1.8T Oil issue -- cost

I'm posting to both groups because I own two cars: a 2000 Audi A4 1.8T Avant and a 2003 VW Passat 1.8T. I haven't seen much discussion on the

*cost* of the synthic oil issue.

I got both notices regarding the synthetic engine oil issue (one for each auto) on the same day. However, it wasn't until my VW dealer did the change over on the Passat that I began to realize the cost issues. The oil changes using synthetic are going to be at least twice as much as for a regular oil change. So, the oil maintenance costs have effictively DOUBLED for the life of each vehicle.

Needless to say, I'm a little ticked. But, I'm not too car savvy (I'm now seeing the error in having two vehicles with the same engine). Is this just a problem I'm going to have to such up? If it's their mistake, why do I have to undertake the additional costs?

Can anyone enlighten me? Or offer suggestions or remedies??

Thanks for any help, Libby

Reply to
Libby
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Why does the fact that the problem is being addressed *now* mean that you shouldn't pay for it? Suppose the current oil requirements had been in place when you bought the car. Would you have expected not to pay for your oil changes then?

-- Mike Smith

Reply to
Mike Smith

It's my understanding that synthetic oil doesn't need to be changed as often. When did the dealer tell you to come back for the next oil change?

Reply to
Will

Jim B.

Reply to
jimbehning

Is this a new notice that VW recently issued?? Our New Beetle is a 1.8T and I haven't gotten a notice from VW regarding synthetic oil...granted, I've used Mobil 1 since the 8K service...but I'm just being nosy.

Reply to
Peter Cressman

Let's see at our shop the 1.8t oil change with regular oil is $35 and with VW's synthetic it's $50. The VW oil has a list price of $5 per quart so your dealer shouldn't be charging any more than that, if they are bring your own oil in or shop elsewhere. I bet most of us waste more money on beer each year.

Reply to
Woodchuck

The issue is that the *new* requirements were *not* in place when I bought the car. I *expected* to maintain the car as it was delivered to me by the manufacturer -- synthetic oils were not part of the maintenance standard at the time of purchase. I now have the first

*additional* cost of changing over to synthetic -- $78 for the Passat, likely a bit more for the Audi -- plus additional costs for synthetic oil changes. The cheapest approved oil is $12.75 per quart. You've made up a scenario different than what's actually happening *now* -- it would be silly to waste time discussing suppositions.

The notices were sent in early August. FYI -- Mobil 1 0W-40 does not meet the new requirements. It meets VW505.00, not the new 505.01 requirements.

"Will"

Reply to
Libby

The car was delivered to you by the dealer I presume. Not by the manufacturer. So you have a case with the dealer in the first place, no?

Ok. Your maintenance cost increased.

Do you have Audi warranty or a third party warranty? 5k miles and 6 mos does not at all sound like VW/Audi's service plan. There have been numerous threads in the recent past asking the famous oil question and if it would be ok to go as far as 30.000 km between oil changes. That is what VW/Audi recommends in many cars now.

Who issued these notices? VW, Audi or the dealer?

Did you ask Audi or VW about their opinion? You could just sell the car if it's too expensive for you now.

Regards

Wolfgang

Reply to
Wolfgang Pawlinetz

Didn't the owner's manual originally specify 5W-40 oil, which only comes in synthetic in the US? If so, shouldn't oil changes have been done with 5W-40 synthetic before? Granted, non-VW 502.00 rated Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 at Wal Mart may be about $7 cheaper for an oil change worth of oil than a VW 502.00 rated 5W-40, but that isn't a doubling of cost.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

||I'm posting to both groups because I own two cars: a 2000 Audi A4 1.8T ||Avant and a 2003 VW Passat 1.8T. I haven't seen much discussion on the ||*cost* of the synthic oil issue. || ||I got both notices regarding the synthetic engine oil issue (one for ||each auto) on the same day. However, it wasn't until my VW dealer did ||the change over on the Passat that I began to realize the cost issues. ||The oil changes using synthetic are going to be at least twice as much ||as for a regular oil change. So, the oil maintenance costs have ||effictively DOUBLED for the life of each vehicle. || ||Needless to say, I'm a little ticked. But, I'm not too car savvy (I'm ||now seeing the error in having two vehicles with the same engine). Is ||this just a problem I'm going to have to such up? If it's their ||mistake, why do I have to undertake the additional costs? || ||Can anyone enlighten me? Or offer suggestions or remedies?? || ||Thanks for any help, ||Libby

