They consider them to be mutually exclusive, as they are ;)

See the HD oils comparison tool.
 

T_D_I_POWER

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TornadoRed said:
DD: That is an interesting tool, but it does not allow you to compare the VW507.00, MB 229.51, and API CI-4 oils directly.

However, it shows the 229.51 oil is at least as good as the 507.00 oil. Just slightly stronger in some categories, maybe slightly weaker in others; but 229.51 appears to be far superior to 505.01.
Thanks for the tool.
 

TooSlick

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The MB 229.51 spec allows the same level of "SAPS" (Sulfated ash, phosphorus, sulphur), as a VW 505.01 product. I think the issue is whether it's a suitable replacement for the VW 507.00 spec in the DPF equipped engines.(FWIW, I believe it is).

TS
 

velociT

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TooSlick said:
The MB 229.51 spec allows the same level of "SAPS" (Sulfated ash, phosphorus, sulphur), as a VW 505.01 product. I think the issue is whether it's a suitable replacement for the VW 507.00 spec in the DPF equipped engines.(FWIW, I believe it is).

TS
If that is the case, it sounds good to me too.

I can tell you if I had an 09, I more than likely would change out to it because the 40w basestock would help me sleep easier.
 

dieseldorf

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Wasn't Mobil going to produce a Delvac 1 5W40 ESP? Perhaps it's the same as the TDT CJ4 :confused:
 

Bob_Fout

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D1 ESP 5w40 is CJ-4, but is not the same as TDT CJ-4. By most accounts it is more robust than TDT.

/EDIT: D1 ESP 5w40 showed up to market well before CJ-4 TDT.
 
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dieseldorf

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T_D_I_POWER said:
Good 4u DD. Probably you and I can start the ball rolling and put the 505.01 to rest
I've never used this oil cuz they don't want it used in the gassers. There's some issue with the ethanol in the gasoline.

Last time I checked, this oil was less that $7/qt at the dealer.
 

velociT

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dieseldorf said:
Wasn't Mobil going to produce a Delvac 1 5W40 ESP? Perhaps it's the same as the TDT CJ4 :confused:
They did. To my knowledge it is only available at truck stops.

It shouldn't be the same as TDT because it was $44 a gallon the last time I saw it... (TDT was 28)
 

T_D_I_POWER

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dieseldorf said:
I've never used this oil cuz they don't want it used in the gassers. There's some issue with the ethanol in the gasoline.

Last time I checked, this oil was less that $7/qt at the dealer.
Oh I thought you were going to use it in your TDI? The fine print says...MB229.51 Specification in gasoline and Diesel vehicles....Doesn't this mean that it's good for both Diesel and gasoline engines? And what about the ethanol issues?
 
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