Author Topic: Newbie Oil Question  (Read 5679 times)

August 16, 2007, 08:23:01 pm

Mattg

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Newbie Oil Question
« on: August 16, 2007, 08:23:01 pm »
I know that there are a number of threads about this issue, but bear with me for a second.

Here's a little back ground.  I bought my car a little while a go it was sitting for about 6-8 months, so I changed the oil and put in 10w-30 (thinking that 10w-30 is a pretty heavy oil).  With the idea that I would change it again in about 1000KM's or so just to filter anything that might be in the engine from sitting. But over the last couple of days I've been reading and thinking that this is not the right oil for my Golf.

What oil should I be using, and what should I be looking for on the lablel to know that this is the right oil for my 1.9TD Golf? What other things should I be doing for a car that's been sitting around for that long?
'94 Golf 1.9L TD
'92 Jetta 2 door gas rust bucket

Reply #1August 16, 2007, 09:35:47 pm

Vincent Waldon

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« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2007, 09:35:47 pm »
Finding a C-rated oil in Canada is a bit of a challange... at least where I live.  10W30 is way too thin for the summers and even a bit thick for winter, at least in Edmonton... Winnipeg can get just as cold as I recall.

I've settled on Castrol Syntec 5W50... it's rated CF (we only need CC or CD so we're fine) and the range is wide enough that I can run it year round and change when I'm supposed to as opposed to getting caught with summer oil that first cold snap.  Available at Canadian Tire for sure.

If you browse thru the oil section at CT you will put down bottle after bottle 'cause it only has an S rating and/or is only available in 15W40... IMHO nowhere thin enough to flow at -30C.

In the old days we were warned against oils with too wide a range... some people were even concerned about 10W40... oil trying to be too much and not doing any of it well.  It's my understanding that the chemistry has gotten better and better and a 5W50 really is a 5 when the engine is really cold and a 50 when the engine is really hot.
Vince

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2001 silver TDI Jetta Malone Stage 1.5 , 2001 blue TDI Jetta SBIII 216s Malone Stage 3, 1970 Bay Window bus

Gone but not forgotten: 1969/1971 Beetles, 1969/1974 Westies, 1979 Rabbit, 1986 TD Jetta, 1992 gas Jetta, 1994 TD Jetta

Reply #2August 17, 2007, 11:59:26 am

bigblockchev

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« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2007, 11:59:26 am »
In many places the best source of diesel oil is the local truck parts supplier. Almost everything they sell is for diesels. "Traction" is one such I believe that they have outlets in AB for sure. I have had good luck with Valvoline 5W40 Full synthetic. It is Cummins approved and they are fairly picky. The diesel rated oils C etc have additives to cope with the soot that diesels produce. Ugly old Walmart also has diesel rated oils in 1L 4L and 20 L buckets. Cheers Dan
it's always something simple
one test is worth a thousand guesses
95 Chev Suburban 6.5 w performance mods
91 Mercedes 300D 603.960 6cyl 3L
87 Mercedes 190D 2.5 Turbo
2000 Jetta TDI
76 Onan  MDJF 15Kw genset
5.5 years and counting on B100

Reply #3August 17, 2007, 12:10:27 pm

burn_your_money

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« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2007, 12:10:27 pm »
I get the 5W30 or 5W40 rotella T from Canadian tire. It's pretty good year round but I like to run the 0W40 Rotella T SB (synthetic) in the winter for easier starts (-30 without being plugged in)
Tyler

Reply #4August 17, 2007, 01:01:46 pm

ricosuave

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« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2007, 01:01:46 pm »
do a search on oil here

there are lots of threads on it and good recommendation.

mine?  ufa polar plus 0w40
Now: 00 2dr Golf TDI, 03 Jetta Wagon TDI, 02 2500HD Duramax - :)
Then: 69 SC Transporter, 84 Rabbit GTI, 87 Fox GL, 91 Golf IDI, 96 Passat Wagon TDI, 97 Jetta IDI - :(
"Everything I save by driving diesel I put back due to poor German engineering and crappy Mexican workmanship!"   :P

