Oil Question..

[ryanazarko]

im a total newb when it comes to oil.. what is the first and second numbers? all i know is the higher the second number the better.. i think the mobil 1 crap im using right now is something like 5-50... wtf does that even mean?

Thanks,
-Ryan

[Aleks]

Re: Oil Question..

im a total newb when it comes to oil.. what is the first and second numbers? all i know is the higher the second number the better.. i think the mobil 1 crap im using right now is something like 5-50... wtf does that even mean?

Thanks,
-Ryan

Oil weight, or viscosity, refers to how thick or thin the oil Is. The temperature requirements set for oil by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is 0 degrees F (low) and 210 degrees F (high). Oils meeting the SAE's low temperature requirements have a "W" after the viscosity rating (example: 10W), and oils that meet the high ratings have no letter (example SAE 30). An oil is rated for viscosity by heating it to a specified temperature, and then allowing it to flow out of a specifically sized hole. Its viscosity rating is determined by the length of time it takes to flow out of the hole. If it flows quickly, it gets a low rating. If it flows slowly, it gets a high rating. Engines need oil that is thin enough for cold starts, and thick enough when the engine is hot. Since oil gets thinner when heated, and thicker when cooled, most of us use what are called multi-grade, or multi-viscosity oils. These oils meet SAE specifications for the low temperature requirements of a light oil and the high temperature requirements of a heavy oil. You will hear them referred to as multi-viscosity, all-season and all-weather oils.

So muli viscosity oils are those that are 5W30....the meaning is basically as such...if you can follow this...

the first number 5, 10, 15, or 0 means loosly that they can be used down to the following temperatures

0- -35C
5- -30C
10- -22C
15- -8C

The W means it met the standard requirement, but ours will say SAE or there was one other one I can't remember right now

The second number is the High temperature range, a little easier to follow

30- +30C
40- +40C
50 -+50C

you get the picture....So the numbers basically represent what the effective viscosity and lubricating temperature ranges of the oil are....Understand??

[Kor]

Re: Oil Question..

30- +30C
40- +40C
50 -+50C

I guess thats why VW recommends 5w40, it probably will never hit 40 in Calgary.

I guess 5w50 is the next best thing?

[Aleks]

Re: Oil Question..

Yeah, I run 5w30 in everything....synthetic...I just don't think with oil nowadays that you're gonna suffer detrimental effects unless you run crap like 15W30, only when its cold...5W50 I think is overkill, and probably higher priced.....so much runs in the 5-10W30 range its cheapest...I used to try 0W30, but noticed no real change...

[Khyron]

Re: Oil Question..

I guess thats why VW recommends 5w40, it probably will never hit 40 in Calgary.

I guess 5w50 is the next best thing?

That's over-simplified. There are no direct temperature -> oil rating. The last digit means how it acts at some set high temperature. So a x-40 oil flows thicker at 300 degrees (that's not the temp, but it's something like that) than a 30 oil. A 50 oil runs even thicker (remember, it's at some high temp so they are all thin relatively speaking). So a 15/50 oil would be fine if you lived somewhere hot like Arizona. A 5 oil would be too thin at startups, but as temps drop it thickens which is why it's good for us up here (even in summer).

This is why you are better off running a 5/40 in a turbo than a 5/30 - the 5/40 is thicker at higher temps (which is what you want) and it's thinner than a 10 or a 15 at cold temps. So an even better oil for us would be a 5/80 or even better - the problem is, with current base stocks, you can't make an oil that is thin as a 5 at room temps, but goes thick as an 80 at 300 degrees.

Probably confusing, but use 5/40 in your 1.8T - 5/30 if you have to. 0/x is risky because some have found it TOO thin at startup, especially in our summers. It might be ok in Alaska or something. If your car is older use a thicker oil and you'll have less leaks.

Khyron

[Kor]

Re: Oil Question..

