505.01 oil for PD engines

[cep]

I've been running the 5w-30 Castrol oil sold by VW dealers. Owners manual specifies 5w-40, not 5w-30.

As the PD engines sometimes want to eat their own cams (not clams), I want to switch to the 5w-40 to try to forestall that problem.

Pentosin makes a good 5w-40 but it is apparently an online proposition only and the freight adds about 40-50% to the cost of a 5 liter jug.

Castrol once again makes a 5w-40 505.01 oil but you can't find it anywhere, either.

So I called a nearby (if 60 miles can be considered 'nearby') dealer and asked if they carried 5w-40 Castrol which meets the 505.01 spec. To my surprise, the answer was 'yes.' To my even greater surprise, the price is less than $7 per quart, and if you bring your own container, the price is less than $5.50 per quart!

So, if like me, you are having a hard time finding good oil for your PD, try your VW dealer. And no, I don't work for one or anything like that.

[boertje]

Originally Posted by cep

I've been running the 5w-30 Castrol oil sold by VW dealers. Owners manual specifies 5w-40, not 5w-30.

As the PD engines sometimes want to eat their own cams (not clams), I want to switch to the 5w-40 to try to forestall that problem.

Pentosin makes a good 5w-40 but it is apparently an online proposition only and the freight adds about 40-50% to the cost of a 5 liter jug.

Castrol once again makes a 5w-40 505.01 oil but you can't find it anywhere, either.

So I called a nearby (if 60 miles can be considered 'nearby') dealer and asked if they carried 5w-40 Castrol which meets the 505.01 spec. To my surprise, the answer was 'yes.' To my even greater surprise, the price is less than $7 per quart, and if you bring your own container, the price is less than $5.50 per quart!

So, if like me, you are having a hard time finding good oil for your PD, try your VW dealer. And no, I don't work for one or anything like that.

I agree that the 5w-40 is the oil to use, not the 5w-30 even though it might be 505.01. I have been using pentosin in my BEW PD, but after the next oil change I think i will go to shell T6 which, along with mobil TDT seems to have the best wear analysis even though it's not 505.01. It's readily available and cheaper than the mail order stuff. From what all I have read, it is not the 505.01 designation as much as it is 5w-40 oil that is the best protection.
Glad you found some 505.01 that is 5w-40 at a good price. My local dealer is big money.

[Duffy]

This my help..

[cep]

Thanks for the list. I've seen it before and as it's dated 2005, I would guess there have been some additions since then.

It's not so much a problem of identifying which oils are 505.01 approved as it is finding them. The shipping kills you when ordering online.

[macdave]

Napa should have or be able to get LubroMoly with a 505.01 rating.

[bigsexyTDI]

Wal-Mart, Rotella T6, Cheap, Good, Done.

[cep]

Originally Posted by bigsexyTDI

Wal-Mart, Rotella T6, Cheap, Good, Done.

That may be fine in your '98 and a lot of people may be running it in PD's...but not me. I have no idea how 505.01 approved oil differs from those that are not but I don't what to conduct the experiment in my engine.

[boertje]

Originally Posted by cep

That may be fine in your '98 and a lot of people may be running it in PD's...but not me. I have no idea how 505.01 approved oil differs from those that are not but I don't what to conduct the experiment in my engine.

Simple, run whatever oil factory dictates according to the manual. Many online people offer what you need, whether boraparts, idparts, etc. In a BRM or BEW, T6 or Mobil TDT for me is a no brainier. Whatever you do, do run a 5w-40.

[janitz]

Originally Posted by cep

That may be fine in your '98 and a lot of people may be running it in PD's...but not me. I have no idea how 505.01 approved oil differs from those that are not but I don't what to conduct the experiment in my engine.

It may not differ at all, Rotilla could be better.

The VW505 certification, and it's sub categories, 505.1, 505.2 refer to specific testing qualifications performed by VW for VW. They are not industry standards, they are VW standards.

Rotilla being for the N.A. market targets truck owners as the primary diesel drivers, so they use the API standards for what they meet and don't bother with the VW cert because it's costly and targets a small market that already has existing products.

For our older ALH engines the north american manual did specify API Service CH-4. Which the Rotilla T-6 exceeds as it is CJ-4.

Also, note that VW no longer specifies any SAE viscosity weight and considers anything 505.1 certified as acceptable. Depending on your location you'll want to check the viscosity levels of the oil in use.

For multigrade oils, the first value refers to cold performance, the second for warm performance.

So a 5W40 oil has good performance when cold and when the engine is warm. These viscosity values degrade as the oil ages in your vehicle, so if you're near the next oil change and wondering why your car is much rougher in the morning now, time to change the oil. I've been driving my bug long enough that I know when to add a bit of oil or change the oil entirely simply by listening to the sound of the engine.

p.s. For anyone considering a new Jetta TDI or waiting for the Beetle 2013 TDI, those engines need very specific oil that meets the 505.2 standard (if I recall correctly). In that engine don't use anything else.