Oil Be Enlightened Now

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Phoned Castrol and had an enlightening conversation:

Engine specifications for the 1.9PD engines were changed when the Audi A2 was introduced to this engine (or the other way round) circa May 2002. The 505-01 spec oil can be used with all the PD engines, including the 130PS variants on variable interval servicing, so long as the oil is changed annually or every 10,000 miles (ie so long as you don't use the variable servicing capability). It's 5W40, same as the Ford spec M2C917; Ford don't use the variable interval servicing, which can go to 2 years or 30,000 miles, hence no need for Ford to consider using SLX II.

But, don't use the SLX II 0W30 oil (VW spec 506.01) in pre-May 2002 engines as they do not have the relevant engineering modifications to use this oil; it's too thin and they need a thicker oil due to the high pressures imposed by the PD injector pumps.

So, SA Intruder and other 130PS drivers, if you stick to fixed servicing intervals, you don't need to use the mega-expensive SLX II stuff, which has characteristics suitable for extended drain intervals.

All clear now? (Oil clear now?)

[Ventoux]

Not completely clear.

 

The question concerning the viscosity is clear, yes surely 5W40 has to be used for TDi 115.

 

The question remaining is just "synthetic or semisynthetic"?

 

I understand both are fulfiling Ford spec M2C917 and VW spec 506.01.

 

I guess there was already discussion about this (haven't found). It could matter for the second hand cars where we are not sure which oil was used before.

So does it matter if the base of oil is changed during the engine lifetime?

 

My local Ford deater says: "we use semisynthetic one".

 

Which oil do you use? mark recommendation?

[Guest Turbo]

All I can say is oil is so good these days that surely the semi-synthetic 5-40 is good enough for everyday use, unless your doing very hard driving and thrashing the turbo all the time or towing something heavy with your foot on the floor, then maybe fully synthetic will be a better choice. Some cheaper semi-synthetic oils don`t stay in grade for long but if you run a Galaxy you`re not going to put cheap stuff in are you? Castrol 5-40 semi-synthetic is good enough for me. I did have 10-40 in at first.....never noticed any difference,but changed it just incase. Isn`t that plastic tray a pain when your doing the oil change on the drive, worse putting it back up, one foot holding it in place while you fight to put bolt in.

Turbo

[Dave-G]

Wot you only used 1 foot? I've cut a hole in mine below the sump plug. Dont try leaving it off (like i did once) 'cos as soon as you hit a puddle your power steering belt gets wet and slips till it dries off-now that's scary!

[Guest Turbo]

Well ok, Dave, one foot and a little bit of bad language helped too !

[Nick]

So is Castrol GTD Plus good enough for a 90hp Galaxy? It says it's a 10W40 and meets or exceeds SAE 10W40; API CF and ACEA B3...

[Ventoux]

Dear Guys,

 

let me to conclude.

 

For the TDi 115, 2001 I have to use only semisynthetic or synthetic 5W40 with

 

spec. 505.01 (VW) or spec M2C917 (Ford). These oils may be used in PD TDi

 

engines.

 

I can not use SLX II 0W30 oil (VW spec 506.01) in pre-May 2002 engines (my case).

 

WHY? Which modification was done that time? Shall I understand that PD model

 

was just introduced?

 

I have thought my Gal TDi, 2001 is PD, or not because is Nov 2001?

 

By the way, I found the article comparing the noise of VW Sharan PD 4M filled

 

with both 505.01 and 506.01 oils.

 

The result is interesting, in the full range of the engine speed the 506.01 filling is less noisy (about 2,5 - 3 dB) than engine with 505.01 (at the same car)!

 

Cheers, V.