Reply #5August 18, 2007, 08:50:09 am

mk2diesel

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« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2007, 08:50:09 am »
look in walmart  in the diesel tractor oil section ... 15W40   about 8 bucks for 4 litres

Reply #6August 18, 2007, 11:51:14 am

Vincent Waldon

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« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2007, 11:51:14 am »
Quote from: "mk2diesel"
look in walmart  in the diesel tractor oil section ... 15W40   about 8 bucks for 4 litres


Yup... great for summer.... terrible for winter !!
Vince

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2001 silver TDI Jetta Malone Stage 1.5 , 2001 blue TDI Jetta SBIII 216s Malone Stage 3, 1970 Bay Window bus

Gone but not forgotten: 1969/1971 Beetles, 1969/1974 Westies, 1979 Rabbit, 1986 TD Jetta, 1992 gas Jetta, 1994 TD Jetta

Reply #7August 19, 2007, 07:18:52 am

jtanguay

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« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2007, 07:18:52 am »
Elf makes the best diesel oil.. if you can afford it!  :lol:


This is how we deal with porn spammers! You've been warned.

Reply #8August 19, 2007, 06:32:28 pm

Infinitrium

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« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2007, 06:32:28 pm »
Anyone run Esso's XD3 0w40? I'm planning on changing my oil soon and thought I'd give it a try. It's rated CI-4/SL, fully PAO synthetic and it's only 23 bucks for a 4 liter jug at Walmart!

Reply #9August 19, 2007, 09:12:54 pm

ricosuave

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« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2007, 09:12:54 pm »
thats what im running - ufa polar plus is a rebadged xd3.

if you can find a ufa, its about 23 bucks for 5 liters.
Now: 00 2dr Golf TDI, 03 Jetta Wagon TDI, 02 2500HD Duramax - :)
Then: 69 SC Transporter, 84 Rabbit GTI, 87 Fox GL, 91 Golf IDI, 96 Passat Wagon TDI, 97 Jetta IDI - :(
"Everything I save by driving diesel I put back due to poor German engineering and crappy Mexican workmanship!"   :P

Reply #10August 20, 2007, 06:21:58 am

clbanman

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« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2007, 06:21:58 am »
I've been running the Esso XD3 synth from Walmart for about a year now.  It gave me about 3-4 mpg better than 15W40.  No complaints and its the cheapest diesel synth I can find locally.
Calvin
91 VW Golf 1.6NA 5spd

Reply #11August 20, 2007, 11:11:08 am

mtnbob

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« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2007, 11:11:08 am »
Yikes Tyler!!!!  -30 below!!! LOL
And to think people think i'm a polar bear because I hike in 10 degree weather and wear shorts all year :shock:
I hearby pass my polar crown onto my Canadian friends 8)
86 VW Golf 1.6 N/A 4-door (soon to be turboed!!!)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2598033828_d3d19f9842.jpg?v=0
96 Subaru Outback Wagon

Reply #12August 20, 2007, 02:26:53 pm

burn_your_money

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« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2007, 02:26:53 pm »
10 degrees? F or C?

10F and I'll have my touque and long underwear on :lol:
Tyler

Reply #13August 20, 2007, 02:57:51 pm

vwmike

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« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2007, 02:57:51 pm »
Quote from: "burn_your_money"
10 degrees? F or C?

10F and I'll have my touque and long underwear on :lol:


10F and I'll stay inside  :D

Reply #14August 20, 2007, 03:15:59 pm

Vincent Waldon

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« Reply #14 on: August 20, 2007, 03:15:59 pm »
Wimpy Americans with your decadent indoor heating...  if you lived in a igloo like us Canadians you'd be in shorts at 10F !!  Eating back-bacon... on the back of a dog-sled...
Vince

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2001 silver TDI Jetta Malone Stage 1.5 , 2001 blue TDI Jetta SBIII 216s Malone Stage 3, 1970 Bay Window bus

Gone but not forgotten: 1969/1971 Beetles, 1969/1974 Westies, 1979 Rabbit, 1986 TD Jetta, 1992 gas Jetta, 1994 TD Jetta