Showing my ignorance (oil related)

[schoolsout]

I have no clue what oil is used in my car as I take it down the street to the place our company uses (for ease and we have an account there). I think they told me they use Kendall and are using full synthetic 5w30 in my car. I've got 105k miles on the car and have only had the usual issues with EGR cooler and DMF at moment. Hoping to inspect cam soon when I can get up towards DanG's way soon.

I'm reading about 5w40 being better. Let's say I want to switch...do I need to? Should I? Should I wait until I check out the cam and other things before doing so?

Forgive me, but I come from a background of if it is diesel, we usually just used Rotella in 5 gallon buckets (Mack Trucks and Sportfish boats)

Take it easy on me, too...

 

[Jnitrofish]

Oil dscussion is a lot of opinions with a little fact sprinkled in. I would suggest as a start sticking with a 5w-40 full synthetic diesel grade oil, this includes VW 505.01 and API CJ-4.

Check the cam visually sometime.

The timing belt and related parts were replaced on this car recently, yes?

 

[schoolsout]

TB and related parts were done at about 90k miles

A fellow from this site has offered his help in doing a thorough once over (including visual inspection of cam) when we can figure out a convenient time to meet.

I've recently started reading this site when I had the hissing noise (EGR Cooler) and finally figured out that that thing rattling in my car for 30k miles or so (DMF) needed to be fixed ASAP....and I'm continuing down the rabbit hole.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

You should look up Dan Goldston in Chapin, (DanG144 here). He's one of the best TDI gurus out there. A bit of a drive for you, but totally worth it if you're looking for advice on the cam, DSG, or anything else for that matter.

 

[abakos]

I did a cam inspection at dan's earlier this year...worth the trip; you'll learn a LOT.

 

[Joe_Meehan]

Don't take my word for it. Open the owner's manual and follow the instructions there. OK you bought it used and it may not have an owner's manual. I suggest doing some searching on the web and/or check with the dealer to see if you can find one. Everyone should have that owner's manual.

Our diesels require certain specifications and what those are depends on the model year. It is important to use an oil that meets those specifications. Our diesels do have different requirements than many gasoline engines, so you need to be a little more careful. Don't assume your local mechanic knows what is needed and may give you oil for a gasoline engine. That would not be too good.

 

[schoolsout]

Don't take my word for it. Open the owner's manual and follow the instructions there. OK you bought it used and it may not have an owner's manual. I suggest doing some searching on the web and/or check with the dealer to see if you can find one. Everyone should have that owner's manual.

Our diesels require certain specifications and what those are depends on the model year. It is important to use an oil that meets those specifications. Our diesels do have different requirements than many gasoline engines, so you need to be a little more careful. Don't assume your local mechanic knows what is needed and may give you oil for a gasoline engine. That would not be too good.

Point well taken

I'm sad to say I bought this car new. 95k miles worth of the wrong oil...

and I have contacted Dan and plan on heading up his way soon. Thanks all.

 

[Jnitrofish]

I'm sad to say I bought this car new. 95k miles worth of the wrong oil...

As a supporter of abandoning VWs special oil requirements on the BRM (I use Rotella T6 API CJ-4), I would love to see your engine in pristine condition.

I don't think it would be the first time the wrong oil was used for the life of the car and the engine looked great inside. I'm optimistic.

 

[schoolsout]

I will definitely be doing things the "right" way from now on. I bought this car hoping it would last at least 250k miles and told myself I'd be driving it until the wheels fell off. I just hope the wheels don't fall off a whole lot earlier than I was expecting.

 

[jeremy1701]

I agree with Jnitrofish... I'm optimistic.

The specifications show that there is indeed a difference between 5w30 and 5w40, but I wouldn't be surprised if your engine looks good. Probably the more important issue is whether or not they changed the oil at regular intervals, or if they let it slip a few extra 1000 each time.

 

[schoolsout]

I've changed it right around each 10k mark +/- 100-200 miles either way

 

[Sella Turcica]

it's actually nice to know that one of these BRMs lasted 95k miles with the wrong oil. I was starting to get the impression that one drop of non-505.01 and your engine would turn into a medusa's head swinging a sword and breathing fire.

