Originally Posted By: gus7
the oil is synthetic Penzoil 5w20 was installed i just found out ...does this paint a picture better???any word on this oil good or bad for the TDI ???thxs
Terrible. Get it out ASAP. Use a CJ-4 5w40 oil, whichever flavor you like.
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Bad. It needed 5w40.
Well put.
Originally Posted By: tig1
+1. Many hear use M1 0-40, M1 5-40TDT, or Shell T6 5-40.
DON'T USE MOBIL 1 0W40 IN A PD! Several documented cases of massively accelerated cam wear with that oil in PDs on TDIClub. I would not use any of the synthetic Xw30 oils like Castrol SLX, Longlife III, GC or even Syntec 5w40 (it has also not been able to stand up to the PD).
Good choices with solid track records would include but not limited to Mobil 1 TDT, Shell Rotella T6, Amsoil DEO, Schaeffer 9000, Petro Canada Duron, Pentosin HP2, etc... most CJ-4 5w40s will do your cam well.
Originally Posted By: Pablo
I also find it humorous folks are recommending brands in this thread
Why wouldn't those of us with direct experience with this engine recommend a brand/viscosity/specification?
Originally Posted By: FowVay
There's simply too much going on in that head for the amount of real estate afforded. Two valves plus a camshaft lobe actuated fuel pump/injector situated where previously sat only two valves has made the cam lobe too thin to carry the load.
Agreed, there are several issues in the head. The injector lobe is massive which steals support & width from the other lobes, also loads the camshaft opposite to how it 'should' be loaded. The BRM (2005.5 - 2006 Jetta - mk5) cam is even worse than the BEW (2004 - 2005 Jetta, 2004 - 2006 Golf & NB; all mk4).
Originally Posted By: FowVay
Oil brand and rating doesn't seem to make much difference. Some have had varied results by reducing the drain interval and using HDEO oils but it's all just roll of the dice.
Disagree. Oil brand, type & viscosity seem to have plenty to do with cam longevity - IMO you want the beefiest HTHS possible with a good dose of zinc, phosphorous & moly to help. Anecdotes from some TDI gurus on engines that have run 15w40 oils show far less cam wear than most running 'certified' lubricants. Reducing the drain interval also doesn't seem to have helped, in fact my lowest wear metals and wear rates came from a 30k km oil change interval after adding a bypass filter.
Yes, more anecdotes, but no one here is going to do enough controlled studies to get real data. But I have a vested interest in this cam design and its lubrication as my Golf has the BEW engine.