Texas Parts Guy

Reply to
Rex B

Strange, I just saw a bottle of Valvoline Synpower 5W-40 with the VW 502.00 rating for US$4.59 per quart. Next to it were bottles of Mobil 1 0W-40 with the VW 502.00 rating for US$4.99 per quart. And some web stores (and VW dealers) sell Castrol Syntec 5W-40 with the VW 502.00 rating (that VW dealers are supposed to use) for a lot less than US$12.75 per quart.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

Perhaps I will price an oil change at a nearby dealer next time. I doubt that I could get out the door for $60 for synthetic + filter, but I plan to check.

Reply to
Tom's VR6

I'm getting in late on this thread... can anyone post a definitive list of which oils meet the spec? Better yet, would anyone be willing to scan & send (or fax) me a copy of the letter? I'd really like to read it.

I've been using Shell Rotella synthetic (5-40, IIRC) which I understand does not meet the requirement. My local dealer says that Mobil 1 is fine, but doesn't have anything on paper to back it up. I don't have a big problem paying for the correct oil, I just want to have some means (more than a verbal confirmation) to verify that I am using the right stuff.

I just got off of the phone with VW Customer Care and they tell me that my car isn't among the affected vehicles and won't give me any information. I find it amazing that a 1.8t in a 2002 Passat is affected, but the same engine in my 2002 Jetta is not.

thanks, Craig

Reply to
Craig Faison

have to respectfully disagree. money spent on beer is NOT wasted. rick.

Reply to
northwind

Reply to
Peter Cressman

formatting link
is a list of VW 502.00 rated oils.There may be others besides those listed. The list also erroneouslylists Valvoline Synpower 5W-30, even through Valvoline makes no VW 502.00claim for that oil (Valvoline does claim VW 502.00 for Synpower 5W-40 andSynthetic High Mileage 5W-30 (but not the non-synthetic High Mileage oil)).

Mobil 1 0W-40 meets VW 502.00. Mobil 1 5W-40 and Shell Rotella T Synthetic

5W-40 meet API SL, so they are fine for those engines that accept API SJ or SL rated oil (as opposed to only oil with VW ratings).

The longitudinal 1.8T has a smaller oil pan, so it may be more vulnerable to oil sludge if out-of-spec conventional oil is used.

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

lol more like each month - if not each week ;-)

Reply to
daytripper

First, if you post the text of this notice from VW, that may be helpful, but I do believe that much of the following information should still apply

Consider why synthetic oil is being recommended. Turbo-charged engines are capable of producing much higher temperatures than naturally aspirated engines, but is your driving style also conducive to higher engine temperatures? If you are spending most of your time on the highway, it may not be so important to use synthetic oil year-round.

Ask your dealership which oil they usually use. I have had my own Audi dealer tell me that they use a regular motor oil for most oil changes, unless synthetic oil is requested by the owner. This was on a 2000 Audi S4, where the manual explicitly states that only synthetic oil should be used.

Does the use of synthetic oil also increase the interval between oil changes? Remember, oil technically only needs to be changed when it is dirty or begins to break down (loss of multi-viscosity property). This break-down results in "sludginess", and also causes gum and varnish to form (hence the darker color of "old" oil). Of course, color is not the best judge of when to change motor oil either. I have found that the best test is to place a single drop of the current oil on a flat paper towel or napkin, and see how the oil spreads. This will show the content of the oil (dirt) and color. Once you find a ballpark figure on how often you need to change your oil now, you can usually use that each time. Never hurts to check it, of course.

Hope this helps. Also hope that none of this is wrong information. If it is, please do correct it.

Reply to
Vikram Dighe

So you've dropped more than 50 grand on two cars in three years and the problem is that the right oil costs significantly more? I must be missing something here ...

sd

Reply to
sd

The 1.8T in Passats have a factory oil capacity of 3.9 quarts - all other

1.8Ts have a capacity of 4.8 quarts - that amount is enough to assist with lubrication and heat dissipation. It's VERY rare to see a non-Passat 1.8 with "turbo turds" lining the oil pan.
Reply to
DriversWantedTech

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