Engine oil, what grade and brand do you recommend? - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Engine oil, what grade and brand do you recommend? by overdrivegear on 25 Sep, 2007 12:16
• I just want to get a consensus on what oil type and grade works the best for most people.  I'm going to do my first oil change since having my car, so I wanted to get a consensus before I just put any old oil in there.
• #1 by myke_w on 25 Sep, 2007 12:29
• There are probably as many answers as there are people registered on this forum
  
  Here's mine.
  
  Use a diesel rated oil Should have a "c" in the API service rating.
  
  I'd say for an older high mile motor, Rotella 15w40 is as good as you can get easily.
• #2 by burn_your_money on 25 Sep, 2007 12:45
• How cold does it get in GA? You might want to run synthetic in the winter, that is was I always did on my 1992 TD jetta
• #3 by rallydiesel on 25 Sep, 2007 17:43
• We ran Rotella 0w40 and it worked great. We'll use the same after the engine gets broken in.
• #4 by Ziptar on 26 Sep, 2007 02:39
• Can't go wrong with either Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 or Mobil Delvac 1 Synthetic 5W-40.  Delvac 1 is also sold in 4 quart jugs at Walmart as "Mobil1 Turbo Diesel Truck" 5W-40 for ~$23.00, it's the same stuff.
  
  I have used Rotella T almost exclusively in my TDI every 10,000 miles, as that's what my local Walmart usually had. It just turned 215K. They just started getting the Mobil1 in again regularly, after a 2 years. It used to be "Mobil 1 Heavy Duty Truck" but, Mobil switch things around and now that is regular 5W-30 and it took forever for the "Turbo Diesel Truck" to come out.
  
  I used to get my oil changes done at Walmart, until they raised the price, to $47. Used to be $37 for 5 quarts of Synthetic Oil and one of their off the shelf Fram Oil Filters. Best part was when you opened the Fram box there was an OEM Mann Filter inside.  . It was actually $2.00 cheaper for me to have them change my oil then for me then for me to do it myself, plus they filled the washer bottle and vaccumed the floor mats. It was a sweet deal, just had to keep a close eye on the TLE guy that had your car.
  
  Oh well, I guess I am back to doing it myself, although.... for an extra $10, clean hands, clean floor mats, and a full washer bottle .... Might be worth it.
• #5 by Turbinepowered on 26 Sep, 2007 02:58
• Quote from: "burn_your_money"

  How cold does it get in GA? You might want to run synthetic in the winter, that is was I always did on my 1992 TD jetta

  
  
  Not cold at all, relative to what you guys get. Our winter is probably your autumn.