 

[schoolsout]

it's actually nice to know that one of these BRMs lasted 95k miles with the wrong oil. I was starting to get the impression that one drop of non-505.01 and your engine would turn into a medusa's head swinging a sword and breathing fire.

Don't jinx me now!

 

[Mach1]

I am still running the wrong oil and have 120000 on mine. I am running the worse oil I can..506.01 in Texas 0-30W...

I do have cam wear..15000OCI.


I cant kill it...it wont die...

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Technically that's not the wrong oil. 506.01 encompasses 505.01. Of course it's also been discontinued by some refiners for reasons we all know.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Technically that's not the wrong oil. 506.01 encompasses 505.01. Of course it's also been discontinued by some refiners for reasons we all know.

I'm not sure even I know why 506.01 was discontinued.

 

[T_D_I_POWER]

.......
I'm reading about 5w40 being better. Let's say I want to switch...do I need to? Should I? Should I wait until I check out the cam and other things before doing so? ..........

Don't wait any longer, ditch the 5W30 and switch to 5W40 now. The valve train will thank you for having mercy on them.

Shell Rotella will be fine oil to use, and I would suggest to use the T6 -Blue jug- which is the full synthetic.

 

[Mach1]

I dont know why it was discontinued either..Please enlighten me...what does the V10 call for then?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Total (then Elf in the US) discontinued their 506.01 because they saw excessive wear in cars in Europe. IIRC the wear issues were on gasoline-powered cars, and was not camshaft related. At least that's what I recall.

 

[Mach1]

Thank you...I did not realize it was speced for Gassers, I learned something today!!

I have had good luck with it so far, FWIW.

 

[schoolsout]

Alright...just got back from the store with 5 qts of M1 ESP M 5W40

Gonna check cam at DanG's and then oil change if cam is in decent shape.

 

[cevans]

Yeah, the 506.01 didn't do to well for wear on the TDIClub UOA listing either. 507.00 is a better spec in that regard.

 

[DanG144]

Alright...just got back from the store with 5 qts of M1 ESP M 5W40

Gonna check cam at DanG's and then oil change if cam is in decent shape.

The cam was shot.

 

[Tarbe]

Ok, all you VW 505.01 spec haters! Let's hear it!

Sorry to hear about your cam, though. Hope you can get her fixed up and filled with good oil.

 

[thesilverjet]

Since the cam is shot, what will be the replacement. I have read too many posts with too many different oppinions about the cam replacement. I would like to hear from a pro like DanG144.

 

[schoolsout]

I'm hoping to get a BEW Colt Cam from Franko6 as soon as he gets one in....whether it is the right move or not remains to be seen.

My hopes of "lucking up" on that wrong oil that did miracles to the engine were shot down with a quick glance from Dan!

I'm running M1 ESP M 5W40 now, but after the new cam, I will be switching to Pentosin 5W40 and also adding ZDDPlus.

 

[schoolsout]

I don't mind your question (I'm here to learn whatever I can), but you may get more responses in the fuel/lube section further up the main page.

 

[kamakazi]

Thanks schoolsout, i started my own thread in oils and lubricants and deleted my post

 

[thesilverjet]

Yeah thanks a lot! That really helped on some questions I had. I have spent hours looking through all those posts on fuel/lube and I end up getting side tracked with the overload of info. Much better hear from a guy with the same car and same problems. I also run the pentosin 5w40 because the previous owner ran it.

I help a buddy of mine to engine installs in replica shelby cobras and he uses zddp in some of his engines that require more zinc. I did some research and decided I was going to try it in my tdi since it helps cam wear. I have been surprised that I have not heard of more people with the pd engines using this stuff. Good to know someone else uses it so I don't feel like I'm doing something stupid.

Something else that may help cam wear is a oil bypass filter. You can get them at dieselgeek.com. I have one on my car and it seems to work well.

Thanks again

 

[schoolsout]

I'm not saying what I'm doing is absolutely correct, but it's gotta be better than what I was doing!

I haven't used the ZDDP before, but I think DanG does...He is the one that mentioned it to me and since then, I've just done a little bit of reading on it and have decided the few extra $$$ spent are worth the peace of mind.

Who knows...