? GTI: 5W-30 instead of 5W-40 ?

Aug 21, 2007 8 Replies
2006 GTI (2.0 turbo)

I found that the VW dealer put in 5w-30 instead of 5w-40 today at my third oil change. I told him the manual says the oil must be 5w-40, but he was unconcerned.



The receipt says he used Castrol SLX Professional OE 5W-30. I bought a quart of the same from that dealer, and the container says: API Service SL/CF; VW



502 00 / 505 00 / 505 01; ACEA: A3/B4, C3; MB 229.51.

I'm sure that's very high spec oil, but what about the high ambient temp such as the high 90s that I'm driving in daily now? Isn't that what the *40* is for? Should I be concerned?



Thanks,



Roy


Take a deep breath and relax. You have nothing to worry about.

| >2006 GTI (2.0 turbo) | >

| >I found that the VW dealer put in 5w-30 instead of 5w-40 today at my third | >oil change. I told him the manual says the oil must be 5w-40, but he was | >unconcerned. | >

| >The receipt says he used Castrol SLX Professional OE 5W-30. I bought a quart | >of the same from that dealer, and the container says: API Service SL/CF; VW | >502 00 / 505 00 / 505 01; ACEA: A3/B4, C3; MB 229.51. | >

| >I'm sure that's very high spec oil, but what about the high ambient temp | >such as the high 90s that I'm driving in daily now? Isn't that what the

*40* | >is for? Should I be concerned? | | Take a deep breath and relax. You have nothing to worry about.

Well, thank you, but could you please cite something showing that?

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If you look someonecopied a page from their owners manual with the temp range of oil. Notthe 10w30 range
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| >| >2006 GTI (2.0 turbo) | >| >

| >| >I found that the VW dealer put in 5w-30 instead of 5w-40 today at my | >third | >| >oil change. I told him the manual says the oil must be 5w-40, but he was | >| >unconcerned. | >| >

| >| >The receipt says he used Castrol SLX Professional OE 5W-30. I bought a | >quart | >| >of the same from that dealer, and the container says: API Service SL/CF; | >VW | >| >502 00 / 505 00 / 505 01; ACEA: A3/B4, C3; MB 229.51. | >| >

| >| >I'm sure that's very high spec oil, but what about the high ambient temp | >| >such as the high 90s that I'm driving in daily now? Isn't that what the | >*40* | >| >is for? Should I be concerned? | >| | >| Take a deep breath and relax. You have nothing to worry about. | >

| >Well, thank you, but could you please cite something showing that? | >

|

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If you look someone| copied a page from their owners manual with the temp range of oil. Not| the 10w30 range |
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OK, thanks, Jim. I am persuaded that 30 (5W-30) is ok for up to a 100 degrees. I appreciate the links. Thanks.

So why do some VW manuals (e.g. 2003 Passat GLX) specifically call out

5W-40 oil, and not just for hot climates, either?

-- Mike Smith

....

Different engines.

You should be OK the difference is not a lot. I see that the manual may well consider it OK, and if so don't worry at all.

However you did learn one thing. The dealer does not care. If the dealer did, they would have taken the time to point out in your owne's manual the specification and put your mind at ease then, or replace the oil. Consider that dealers usually change more and are, in geneal no better or worse than indipendent mechanics. You should consider going to a local independent (not a chain) mechanic. You do not need to have maintenance work done at the dealer to maintain the warranty, you just need to keep it documented.

Probably as a roundabout way to getting people to use synthetic oil.

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