Just a side note: How about changing your oil in October and April?
Then your "cold season" oil will never see 100, and your "hot season" oil will never see freezing. More or less.

 

I run 5w30 Mobil 1 personally in 2002 1.8t wagon.

5 will keep you cranking in the winter (2 winters under my belt so far). And you have a new engine, so you don't need the 40 weight because of the nice tight tolerances that VW adhears to.

Kevin.

 

How 'bout Motul, Pentosin, or LubroMoly 5W-40? API SJ, VW 502 and 505, plus 500 too in the case of Motul. I've done a lot of hunting, and these three oils seem to combine everything we want: 1) synthetic with... 2) a wide range that doesn't include the hair-raising '0' number 3) a wide range that IIRC is the weight VW currently recommends for the 1.8T engine 4) SJ *and* at least two VW approvals. There is no Mobil 1 that combines all these elements, and IIRC Shell Rotella 5W-40 falls short on the VW approvals.

Oh nuts, SL is the latest...

 

5-30 or 10-30 is fine.

 

I use 10W-30 all year round. No problems at 78K miles (1.8T M). Besides I can get the 10W-30 in 5 quart containers at Walmart and save a few $$$

 

Yo guys, mine came with 15W-50, its thicker than diesel engine oil. It keeps the heat low in the cylinders, which helps with an aluminum block. It also stays cleaner longer. Besides Porsche runs the thick Mobil 1 unless it is asked to be different

I do it year round, with 4 distinct seasons in PA, and I have zero trouble with it.

 

In my GIAC-equipped '98 Passat 1.8T manual, I have used Mobil 1 5W-30 (available in 5 quart jugs at Walmart at a great price) and Valvoline Synpower 5W-40 (part #966 at Napa). I prefer Valvoline since it gives better high engine temperature protection.
Kevin

 

How 'bout Motul, Pentosin, or LubroMoly 5W-40? API SJ, VW 502 and 505, plus 500 too in the case of Motul. I've done a lot of hunting, and these three oils seem to combine everything we want: 1) synthetic with... 2) a wide range that doesn't include the hair-raising '0' number 3) a wide range that IIRC is the weight VW currently recommends for the 1.8T engine 4) SJ *and* at least two VW approvals. There is no Mobil 1 that combines all these elements, and IIRC Shell Rotella 5W-40 falls short on the VW approvals.

Oh nuts, SL is the latest...

There are actually two Motul 5w40 to choose from(Full & Synthetic Blend):

Motul 6100 Synergie SAE 5W40 100% SYNTHETIC

PERFORMANCE
Officially approved for API SL/CF - Energy Conserving*, ACEA A3/B3/B4
and CCMC G-4/PD-2 or G-5/PD-2 (*),
as well as for the following manufacturers' standards : VW * 502 00/505 00, Mercedes p. 229.3, BMW Long Life *, PORSCHE *, ROVER.


Volkswagen Gasoline and Diesel Engine Oil
TECHNOSYNTHESE® 6100 5W40 - VW 505 01

Specially designed for cars powered by Volkswagen Turbo Diesel 115HP engine (with pump injectors).

The SAE 5W40 viscosity grade is fully adapted to recent gasoline and diesel engines. The synthetic base provides high lubricating power resulting in
reduced friction and ensuring resistance to the increasingly high temperatures reached in modern engines.
The official recommendation of VW guarantees the quality of the product development and manufacturing process.
Anti-oxidation, anti-wear, anti-corrosion, anti-foaming properties.

APPROVALS : VW 505 01 / 500 00 / 505 00

Switched to Motul full synth from Valvo 5w40 since 30kmi...now at 40kmi.:thumbup::thumbup:

 

The 0W-40 is fine, I had an analysis done on my oil and with 6700 miles (january to july in MA, ~same mileage and climate as you) on it, the wear indicators were just slighlty higher than the averages for the 1.8T at an average of 6100 miles....ie i had more miles on my oil than average yet the numbers wre still close to the lower mileage average.

Valvoline 5W-40 would be my choice if I could find it around me, the mobil1 is easier to get. 5W-40 is the specified oil for the 1.8T. I would not run 15W anything in cold weather.

The 0W was good to have on those mornings where it was -10F, -15F, -20F, etc. :nervous:

another cold winter like last year and I'm getting a block heater!

 

I just did the the 5K oil change with Mobil 1 0W-40 and the label says it passes all VW tests/standards.

 

Are you sure you can't find Mobil1 in 10W40? Anyway, 5W30 most of the time. 5W50 Castrol from the dealer once in a while.

 

You can run any oil on your list. Just change it every 5-7,500 miles and check level every/every other fill up.

 

On an oil analysis board, www.bobistheoilguy.com, there are quite a few used oil analyses for VW 1.8 engines. It seems that there is little difference between the Mobil 1 5w-30 and 0w-40 in terms of wear so either is fine. I also learned that 1.8t's in the Audis come with 0w-30 from the factory so I imagine that 0w-30 works too. There is a new version of the Castrol Syntec 0w-30 (from Germany) which is ACEA A3 rated and meets all VW specs. The oil fanatics at bobistheoilguy are getting excited about this oil because many of them think that it is full synthetic again (as opposed to group III). The downside is that there are two versions of it, one made in N. America and one imported from Germany so you have to make sure you buy the German version (read back of the bottle).

Personally, I had my Valvoline Synpower 5w-40 analyzed and the results were very good. Wear was below average for 1.8ts and my 5300 mile interval was run in fairly harsh conditions (cold, winter conditions). I'm sticking with this oil.

 

Are you sure you can't find Mobil1 in 10W40? Anyway, 5W30 most of the time. 5W50 Castrol from the dealer once in a while.

Mobil 1 doesn't come in 10W-40.

 

For what it's worth, been running Mobil 1 10W-30 for over 50k, always changed between 2.5k & 5k depending on the conditions.

Right now in IL it is approx. 95-100 degF during the day, and the oil appears to be handling the heat well. Recently inspected the oil return line from the turbo and no coke or major deposits present. In addition, car regularly makes it up to the UP of Michigan (major snow country) for a few weeks each winter. Temp has dropped to -20 degF and she still started fine. So, 10W-30 is working great for my conditions.

 

Are you sure you can't find Mobil1 in 10W40? Anyway, 5W30 most of the time. 5W50 Castrol from the dealer once in a while.

Mobil 1 doesn't come in 10W-40.

dac2800, AA was being factitious :wink:

 

Are you sure you can't find Mobil1 in 10W40? Anyway, 5W30 most of the time. 5W50 Castrol from the dealer once in a while.

Mobil 1 doesn't come in 10W-40.

dac2800, AA was being factitious :wink:

Did you mean facetious, as in teasing/joking around?