Dealer thread that uses wrong oil..

[Kier]

Fitzgerald VW, Annapolis Maryland: Complaint - They added a oil additive called "Auto Solutions Oil Additive" to my 2004 PD motor during the 20K and 30K service. When I confronted the Service Manager he stated "we have been using this additive for years". I complained that the manual states "DO NOT USE ANY OIL ADDITIVES OR THE WARRENTY CAN BE VOIDED". He still will not back down from his claim.

 

[SilverTDIPDJetta]

The Autobarn
Mt. Prospect, IL
May 17, 2005
The part number on the invoice was for the regular synthetic, verified by the parts dept. This one surprises me as I watched the dealer do the first two oil changes (5K, 10K) and they used the correct oil without being told. Then, I dropped it off for the 20K and found that they used the wrong oil. From now on, I'll either do it myself with my extractor or I'll have to watch the dealer do the change. I will NEVER trust any dealer to do an unsupervised oil change on this TDI ever again!! They were very, very responsive in correcting the problem and the service manager there is well aware of the spec., but that cannot change the fact that I have now driven 59 miles on non 505.01 spec oil.

 

[03_01_TDI]

The Autobarn
Mt. Prospect, IL
May 17, 2005
but that cannot change the fact that I have now driven 59 miles on non 505.01 spec oil.

Nor can they change the fact that ALL PD tdi oil changed done by them before May 2005 had used the WRONG OIL. I am amazed that this is still happening.

 

[TheCheat]

Valenti VW network of dealerships in Connecticut is up on the right oil. When I went to buy my filter for my NB, the parts counter rep at Mystic (her name is Sarah and she's probably the best parts rep I've ever dealt with) asked me if I had 505.01 oil to go with my filter. So rest easy, CT TDI'ers because Valenti's has trained their reps to know what's right.

Langan, on the other hand...

 

[dieseldorf]

Langan, on the other hand...

I thought the boys at Langan were on top of this nonsense...at least that's what they had told us.

He said they have the oil in bulk containers.

 

[c5loadmaster]

Hi all,
Let me add my 2¢. When I purchased my TDI in November 04 from YBH VW, Edgemont, PA they gave me several liters to take with me in case I may need it. I'm stationed in SoCal and the TDI isn't sold in the state. When I arrived, I supplied the oil for the dealer to use, Villa VW, Hemet, CA and they went ahead and ordered a case for their stock. As a courtesy, they sold me a whole case for $30.00. Now they are my regular service point. I only have 8.5k miles on the car.
Happy Dieseling.
Rob

 

[whitedog]

Langan, on the other hand...

I thought the boys at Langan were on top of this nonsense...at least that's what they had told us.

He said they have the oil in bulk containers.

Is 505.01 available in bulk? I thought it was just litres.

 

[TheCheat]

My only 2 experiences with Langan have been horrendous. Last year about this time, I was working on an 04 PD at the guy's house. He lived near Langan and I figured I'd swing by and pick up a liter or two as a courtesy for the guy. They didn't even know what 505.01 was, so I ended up leaving and going to Valenti's (20 miles away). My other experience was when I was shopping for my NB. They told me they couldn't get CyberGreen in black interior (lie), and that I'd have to get leather to get DSG (another lie). Wish I could remember the idiot's name who was my salesman. Maybe things have changed (I hope so), as I know of several PD owners who go to them.

I stand behind Valenti's, and they stand by me as well.

 

[Kier]

After my Oil Additive experience I have chosen a new Dealer in Severna Park MD "Antwerpen VW". I told the service underwriter about my previous experiences with Fitzgeralds. I told him that I will only do business with them if I can watch the tech pour my ELF Excellium DID in my vehicle. He said no problem and since then I have had no problems. Instead of going to the lounge and watching TV, I go to the service bay and stand there when my oil is added and talk to the tech. They also add the Oil Solutions Oil Additive and bump up the price unless you explicitly tell them not to. I cannot believe that VWoA allows this to happen when the manual clearly states 505.01 and no additives! I now realize that you have to always be aware and stay a few steps ahead of them. This is really an outrage since the customer is paying top dollar for service performed by idiots that do not follow the manufacturers fine print. I cannot wait until I get a house with a garage to do this work myself. It will be much more reassuring.

