Formula S Or Formula Sd?

[buford_t_justice]

Looking to get some oil (Ford SD 5W40) for my TDi but having problems with two local dealers.

 

One swears blind that it should take 10W40 and if it was having a service that's what oil it would get. The other dealer also swore blind it was 10W40 until I persusaded him to check out the car's VIN and Reg Plate on his computer to double check. He was astounded to discover that it takes 5W40 and so were his other workmates. Aren't Ford great?

 

I told him it was "Ford SD" oil that I was looking for but the best he could manage was "Ford S". This is a fully synthetic 5W40 oil and says it is suitable, amongst other things, for diesel engines.

 

Is this oil okay to use and does it differ from "Ford SD"???

[Ivor_E_Tower]

The PD system of the TDI engines places extreme pressures on the oil. You need to use the correct spec oil, so SD it is (or Millers 505.01, or Castrol 505.01 or the genuine VW-packaged stuff).

[Denis]

Ivor, I was wondering what is the PD system of the engine and what's it got to do with the oil?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

PD = unit injectors rather than common-rail. Each cylinder has its own miniature high-pressure pump to pressurise the fuel, and they are driven by the camshaft. The lobes that press onto the cams are placed under very high loads, hence the need for special oil to provide adequate lubrication, and the need to change the cambelt regularly!