PD oil and dealers

[cep]

You have to watch them like a hawk.

A dealer that I use (and like) changed the oil in our PD TDI for the third time. First two times, I checked to make sure they were using 505.01 oil. They were.

Today, they changed it again. By chance, I asked for some spare oil at the parts counter and the guy produced Castrol SynTech 5w-40. I said this was incorrect; he informed me this was the oil they put in all diesels. I asked the Service Manager if this was the oil they put in my car, and the answer was "yes."

They were more than happy to drain it out and replace it with the correct oil once I pointed it out, but the moral of this story is even though a dealer used the right oil in the past is no guarantee they will use the right oil in the future. If you own a PD, always ask to see a bottle of the oil they're using.

[gt4494]

I guess I have been fortunate here. The dealer is the only place in town I have found with a dependable supply of the correct oil. They charge the same as the parts store that has to order it.

I change the oil myself.

[Ed999]

Thanks for the report and so typical. It's very disappointing to hear of a VW dealer (I assume this was a VW dealer) doing this. Just another reason to be a DIY'r...

[The Cheat]

just an fyi for those diesel owners out there...my shop ALWAYS keeps 35 liters of castrol txt 505.01 IN STOCK at all times. we also use castrol slx gold (for the 09-up tdi), and for those made before 2004.5, we use either mobil1 5w40 or castrol syntec 5w40.

we never have put the wrong oil in, and never will. as a former pd-tdi owner, i know all too well the value of using the right oil. i buy in bulk from www.idparts.com .