 

[ymz]

>>I cannot wait until I get a house with a garage to do this work myself.<<

With a Pela extractor, you can do this just about anywhere!!!

Yuri.

 

[Kier]

I just bought my PELA but have not used it yet (2000 miles to go). I read many replies regarding folks who say they are not getting all the used oil out of the engine. I have an 04 Jetta PD Wagon and wondered if you are having any problems with the PELA. I guess trying it will be the true test.

 

[supton]

I get around 4.5L out of the motor; I figure it's close enough to the 4.5-5L that I put in it. And voila! no dealer screwup. Next time I go to my dealer (seat heater recall?), I'll see what they are putting in these days.

 

[Ben]

I think this has happened to me.

The short story:

1. I leave on a road trip with 3800 miles on the clock--too early to have my local dealer do the 5k change.
2. I quickly exceed 5k and take my wagon to Desert VW in Las Vegas. They are booked solid with appointments for the next 3-4 days but squeeze me in.
3. I'm vaguely aware of the 505.01 spec as I do read these threads but I'm so ecstatic that the 5k service is going to get done that I fail to bring it up. The desert heat is also overwhelming my Pacific Northwest brain.

4. A few days later (today) I get home and now have about 6700 miles on the clock. I start catching up on my mail and forums. I see this thread and fish out my service invoice and... my stomach sinks.

It lists part # ZVW-352-540-S for the oil at a cost of $42.00 for 5 quarts and a filter plus another $17 for labor. Isn't the 505.01 spec stuff more expensive? That definitely isn't the part number some TDI club members have listed so I'm thinking they screwed up.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. Should I call the service manager for the LV dealership and try to get confirmation on what oil they used? Should I contact VoA? Should I call my local dealer? This is so frustrating... it's not like I took it to Jiffy lube or some random dealer in the sticks... and PD engines have been out for 2 years now. Ugh!

Any advise is appreciated.

--Ben

 

[ymz]

Well, your invoice indicates that you received oil meant for the older vehicles... now, it's possible that they actually put in the 505.01 oil (p/n:G052167A2) and invoiced incorrectly, but I doubt it...

Definitely call VWofA!!! They may be able to get the LV dealer to chip in and pay for at least part of what you'll pay to go to your local dealer and have it all changed again - the sooner the better!! Of course, they may just give you a song and dance about them putting in the correct oil and just making a mistake on the invoice, but...

Good luck,

Yuri.

PS: next time, buy a Pela 6000 and do it yourself!!! Only takes about half an hour maximum... less time than you will have wasted driving and waiting around at the dealership... Lots of threads around here on how to do it..

 

[03_01_TDI]

ONLY REPLY TO THIS THREAD IF YOU CAN POST INFO ON A DEALER THAT HAS OR IS USING THE WRONG OIL, please

Lets use one thread to post a reply to if you have had or know of a dealer that has used the 505.00 oil in the PD.

1 Dealer name
2 City and state
3 Dates that you know of
3 how you know the wrong oil is used

 

[rednerd]

Minuteman VW
Bedford, MA
10/11/2005
Received the care back from the 10,000 mile serverice (2005 golf tdi) w/ a sticker on the windshield stating "next service 15,200 miles" (I was a little over). I look at my bill and it lists "4 FSY FULL SYNTHETIC." I called and talked to the service manager (bob) and the parts manager (victor?) and they both stated that VW only has 2 oils, a castrol full synthetic and a synthetic blend! I gave him the 505.01 part number, G-052-167-A2, and he said that it didn't sound like an oil. So he looked it up... I think it goes without saying that they didn't have any in stock. I'm about to call VW customer care.

 

[rednerd]

More info...

Minuteman claims they use ZVW-352-540S which looks like it is a 502.00 oil. VW customer care left me a voice mail saying that Minuteman claims their oil meets the 505.01 spec. I can't beleive Customer Care would take their word over actually doing 2 seconds worth of work to see that I am right. I called Customer Care back with and asked them to look up the TSB on this issue and the VW woman said they don't have access to that information!!!! I then read her the TSB. She stated that if I have any problems durring my warranty period that VW would stand behind their work. I tried telling here that I drive 160miles a day and that I'd be out of the warranty in 1.5years and that making excuses for a dealership using the wrong parts isn't very good customer service... she repeated that the dealerships offer the best service for VW and they know best... With that logic, why did I bother to get an engineering degree? I am so frustrated right now. This is my 9th (I think) VW but my first new VW (or car for that matter) and I HATE VW. My prediction 2005 VW is soon to be circa 1985 Chrysler.

