VW 505.01 - 506.01

[buster]

Petition online



Quote:
Question:
Oil for Volkswagen TDI Diesel Engines
I have a new Volkswagen TDI diesel and the warranty says it must use only VW oil, which is synthetic (made by Castrol). I've used Mobil 1 in all my cars for 20 years and would like to stick with Mobil 1, Help.
-- John Gaylord, Corvallis, OR

Answer:
Unfortunately we do not currently have an oil in the United States for this particular application which requires VW 505.01.



Quote:
Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 specifically formulated for the latest VW TDI specification 507.00/504.00 and is recommended for VW 502.00,503.00, 503.01, 505.00, 506.00 and 505.01, 506.01 (except Unit-injector RS/V10-TDI and 3/4 cylinder diesel Engines without Longlife-Service) Also meets BMW longlife 04 and Mercedes Benz 229.31/229.51 specifications. ACEA C2/C3, API SL/SM.


Avlube claims ESP meets 505.01, but it's not on the PDS. Mobil only makes 5w-40 S in europe which is specifically designed for 505.01.

*I'm behind the times here....so 506.01 is the latest VW spec? Does that mean using an oil that meets 506.01 can also be used for 505.01 applications?

 

[erogers]

I'm not sure if 506.01 replaces 505.01. I would definitely call your dealer's service department to confirm this. I have a 2005 Passat TDI, and just had its oil changed last month. One recent change is they put the new Castrol SLX Professional OE 5W-30 in, which replaced the Castrol Syntec 5W-40 they used to use. I would like to start changing the oil in this car myself, but the whole process on this car seems to be a mystery to me. Variety is good, so I'll sign the petition!

 

[bruno]

505.1 for all diesel engines with unit injectors ( PD ) without variable service intervals

506.01 for all diesel engines with unit injectors with variable service intervals

This was in Audi Driver magazine's article on VW spec oils

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: buster
*I'm behind the times here....so 506.01 is the latest VW spec?


No, it's an older spec and one irrelevant for US import models. The latest VW oil spec has been the combined gas/diesel engine oil spec VW 504/507, which has so far, due to their detuned emissions system, shorter OCI and poor US fuel quality, also been irrelevant for US import models.

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: buster
Avlube claims ESP meets 505.01, but it's not on the PDS. Mobil only makes 5w-40 S in europe which is specifically designed for 505.01.

*I'm behind the times here....so 506.01 is the latest VW spec? Does that mean using an oil that meets 506.01 can also be used for 505.01 applications?

VW506.01 was a temporary specification that superceded VW505.01.

VW507.00 supercedes both 505.01 and 506.01 for all VW diesel applications in North America... except possibly the V-10 Touareg TDI. The last I heard, VW still specified the 505.01-rated oil for the Touareg V-10s, but this may have changed.

If Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 meets the VW504/507 specification, then it is suitable for all TDIs (except maybe Touaregs). A number of TDIClub members have received written approval from VWoA to use 507.00-rated oils when the owners manual specifies 505.01.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Tornado Red

VW506.01 was a temporary specification that superceded VW505.01.


How many years qualify as "temporary'?

Quote:
VW507.00 supercedes both 505.01 and 506.01 for all VW diesel applications in North America... except possibly the V-10 Touareg TDI. The last I heard, VW still specified the 505.01-rated oil for the Touareg V-10s, but this may have changed.


Dunno about the US version -- per the German oil bulletin the inline 5 cylinder and the V10 TDI (PD) require VW 506.01.

By the way, VW 503.00, VW 506.00 and VW 506.01 were consolidated into a product that must meet all three specs. These 3 specs are low-HTHS (2.9-3.4) oils that are suitable for only a few current engines and a bunch of older engines.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: erogers
I'm not sure if 506.01 replaces 505.01. I would definitely call your dealer's service department to confirm this. I have a 2005 Passat TDI, and just had its oil changed last month.


US VW service departments are well known for putting the wrong oil in diesels. They aren't a reliable source of information on diesels.

If you get your oil changed at a VW dealership, insist on seeing the container the oil comes from and read the label to see if it's correct.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

Buster,

Mobil 1 already states that they have builder approval of VW for the ESP Formula 5w30w.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: LargeCarManX2
Buster,

Mobil 1 already states that they have builder approval of VW for the ESP Formula 5w30w.


Do you have a US Mobil source you can link to that specifically says it meets VW 505.01 for TDI PD engines?

The only Mobil sources I can find are UK and German, they both say it isn't qualified for certain PD engine 505.01 applications.

 

[Rollins]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Dunno about the US version -- per the German oil bulletin the inline 5 cylinder and the V10 TDI (PD) require VW 506.01.

By the way, VW 503.00, VW 506.00 and VW 506.01 were consolidated into a product that must meet all three specs. These 3 specs are low-HTHS (2.9-3.4) oils that are suitable for only a few current engines and a bunch of older engines.

Indeed:
http://mysite.verizon.net/b5crazy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vw-audi_oil_spec_article.pdf

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Rollins
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Dunno about the US version -- per the German oil bulletin the inline 5 cylinder and the V10 TDI (PD) require VW 506.01.

By the way, VW 503.00, VW 506.00 and VW 506.01 were consolidated into a product that must meet all three specs. These 3 specs are low-HTHS (2.9-3.4) oils that are suitable for only a few current engines and a bunch of older engines.

Indeed:
http://mysite.verizon.net/b5crazy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vw-audi_oil_spec_article.pdf


Here is a thread that includes a letter from VWoA to Robert Issem (the apparent author of the letter you linked to). VWoA later denied wring that letter and said 505.01 only, that's on about page 4 of that thread.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=154521

Between Robert Issem, "SUNRG" and "AndyH" (Amsoil seller, but like our Amsoil sellers on BITOG, he seems to be a good guy) the thread is very educational.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

Well....I guess not, states English Lubes UK and all those things. Anyway here is the link:

http://www.mobil.com/UK-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_ESP_Formula_5W-