Which Is The Correct Oil For A Mk.1 Tdi?

[Kevinb]

Hi everyone,

 

I've searched for oil on the forums but the search engine doesn't allow for words less than four letters long!

 

I thought I had a handle on the type of oil to use in my Mk.1 TDi and so changed it last year. However, I've since read some of the posts regarding the oil type which have, quite frankly puts the proverbials up me. I've seen SeatKid's post that states using anything less than a 505.01 grade will screw up the engine in X amount of time and other peoples' stating what they've used other oils with no issues (yet). I've also now read that this only applies to the VW PD engines from around 1999 (W Reg) onwards. I have a 1999 T Reg and so it seems prudent to use the better grade providing it won't mess up the engine. Where on the engine do I look to find the model type and what would determine a PD engine?

 

If it's a true Mk.1 TDi, what should I go for with regards to the grade? 505.01 or settle for 505.00?

 

Also, I've heard garages make a big deal of ONLY going for the correct viscosity of the oil for these cars. Is this such a big deal if I went for a better grade (providing it conforms to the 505.01 if necessary)? If memory serves the car uses 10w-40 as standard. I'm also aware that the Ford (and VW) garages can be a bit lax in following their own recommendations.

 

Apologies that I'm probably treading very well trodden ground and if it appears I've ignored previous posts, I'm starting to get a real headache from the bewildering array of oils apparently required for a simple oil change!

 

Cheers,

 

Kevin

[marinabrid]

I've used 10/40 semi synthetic for 9 years in our AFN engine  i think thats the correct grade, never had any problems in 150,000 miles.

[Kevinb]

Cheers Marinabrid. Much appreciated for that. I don't feel quite so worried now! Started putting Mobil Super 2000 (Diesel) as I've always been pretty happy with Mobil oils (and used to work with a chap whose other half worked for Castrol as a chemist who refused to use Castrol oils!). I didn't want to continue using an oil - no matter how good - if it was going to mess things up!

 

K

Edited January 17, 2014 by Kevinb

[insanitybeard]

I don't think any of the Mk1 Galaxies (in the UK at least) were fitted with the PD engine, though I stand to be corrected. Looking at the rocker cover on top of the engine, the PD's is much broader than the earlier TDI because it also houses the injector camshafts and unit injectors. The earlier engine has a narrower rocker cover (pressed steel? instead of the PD's plastic- ABS or polycarbonate one) and externally fitted injectors, with each one being fed by a thin (metal) high pressure fuel pipe which goes back to the high pressure fuel pump which mounts on the front left hand side of the engine as you look in the engine bay. The PD engine has none of this.

Edited January 17, 2014 by insanitybeard

[seatkid]

PD oil is not necessary for mk1 TDI - engine codes 1Z, AHU, AFN - vw spec 505.00 is sufficient. However for a few pence extra 505.01 spec is considerably better and is usually 5w-30 grade which gives you 2-3 percent improvement in mpg over the 10w40 grades. Even better still is 507 spec oil but its considerably more expensive unless on offer.

 

IIRC there were a handful of end of run mk 1 models that got a PD engine fitted so best check the engine code which can be found on the sticker on the cam cover, on a label in the offside rear wing, or sometimes on the V5 document.

Edited January 17, 2014 by seatkid

[chromedome]

seatkid.......is the 507 spec oil ok for pd engines? Just in case it can be found on offer over the 505.0 spec. Thanks.

 

Sorry, just checked and apparently it is. "For all diesel engines year 2000 onwards including pd".

Edited January 17, 2014 by chromedome

[Shabazmo]

PD or not, the 505.01 506.01 or 507.00 are all top oils for vw engines. After 229,000 miles, my engine is still going strong

[Kevinb]

Cheers for your responses gents. Much appreciated. I did notice the engine seemed to run much happier once I put the Mobil oil in; even the missus noted it ran quieter and seemed "happier". I'm assuming that most oils that conform the 505.001/505.01/507.00 specifications are much of a muchness when compared to each other (of the same grade and spec)?

 

Seatkid, going by your post, I'm working on the basis that it IS in fact ok to run the engine on a 5w-30 or 0w-30 (diesel) oil instead of the "standard factory grade" 10w-40 - providing it confirms to the 505.0x (and upwards) specification?

 

Cheers for your input,

 

K

[Shabazmo]

For your information 506.01 and 507.00 are long life oils used in variable service interval engines and should be good for circa 20K miles, although I don't recommend this length of miles between oil changes.  The 505.01 was a fixed life oil for the 10K interval oil changes. These oils were developed for the VW PD engines that used unit injectors which had the fuel pump and injector as one unit.  The injectors were driven by the camshaft and the high forces wer required to open the injector. This meant that a special oil was required.  So the oils mentioned can withstand high forces.  I use the 507.00 because not only is this oil good for high forces, it will stay in grade for longer.

[Kevinb]

Cheers Shabazmo. It certainly explains why VW went for a particular grade of oil.