Sorry, I'm sooooo frustrated. What did I just pay $129 for??? Any one?

 

[rednerd]

One last thing, I have to give credit where credit is due:

Manchester VW in Manchester, NH USES THE RIGHT OIL. And they include a real part number on their invoices. They are completely incompetant when it comes to doing paper work as they had to redo my sales paper work ~3 times, and they lost my last service appt. but they do use the right oil at least.

 

[FloridaMutt]

Royal Volkswagen Orlando Fl

1 Dealer name
Royal Volkswagen

2 City and state
Orlando Fl

3 Dates that you know of
early 2005, and still at present

3 how you know the wrong oil is used

Well, my wife and I owned a 2002 Jetta TDI. Early 2005 she wrecked it, and we replaced it with a 2005 TDI Jetta Wagon. We took it for it's first service to Royal Volkswagen of Orlando where we bought it. I never thought anything of it till just two weeks ago. I decided to buy myself a used TDI wagon. I started doing research online and found this forum.

I got curious and looked in the receipt, of course it said 10-30W synthetic blend. I called VW customer service, and they spoke to the service manager there. They said that I needed to ask for the "expensive oil", otherwise the use the least expensive., that if I wanted they could put a note on their computer that they should only use the "expensive oil" in my car. They still claimed though, that what they used was the correct oil for my car.
When I told the the VW customer service lady that that was a load crap, and an outright lie, she said that she would call me back after doing more research. She left me a voicemail saying the oil they used is still the correct one and it complies with 505.01 specs.

To top it all, yesterday I bought the correct oil, filters (I just bought my second wagon) and an "oil boy". When I was changing the oil today I found that they even used the WRONG FILTER as well.
The filter I found there is the same diameter, but shorter by about an inch and a half, and has no plastic baffles inside. I am mad as hell.

 

[03_01_TDI]

10-30W synthetic blend----uh oh. I would write a letter and mail in certified to the dealership. request either a new car or a lifetime warranty. That dealership probaly has been using the wrong oil for 2 years now--- lots of screwed up PD-TDI's in that area!!!

 

[dieseldorf]

That's a real dog of an excuse.

They said that I needed to ask for the "expensive oil", otherwise the use the least expensive., that if I wanted they could put a note on their computer that they should only use the "expensive oil" in my car.

Mutt, there are no 505.01 compliant 10W30 oils sold in NAmerica. I'd say they've screwed the pooch.

Are you capable of handling your own basic maintenance? If not, get the wife out there to do the oil changes.

This is a perfect case why we cannot permit the dealer to touch our cars.


JUST SAY NO TO DEALER FRAUD!

 

[ekkoh99]

Jennings VW in Glenview, Illinois

Jennings VW
Glenview, IL
USES CASTROL SYNTEC

They used TXT with the 5000 but they used Syntec today. I came with the TSB and other lists and they said it is 505.01 ceritfied. I also had the product specs from Castrol which says 505.00 and 502.00. VW of America called them and the delaership said it was OK. Again, the dealership is telling VWoA what the correct oil is.

 

[FloridaMutt]

same thing

Jennings VW
........... VW of America called them and the delaership said it was OK. Again, the dealership is telling VWoA what the correct oil is.

This seems to be a common thing. Same thing happened with Royal VW, the dealer insists that it is OK, and the VW lady just repeated what the dealer said.


FM

 

[dieseldorf]

Syntec NEVER covers 505.01 or later.

