What oil to choose on a turbo 5 cylinder Audi?

[ssnapier]

I bought an older S-6 today and it has almost 200,000 miles on it. The car has been religiously serviced by the dealer for 99% of it's life, and I am just wondering if I should stick with factory spec oil or does this mileage warrant using something different? I might also mention that the car is modified and making quite a bit more horsepower and boost than when it was stock.

Any advice would be great... even generalities because it all helps me learn!

 

[Auto-Union]

My mechanic has an Ur-S6 w/26lbs boost and uses Syntec 5w-50 in winter and Valvoline VR-1 20w-50 in summer. Original turbo. Likely, the dealer UNDER serviced on oil and you should start from scratch. A quality engine cleaner like Auto-Rx.com is a good start. Mobil 1 comes in a 10w-40 Hi-Miles version now. A 5w-40 synth in winter or for longer ocis would be good AFTER you clean it with Auto-Rx and frequent dino changes. Try a good 15w-40 diesel when the temps allow. Mobil Delvac 1300S 15w-40 is a good cheap start for short (2000mile) cleaning intervals. Look for a bigger filter than the oem.

 

[ssnapier]

Excellent reply, thank you. I was searching around for other info on this topic and discovered that the engine calls for a VW500.00 oil. Now I guess I need to see what oils fall into that.

Also, if the car has been using non-synthetic oil for all of it's life, is switching over to synth really a bad thing or is that a myth?

Oh yeah, and why would you recommend diesel oils? Please pardon all the newbie questions!

 

[Auto-Union]

VW 500 is antiquated. VW 502 oils are good, but not the only oils that work. The oil choice is mostly a matter of longevity and appropriate-ness for a turbo. A n/a version of that engine can run on anything. Oils have come a long way since that car was built and oils speced for it. You could use a modest mid-grade oil and be done with it or use something exotic like German Syntec 0w-30. Anyway, considering your turbo, a VW 502 oil is a good place to look. All I'm saying is some short intervals of diesel-rated 15w-40 oil will clean it out a bit. I actually use some kero to flush it out for 10 min before the oil is first changed. The single best thing to do now is obtain some Auto-Rx and run it 2000 miles, followed by a rinse of dino oil. Then, you can use a synth oil and realize the benefits of it.

 

[Auto-Union]

Basicly, a 40 weight oil needed, but some 30s are thick enough, like German Syntec and MaxLife Synth. That Mobil 1 10w-40 Hi-Miles is an appropriate choice for a clean engine.

 

[bar1]

I have that car too. Always used synthetic like M1 0W-40, Delvac 5W-40, Castrol SLX (Syntec) 0W-30, Castrol RS0W-40, Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40, Esso Ultron 5W-40, Elf/Fina 5W-40, Agip 10W-60, Fuchs 5W-40, etc.
Never had much oil consuption but with the Agip mileage was down 3-5%.

 

[bar1]

Head over to www.audiworld.com and look at the C4 and Original "S" car forum.

 

[TimVipond]

I suggest using an engine flush like https://www.amsoil.com/lit/g172.pdf .

The Amsoil site recommends the following oils for:
1995 AUDI S6 QUATTRO 2.2L 5-cyl Engine Code AAN Turbo
Engine Oil
Grade 1......API*
Synthetic 5W-40 European Engine Oil
Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil
Series 2000 Synthetic 20W-50 Racing Oil
SAE 10W-40 Synthetic High Performance Motor Oil
-15 To 15°F......10W-30, 10W-40
Above 5°F......15W-40, 15W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50
All Temps......5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, 10W-40[1]
All Temps......5W-50, 10W-50, 10W-60
Below 59°F......5W-30, 5W-40

 

[wavinwayne]

I'd use M1 High Mileage 10w40 or M1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w40

 

[JEL]

Pennzoil or Quaker State Euro Formula 5W40 Synthetic

 

[Merkava_4]

What would happen if a 10W-30 was used in that Audi?

 

[bar1]

Not much, if the oil has HTHS@150C >= 3.5 and is synthetic.

 

[unDummy]

Wow, gotta remember that.
Dealers don't provide service, they provide 'underservice'

 

[harrydog]

I had a 1994 S4. Same car but they changed the name to S6 in 1995. I also had mine chipped to make more boost. I used nothing but Redline 10W-30. I knew of others who used Redline 10W-40 in theirs but those cars saw a lot of track time.
Those Audi 5-cylinder turbo motors were as close to bulletproof as you can get.

 

[forcedtalon]

I would use a 5/40 synthetic that is 502 approved. You can also use a 0/40.