Just got back from the dealer after our 1st oil change. The owners manual states 5w-40 for the Passat 1.8 turbo. However, the dealer used 5w-30. When I pressed him on this he said there was a misprint in the manual and 5w-30 is fine. Now, I believe the VW manual over the dealer any day of the week. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Will long term use of 5w-30 hurt the engine and void my warranty?
What is a Passat 1.8 turbo? is it aircooled?
On 11 May 2004 06:42:49 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (Doug) ran around screaming and yelling:
Doug, i wouldn't trust the word of the "dealer" over the printed manual...the "dealer" did not want to have to "re-do" the job, so he blew some smoke up your ass....as to the warranty and possible problems associated with using the lower viscosity oil, you should post this same post in Rec.Autos.Makers.vw.Watercooled. The participants there will be of more help than most of us "airheads" here....good luck JT
It's possible that its a misprint. Isn't there a printed recommendation somewhere under the hood? Possibly on the oil fill cap? Other than some oddball synthetic, it doesn't sound like a readily available weight anyway. And thin is in with modern engines nowadays.
RT
I may have nearly the same engine in my Touareg, less the turbo. I've got a 3.2 liter 6.6 qts oil and my book I believe said 5w40 at 5,000 miles. Well I couldn't wait so I bought a filter and did it myself but with 5w30. We have all read numerous articles and have as many opinions on weights of oil but my spin is this. I think the 5 weight side is necessary for these new engines to quickly pick up the oil and get the pressure up. As far as the 40 versus the 30, my opinion is that the 40 weight will of course protect you better under hard and hot driving better, but I believe it will break down quicker. There is supposed to be plastic polymers which achieve this reverse consistancy with oil. That is when its hotter its thicker , colder its thinner right? My theory is that if your not a hot rod or in the desert and can't change oil as often, the less distance between the extremes may make the oil last longer as far as the multiviscosity properties. When this polymer breaks down you don't get the average you get the lighter side more like 10 weight, same as when you have a straight weight oil , when it breaks down or gets old its lighter and not able to protect the rods from the pounding like a thick oil will. Just my thoughts and opinions only. I use 20w50 in my aircooled '69 bug most of the time but find its too thick during cold weater so I go to 20/20. Castrol seems to be some good stuff. In my Touareg its going to be 5w30 and instead of changing every 10,000 miles like the book says it will be more like 4,000 miles. The dealer told me not to change the oil too soon on break in, but then the dealers make money selling new engines too. It was very black and dirty at 2600 miles. But the 'thin is in' is just for start up!!!! And doesn't your owners manual tell you what oil to use? I think you can download a new owners manual too if you don't have one.
Leo from Montana '69 bug '04 Touareg Colorado Red V6 "Raymond Lowe" wrote in message news:quXoc.7708$RM.7397@edtnps89...
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