 

[emile]

1 Dealer name
Boston VW

2 City and state
Allston, MA

3 Dates that you know of
late summer-winter 05

4 how you know the wrong oil is used
the whole oil change was under 40 bucks, so i asked them if they used the 505.01 and the service guy and the parts manager both said "don't worry, we used exactly what VW told us to use, and your car will be fine as long as you keep coming in for regular service". then on the windshield there's a sticker saying to come back in 5k miles and that they used syntec. I had to print out a copy of the relevant TSB's (the "you use wrong oil, your car a'splode" and the list of approved oils) before they would even admit they had done any wrong and flush the system. VWoA was completely useless throughout the ordeal. Completely and utterly useless. They gave me that line about "we rely on the dealerships to remain up to date, so we ask them what's right". i could not explain in sufficient detail (not for lack of hours worth of trying) why i sought an authorative source above the dealership. i think your best bet is to go after the offending dealership directly. it's their profit margin you're eating at when you ask for "the right oil" or "a full flush because you screwed up" or "a new set of cams because you've prematurely worn mine, as evidenced by scoring" et cettera.

i really have no idea what VWoA is good for.

 

[mwalters]

Jennings VW
Glenview, IL
USES CASTROL SYNTEC

They used TXT with the 5000 but they used Syntec today. I came with the TSB and other lists and they said it is 505.01 ceritfied. I also had the product specs from Castrol which says 505.00 and 502.00. VW of America called them and the delaership said it was OK. Again, the dealership is telling VWoA what the correct oil is.

If your sig is correct, then Syntec is the proper oil for your car. The 505.01 spec oil is for PD motors '04 or newer. 2002 used VE motors.

 

[dieseldorf]

WILL THE DECEPTION and MIS-INFORMATION NEVER END

Note from new forum brother with brand-new '06 TDi:

Oil Issue for TDI
Hi -- I've been reading your posts on the oil matter. I just bought a 2006 Golf TDI. I put the TXT 505.01 and then on an oil change at Valvoline (out of state and not near a dealership) I put in the 5w-40 synthetic. How long can I use this before needing to change to the 505.01? And What's the difference? What does it do for the car that the other doesn't?

I suggested he change his oil ASAP.

Follow up note:

Re: Oil Issue for TDI Hi -- Thanks for the note. Now, when I called Volkswagen customer care center this morning (800-822-8987). I spoke to someone named Terry. I was told that I DIDN'T need 505.01, so long as ACEA B3 or B4, or API Service CF4 or CG4 was specified on the label. In other words, I didn't need all three, just one of the three. If I had all three the better, but not required. The oil, however, had to be 5W-40. The tracking number for my discussion is 6005xxx. Three times I asked if this was the correct understanding. She kept referring to the owners' manual and clarified it with technicians. What do you think?

When will it end? How can any organization be so out of control?

 

[TornadoRed]

when I called Volkswagen customer care center this morning (800-822-8987). I spoke to someone named Terry. I was told that I DIDN'T need 505.01, so long as ACEA B3 or B4, or API Service CF4 or CG4 was specified on the label. In other words, I didn't need all three, just one of the three. If I had all three the better, but not required. The oil, however, had to be 5W-40. The tracking number for my discussion is 6005xxx. Three times I asked if this was the correct understanding. She kept referring to the owners' manual and clarified it with technicians.

Some PD TDI owners received a manual that contained wrong information. It sounds like this customer service person was quoting from one of those inaccurate manuals.

This is not rocket science, it's one of the basic questions that should have been covered on the first day of training. Or has VWoA decided to hire day laborers from the group congregating down the street from Seven Eleven?

 

[ekkoh99]

VW Jennings

I have a 2002 Jetta WGN and 2005 Passat WGN. The oil change was with the Passat TDI, which needs 505.01. I dont care if they put SYntec in the Jetta because it is 502 and 505 rated. Im going to write a letter. The whole thing caused a rukus in the serviced dept. Some funny sayings from the service advisors were

"Castrol says it is approved for VW diesel engines", I said it is for 505 but not 50501. I asked if Castrol will write a letter.

"That bulk oil is TXT in bulk"

"You can read whatever on the internet"

 

[dieseldorf]

Can it be ANY clearer

"You can read whatever on the internet"

ekk, go ahead and print this and put the service "manager" to the test: See if he can read English

I warehouse lots of supporting doumentation that the dealers all have access to. I can only guess they never read the critical TSBs mailed to them - - I don't know what else to say.

Let me know if this is making any sense