Oil...What to use in your TDI

Rocky786 said:

Hi Guys,

I am new to TDI's. I have a 1998 Seat Ibiza TDI (90hp).

Firstly, is it a PD engine or not?
I know the Specification has to be VW 505.00, however, what should the Grade be? (i.e will 5w30 be ok for the UK climate?)

The owners manual tells me to select the oil with regards to the ambient temprature. And I believe that based on the UK weather the 5W30 is better than going for thicker oils like 10W30.

Best Wishes

Rocky

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just the normal 10w40 diesel oil will do your older style engine fine, thats what i run mine on too, (dealer serviced)

Hi There,

Sorry to appear thick, but what's a PD engine? I've got a 2008 model 57 plate altea 1.9tdi 105ps and it's used a bit of oil, so I've looked through the manual- which just confused me. So I rang the dealer who told me all PD engines needed the 50.501 spec oil. but is my 1.9TDI the PD variety (is there any way of telling from looking at it) and if not will using the 50.501 be of any benefit/a waste of money/actually harmful or if it's not a PD should i stick to the 50.500 spec oil.

cheers

Ade

Yes, it's a pd engine. 505.01 for you, sir.

Using any other oil other than the 505.01 ve spec could lead to early cam-lobe and tapet wear. This is important part of the PD engine, it German for pump jet or something, fuel injected using mechanical force from cam through a pump in each injector as well as the main fuel pump.

505.01 VW Spec such as Millers XFE-PD, not expensive either, Castrol etc are more expensive.

Thanks chaps, fully synthetic here I come......shame Seat's manual wasn't better in identifying which engine I'd got

Hi there,
Got a modded Leon 150 & am concerned about this cam wear situation. Just had is serviced (20k) at my excellent local dealer, they use Quantum PD oil. I havent checked the spec but I assume its the correct oil... However, I shall now be changing the oil every 5k miles with 5/30 506 PD Fully synthetic. What Brand do people suggest/prefer?
Also, what are peoples thoughts on additives such as 'Slick 50' or 'X1R'?
Cheers.

Quantum is VWs own brand, and it's Castrol in the bottle. If it has the VW spec on it (505.01 or 506.01 : or : 504/507) then it'll be fine. Personally I'd buy Fuchs 504/507, 5w 30.

As for your additives.

I think I might've said this before. Given that VW design an engine, working alongside oil manufacturers to produce a lubrication package to protect the engine, why the hell would anyone want to add some bloody snake oil to their specified oil and take it away from the recommended specification? Question "Does Slick 50 say that it complies with VW505.01 (minimum oil spec for a pd engine)?" Answer:..."No!". So why use it?

I have a strong suspicion that all the camshaft failures can be attributed to "I used Castrol GTX Magnatec for my sevice..." or "My dealer uses Forte engine flush at every sevice..." and add to this list any other lubrication modification techniques.

Okay, fair comment and I agree with you in part. I remember seeing a Slick50 promotion film years ago, a Renault 12 & a Fiat Strada had their oils drained but the Strada had been given the Slick50 treatment, the Renault understandably knocked it bollocks off & blew in 2 miles, the Fiat kept on going.... What it the crack with these PTFE friction modifiers/reducers???

Most 'good' oils have friction modifiers built in to the additive packages now. Its these modern friction modifiers that gives you a improved fuel economy.

Ah, that would be an advert. All sorts of funny stuff used to happen in adverts. Now the Advertising Standards Authority have something to say about what can be claimed when advertising a product. Don't see that Slick 50 advert nowadays....

Don't really see any advertising of Slick 50 any more, or any other additive for that matter - obviously down to the seriously increased quality of modern engine oils, answers my question I suppose!!!! With the claims that the manufacturers of Slick 50 & the like made/are making, then adding something which molecularly coats the high stress areas surely should be a good thing, that’s where I’m coming from. Anything to reduce wear really.....

