15w40 in my PD uuurgh

Falkirk107

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
TDI
Golf 6 1.6Tdi 105 DSG
So I asked my mechanic what oil he had put in my car and he told me 15w40. And no its not synthetic. Car was last serviced on 55000km and is has 66000km on the clock now. Should I be worried?

Told him I want 5w40 in it. Car is out of warrantee.
 

naturist

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2001
Location
Bro Jerry's hometown, Virginia
TDI
2001 Jetta TDI, 2012 BMW X5 35d
If it is a PD engine, which it may not be in Cape Town, yes, you should.

There are no TDIs newer than, oh, 1995 or so that would take 15w40 non-synthetic oil kindly, however. You need to pay a bit closer attention to what is done to your car.
 

Super T

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2008
Location
Alberta, Canada
TDI
2001 Jetta TDI
There is no point in freaking out. I don't condone the misstreatment of TDI's but honestly there are many that live long lives under the care of owners who just do not care. Get the oil changed to the right stuff, and breath easy. If you are that worked up over it get the cam inspected for wear.
 

Falkirk107

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
TDI
Golf 6 1.6Tdi 105 DSG
If it is a PD engine, which it may not be in Cape Town, yes, you should.

There are no TDIs newer than, oh, 1995 or so that would take 15w40 non-synthetic oil kindly, however. You need to pay a bit closer attention to what is done to your car.
Why would it not be a pd in cape town?
 

No More Buffalo

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Location
Greenville, NC
TDI
Current: 2015 Golf SEL 6m Sold: 2012 Golf 2dr DSG
Keep in mind that they still had MK1's on sale (as "Golf City") in South Africa as recently as 2 or 3 years ago. Very different product lineup down there. A bit like Brazil in that it's a bit of a captive market, with most of the assembly done locally.
 

Falkirk107

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
TDI
Golf 6 1.6Tdi 105 DSG
A captive market? I dissagree. But yes the city golf was withdrawn from the market due to safety regulations. Im very keen on buying a golf gti some time soon.
 

naturist

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2001
Location
Bro Jerry's hometown, Virginia
TDI
2001 Jetta TDI, 2012 BMW X5 35d
Why would it not be a pd in cape town?
Different product lineup in SA than the US. And I am not familiar with the SA lineup. Maybe all 2005s in SA are PD engines, like here. Maybe not, I wouldn't know. I also don't know if all the PD engines in SA had a big sticker in the engine compartment warning that any use whatever of any amount of non-505.01 oil would destroy the engine with potential loss of life and all your hair would fall out, too.

I do know that a non-synthetic 15w-40 oil is not going to be a 505.01 rated oil. And I know that one of the problems with the PD engines is camshaft wear, which appears to be the reason VW insists on that oil. So 11,000 km on non-compliant oil would worry me.
 
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Falkirk107

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
TDI
Golf 6 1.6Tdi 105 DSG
Its a pd engine. Manual says 505.01 and I bought myself 5w30 today recommended by vw sa. Going in for service tomorrow:)

Castrol edge professional oe 5w30 505.01
 
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whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
Do you still have the receipt? Folks here are sticking with a 5W40 rather than a 5W30 oil to protect the cam lobes a bit more.

I have gone away from the 505.01 spec. I used that exclusively in the dealer 5W30 and not only did my cam lobes start wearing, but my hair line has been receding too.
 

leicaman

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Dec 24, 2004
Location
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
TDI
2015 Golf TDI SE, 2005 TDI GLS, RIP
Dealers can get an Castrol Turbo Diesel Edge with a 5w40 formulation with 505.01 I am using it in my PD as I type this. But then it would take some work on their part to locate this in their very own system...
 

Ludicrous Speed TDI CUP

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May 4, 2012
Location
Northern IN
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2010 TDI Cup, 06 Jetta TDI
I have a 2010 Jetta with "Supporting mods" that allow me to stray away from the factory oil and go with a heavy duty 15-40 Rotella oil. The engine is quieter and runs better with Rotella so far. I just changed it for the first time at 5500mi and I've been running B20 BioDiesel for 95% of that time... Oil looked great...
The factory spec oil I used from castrol smelled like diesel and was very black and burnt looking after 3000mi.
No more of that!
~Scott
 

scurvy

Good Ol' Boy
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
Chicago IL USA
TDI
2006 Golf
I also agree, you're better off running a diesel-spec 15w40 than any 5w30 oil. Your cams & lifters NEED a substantial HTHS value to protect them.

If you want a synthetic oil, go for 5w40.
 

romad

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Joined
May 27, 2011
Location
Prescott, AZ
TDI
2005 Jetta GLS Wagon "Cranberry"
Its a pd engine. Manual says 505.01 and I bought myself 5w30 today recommended by vw sa. Going in for service tomorrow:)

Castrol edge professional oe 5w30 505.01
Here in these United States, there were two different PD engines used in 2005: the BEW from 2004 and the newer BRM(?). My owners manual for my BEW engine specs VW 505.01 5W40 as primary, with 5W30 as secondary. However, since the car was out of warranty when I bought it last year, I'm using Shell Rotella T6 5W40. "VW 505.01?, VW 505.01? We don't need no stinkin' VW 505.01!" (with apologies to Mel Brooks and whoever he parodied)
 

Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
I have a 2010 Jetta with "Supporting mods" that allow me to stray away from the factory oil and go with a heavy duty 15-40 Rotella oil. The engine is quieter and runs better with Rotella so far. I just changed it for the first time at 5500mi and I've been running B20 BioDiesel for 95% of that time... Oil looked great...
The factory spec oil I used from castrol smelled like diesel and was very black and burnt looking after 3000mi.
No more of that!
~Scott
What are the "supporting mods" that allow you to change to a different than factory rated oil? Did you change the oil film clearance on the main, rod and cam bearings, perhaps?
 

bluesmoker

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Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Location
Maple Ridge, B.C.
TDI
2004 pd 5 speed tip
What are the "supporting mods" that allow you to change to a different than factory rated oil? Did you change the oil film clearance on the main, rod and cam bearings, perhaps?

the "supporting mods" would require that the ash collecting dpf (which requires a vw 507 oil) would no longer be collecting ash (read into that what you will) :rolleyes:as dino rotella does not comply with vw's low ash 507 standard .
 

Ludicrous Speed TDI CUP

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Northern IN
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2010 TDI Cup, 06 Jetta TDI
the "supporting mods" would require that the ash collecting dpf (which requires a vw 507 oil) would no longer be collecting ash (read into that what you will)
Correct... I can't state any thing like that or I'll get in trouble on the fourms but in theory that's what happend to mine to be able to run a standard oil... that would otherwise contaminate my DPF and Cats.. again in "theory"
With out the re-gen cycle going on I can also run B-20 safely since it won't be putting the extra diesel in the exhaust stroke to clean the DPF and wash out the rings and contaminate the oil...
Hope to make my own Biodiesel here before to long and supplement my B-20 with maby 25%BioD.
All working good so far :)
~Scott
 

turbobrick240

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Nov 18, 2014
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maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
An echo from the days before ubiquitous bots.
 
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