That's over-simplified. There are no direct temperature -> oil rating. The last digit means how it acts at some set high temperature. So a x-40 oil flows thicker at 300 degrees (that's not the temp, but it's something like that) than a 30 oil. A 50 oil runs even thicker (remember, it's at some high temp so they are all thin relatively speaking). So a 15/50 oil would be fine if you lived somewhere hot like Arizona. A 5 oil would be too thin at startups, but as temps drop it thickens which is why it's good for us up here (even in summer).

This is why you are better off running a 5/40 in a turbo than a 5/30 - the 5/40 is thicker at higher temps (which is what you want) and it's thinner than a 10 or a 15 at cold temps. So an even better oil for us would be a 5/80 or even better - the problem is, with current base stocks, you can't make an oil that is thin as a 5 at room temps, but goes thick as an 80 at 300 degrees.

Probably confusing, but use 5/40 in your 1.8T - 5/30 if you have to. 0/x is risky because some have found it TOO thin at startup, especially in our summers. It might be ok in Alaska or something. If your car is older use a thicker oil and you'll have less leaks.

Khyron

But no one freaking has 5w40. I refuse to order my oil or anything like that.

[Khyron]

Re: Oil Question..

Use the dealer crap. It's Castrol Syntec in 5/40 weight for VW.

Or check out Mobil 1 Delvac - it's 5/40. I think I'm going to try that next time. It's pretty much the only true synthetic left. I also think C1 has some 5/40 german stuff.

Khyron

[Kor]

Re: Oil Question..

Use the dealer crap. It's Castrol Syntec in 5/40 weight for VW.

Or check out Mobil 1 Delvac - it's 5/40. I think I'm going to try that next time. It's pretty much the only true synthetic left. I also think C1 has some 5/40 german stuff.

Khyron

Nooo not the dealer...

[TeeDeeEye]

Re: Oil Question..

Petrol Canada Duron 5w40 a good group III oil also

[Khyron]

Re: Oil Question..

Ooh forgot about that. Can you buy it at any Petro Can or is it only at the truck shops?

Khyron

[Kor]

Re: Oil Question..

Ooh forgot about that. Can you buy it at any Petro Can or is it only at the truck shops?

Khyron

This is what I am running now I think.

[gaffer]

Re: Oil Question..

I have seen the Castrol 5W40, that is made in Beligium, like the dealer sell in some local NAPA stores. C1 also sells the lubrimoly, which is the same price as 5L of the Castrol (about $10 per litre). Mobil 1 has also come out with a 5w40 called "truck & suv" or something like that. I have not seen it in Calgary though.

Gaf

[Stampfan]

Re: Oil Question..

I've found Amsoil at some of the Canadian Tire stores, and the entire chain now carries Redline lubricants, which are both considered pretty good independent oils from the big guys. I tried the Mohawk Lubricant shop today (the one off Barlow down the block from 5th Avenue) and the guy pretty much shrugged me off when I asked about what 5W30 or 40 synthetic diesel they carry (eg. CI-4), stated they only carry 15W30 stuff. If he would have spent 3 minutes checking his catalogs he probably would have had 100's of $ in sales from me over a year. If some place came forward and offerred me a deal on this stuff, they'd sell - oil and additives for 3 vehicles, not to mention people I talk to at work, etc.

I found Delvac 1 at Walmart in the 4 litre bottles, probably the best buy out there for a TDI in Calgary that I've found for a synthetic at that cost in that size. I'm going to try NAPA soon to see what they've got.

The harder find is an alternate oil filter (ie NOT from VW) for the TDI. Fram makes a cheap one (Cdn. Tire Motomaster is the same), and K&N doesn't make one. Again, I'm gonna try NAPA next on my hitlist of who carries what.

[TeeDeeEye]

Re: Oil Question..

Ooh forgot about that. Can you buy it at any Petro Can or is it only at the truck shops?

Khyron

That I don't know.