5w30 vs 5w40 Castrol Syntec

I can not find 5w40 Castrol Syntec oil as recommended by VW for my 2003 Jetta TDI. However, I did find 5W30. Can I use 5w30 in my engine all year round? or do I need to find the 5w40 oil. I live in New Jersey (no jokes please) /images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Thanks for your help,

Lance

I wouldnt, I talked to VW about this and the 5W40 is made especially for them. Said so right on the bottle. The folks on here can recommend many oils just as good as this so do a search and I am sure you will find one as good and cheaper than VW charges($9 Can/litre).

lance, the 5W30 is not 505.00 compliant. The 5W40 is 505.00 compliant. You may have to go to the dealer to find it or seek out an alternative.

I agree with Park and dieseldorf. Do not use the 5w30 in your engine. It's too lightweight. There are plenty of 5w40 oils out there which are suitable for your TDI. Use one of them. I use Delvac-1 myself, but that's just my preference. It need not be yours.

You can pick up Delvac1 in Jersey at Pilot just off exit 56(?) of Rt295, the Bordentown exit. You have to go to the truck area, I picked up mine there. You can also order it online, just look around.

Good luck
PJ

Not to rain on anyones parade, but just as long as you get TDI compliant oil, ala, VW 505.00, you can pretty much tailor your use from anything from 5w30,10w30,10w40,5w40 (as recommended)15w40,15w50,10w60, the list almost goes on and on. If you look at the CD Bentley's AND (in my case) the VW 2003 Jetta TDI owners manual, they both list all of the above AND probably some I have left out!!!!

Some folks have even used a synthetic blend Schaffer's 15w-40 product with pretty good oil analysis results.

That being said, I personally use 5w40 Mobil Delvac One. I hope to go to 500,000 miles and beyond all things willing. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

After the 4yr/50,000 mile engine warranty I am planning on going 15,000-20,000 miles intervals for the oil and filter changes

The first TBS from VW specified 5-30. I can't find my copy right now But like the man said above any 505 5 W whatever listed in your owners manual will work. I use 5-30 in the winter and 5-40 in the summer.

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lance71137 said:
I can not find 5w40 Castrol Syntec oil as recommended by VW for my 2003 Jetta TDI. However, I did find 5W30. Can I use 5w30 in my engine all year round?

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Castrol Syntec 5W-30 does not meet any of VW 505.00, ACEA B3 or B4, or API CF-4 (not the same as CF) or CG-4. Castrol Syntec 5W-40 (available at a VW dealer) does meet VW 505.00 and at least one of the ACEA ratings. Castrol Syntec 0W-30 (the German one) does meet at least one of the ACEA ratings, and Castrol Elixion 5W-30 does meet API CI-4 (covers CF-4 and CG-4) and ACEA B3 and B4.

But if your local Wal Mart still has Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 for $13 per gallon, that is the easiest to find 5W-40 (it has the API CH-4 rating which covers API CF-4 and CG-4).