But the right spec oil from VW for your engine will already do this as they have worked with an oil company to make the correct synthetic oil with the correct additives to work to its optimum.

FR+TDI said:

Don't really see any advertising of Slick 50 any more, or any other additive for that matter - obviously down to the seriously increased quality of modern engine oils, answers my question I suppose!!!! With the claims that the manufacturers of Slick 50 & the like made/are making, then adding something which molecularly coats the high stress areas surely should be a good thing, that’s where I’m coming from. Anything to reduce wear really.....

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I have been told to use something called ZX1 http://www.team-zx1.co.uk/

But not in engines, as like I said most quality oils already contain these kinda things.

Apparently you can use friction modifiers in the coolant system (reduces pump friction), gearbox, differentials, even /diesel petrol tank ......anything that creates friction really.

This is from a guy who has used ZX1 over many year, more of a bike enthusiast than car - he swears by the stuff. and some remote car racers use it to reduce the engine friciton.

I sent a email to ZX1 asking loads of nerdy questions about it and they sent me a 35ml sample is a cute liitle bottle.

having also got a renault I recon it'd have knocked it's bo**ocks off even if they'd done it the other way round!

Jokin apart I went to halfords for the oil and after asking for some 50501 oil they aked me what viscocity I wanted as there were several options. They even entered my reg in their computer, then tried manually to find out which one I needed but in the end drew a blank and said I'd need to contact the dealer. So in the end I gave up and will go to the dealer who sold me the car-perhaps that's what the game is, confuse the buyer with the oners manual then give them 1/2 the information so eventually he'll come back to us, but as Viking points out they ain't going to sell you no rubbish oil so I'm going for the cumfy chair and cocoa option

Hi fellow's and specialists.

My first question on this forum

I have a Leon TDI 150hp since a few months. I went to my dealer and changed the oil and filters.
They have put Shell 0W30 Ultra. But since then I feel that the engine has got kinda noisier.

Is that the right oil? or is that too thin? I have read many posts, but got confused.

Please advise. Thank you.

WBR

Black Leon

What Specification is the Oil? VW 50?:?? that will tell you. Tons in this thread on what oil needed, search at the top of thread 150 tdi and you will get your answers there.

Black_Leon said:

Hi fellow's and specialists.

My first question on this forum

I have a Leon TDI 150hp since a few months. I went to my dealer and changed the oil and filters.
They have put Shell 0W30 Ultra. But since then I feel that the engine has got kinda noisier.

Is that the right oil? or is that too thin? I have read many posts, but got confused.

Please advise. Thank you.

WBR

Black Leon

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If it's Shell Helix Ultra X 0w 30 then that should carry the VW506.01 specification, which is suitable for your engine. It's a thinner oil than the VW505.01 5w 40 which you should've had in before. It's the longlife version of VW spec for extended service intervals.

VAG group are now starting to supply Shell oil in place of Castrol, so it's not unknown for 1ltr bottles of Shell to turn up in the boot of VW or Audi cars from new.

Black_Leon said:

Hi fellow's and specialists.

My first question on this forum

I have a Leon TDI 150hp since a few months. I went to my dealer and changed the oil and filters.
They have put Shell 0W30 Ultra. But since then I feel that the engine has got kinda noisier.

Is that the right oil? or is that too thin? I have read many posts, but got confused.

Please advise. Thank you.

WBR

Black Leon

Click to expand...

If this is the oil then this is only a 505 spec. Not good enough!!!!!

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework.../helix_new/products/ultra_diesel_ga_0707.html


You need this one

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework...s/helix_new/products/plus_diesel_ga_0707.html

I will call my dealer tomorrow and ask the specefic oil details. On the invoice it is written as 0W30 ultra and on the little registration paper from Shell which they hang on the flasher handle, it is not clear which specific type. either 505.xx 50x.xx or?

Will let you know.
Thank you for very fast replies

Has anyone tried Opie Oils ? Just wondered how they were ...

Cheers
Andy