Is Delvac 1 good enuf for 7500 mi chg intervals?

[Sugz]

I change oil every 6 months (7500 miles) and am wondering if it's worth going to Amsoil instead of Delvac 1.

Opinions appreciated.

 

[Ric Woodruff]

You are splitting hairs, if you try to differentiate which is better. Use whichever is cheaper or more readily available.

BTW: You are throwing perfectly good oil away, if you change that high quality oil every 7,500 miles!!! Stop immediately!!!

Per oil analysis, I am perfectly safe changing mine (AMSOIL) every 20,000 miles. You are likely good for at least 10-15,000 miles without even doing an oil analysis on that Delvac 1 you are using.

------------------
Ric Woodruff

"Worry gives small things a big shadow"


1998 Jetta TDI Custom Sport

[This message has been edited by Ric Woodruff (edited January 31, 2001).]

 

[Sugz]

Ric,

Are you saying that I could easily go with a single oil change each year with 15000 mile intervals? Without bypass filters, etc?

If that's a real option, then I would opt for the superior Amsoil I think for the extra protection.

 

[Ric Woodruff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sugz:
Ric,

Are you saying that I could easily go with a single oil change each year with 15000 mile intervals? Without bypass filters, etc?

If that's a real option, then I would opt for the superior Amsoil I think for the extra protection.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes. You can do that with either the AMSOIL or the Delvac 1, unless your car is subjected to SEVERE DUTY, such as idling for long periods of time or being exposed to a bunch of short trips where the engine never gets up to operating temperature.

For average driving, you should be able to go to 15,000 miles, unless you have a lead foot or have modified the engine with a chip or tuning box, in which case I would change the oil every 10,000 miles, just like you Owner's Manual says.

Ric

 

[Drivbiwire]

20,000 miles on Delvac 1 and it was still in goo condition according to the analysis. The soot levels were rising but that is normal for oil with this amny miles. The additives were still at good levels and the TBN was around 7 (I'm not at home so I think that is what it was).

Anyway the 20,000 miles was all high speed driving with the EGR connected and not using any cetane boost. The last 4,000 miles was with an Upsolute chip.

DB

 

[Sugz]

My driving is mostly fairly uncongested freeway, 42 miles/day. I am Upsoluted but drive pretty passively most of the time.

So you think I could do 15k intervals, eh. Are there aftermarket oil filter elements that would give me any better filtering?

Guess that long an interval is just scary

 

[Ric Woodruff]

Amsoil makes great oil filters. They filter down to the 5-10 micron range. I suspect that the reason my soot level was only 1.2% at 15,000 miles was because of their fine filter.

You'll have to check to see if they make a "drop-in" type for your A-4. They may only make the spin-on type like for my A-3.

 

[Shellman]

How do you buy your Amsoil? I called every autoparts around here, and only found one, a high-performance shop, that carried anything Amsoil. I know you can buy off the web but does anybody carry it? I haven't bought my car yet but I am not looking forward to not being able to find what I need to maintain it when I do get it. I also asked about all the other "recommended" oils and NOONE carries them. What do you do?

 

[Turbo Steve]

Delvac 1 meets the specs VW calls for with the TDI engine when Sugz changes his oil every 6 months or 10K (whichever comes first) - he is just following VW's maintenance plan.

 

[Ric Woodruff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shellman:
How do you buy your Amsoil? I called every autoparts around here, and only found one, a high-performance shop, that carried anything Amsoil. I know you can buy off the web but does anybody carry it? I haven't bought my car yet but I am not looking forward to not being able to find what I need to maintain it when I do get it. I also asked about all the other "recommended" oils and NOONE carries them. What do you do?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are in luck! You can buy it from:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/NonCGI/Forum7/HTML/000511.html

 

[gardentender]

shellman,

i think TurboSteve is a fence, er, authorized purveyor of Amsoil products.

 

[Turbo Steve]

My top three synthetic oil recommendations to consider are:

1. AMSOIL Series 3000 5W-30 CH-4 Rated
2. AMSOIL 10W-40 CH-4 Rated
3. Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40 CH-4 Rated

For more details, see also What Oil Should I Use in My TDI 101.

 

[GeWilli]

Steve, isn't it 1 year or 10k miles which ever comes first?????

And yes often times you need to special order these oils. But with a little planning that isn't bad is it? After all it never goes on sale or has rebates. Why would you want to sacrifice the quality stuff in there like ric does?

 

[Sugz]

OK, after all is said and done, let me pose this simple question:

In a year, I drive 15,000 miles of mostly commuting, rest short trips. Easy on the foot.

If I go with the "best", AMSOIL 3000 oil, stock VW drop in filter (are there others?), should I go with one oil change/year?

 

[mickey]

The Amsoil wouldn't be a meaningful improvement over the Delvac 1. Both are excellent.

Only oil analysis can tell you what your particular change interval should be. Go six months on Delvac 1, then send in a sample for analysis. If it passes with flying colors, go for another six months.

Personally, I'd change the oil and filter every spring and fall, using Delvac 1 if that's your cup 'o tea, and never worry about it again.

-mickey

 

[Turbo Steve]

I agree with Mickey's idea of changing the filter every spring and fall, which is in compliance with VW's maintenance recommendation of performing LOF changes every 6 months or 10K.

While the brand of oil you choose can make a difference, the frequency of LOF changes to discard the collected contaminants is the most important thing.

 

[Ric Woodruff]

With the AMSOIL oil filter, you change it every 7,500 miles, regardless of months. This makes perfect sense.