2001 Audi TT quattro 225 hp - oil question?

[Finn]

Cheers!

As it happens I replaced my Saab yesterday with a TT. 165000 kilometres on the clock and does need just a bit of service such as timing kit and change of fluids and so on.

I was reading through the manual and came across a sentence in which manufacturer's motor oil specification was told to be 503.01 for this 225 hp version.

Isn't 503.01 - and it's successor 504.00 - for variable longlife OCI?

My plan is to go with fixed 10000 kilometre OCIs. Would that still require 503.01/504.00 spec oil? Judging by the service manual I feel previous owners have used just about any 502.00 or such oils it's entire life.

 

[Finn]

And yes, wheels need to go.

 

[bobbydavro]

502 00 is fine for fixed service.

 

[Finn]

That's good as I have about 30 litres of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 and 0W40 in my stash still.

 

[BrocLuno]

that's a good stash and it will work. Have fun

 

[deven]

Originally Posted By: Finn
And yes, wheels need to go.

I actually like the wheels. They have a little concavity in them.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Finn
That's good as I have about 30 litres of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 and 0W40 in my stash still.

Finland? Once you are done with 5W40 and 0W40, switch to 0W40 or even better 0W30.
Castrol 0W30 that meets VW 502.00 among other specifications in my opinion proved best in that engine.

 

[Finn]

Originally Posted By: deven
Originally Posted By: Finn
And yes, wheels need to go.

I actually like the wheels. They have a little concavity in them.

Tyres were shot - car's price was lowered because of this - so I got a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3s yesterday. What I really would need now is a set of gold BBS LM or Enkei RPF1 wheels. But I'm afraid these are way over my budget.

 

[Finn]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Finland? Once you are done with 5W40 and 0W40, switch to 0W40 or even better 0W30.
Castrol 0W30 that meets VW 502.00 among other specifications in my opinion proved best in that engine.

Yep, Finland. If there is no severe oil usage I might be tempted to try Total Quartz 9000 Energy in 0W30. I ran that in my Lexus and it seemed to do a good job. Might try Castrol, too, but Total is a lot cheaper.

I just don't know how hard these 1.8T engines are on oil.

 

[SatinSilver]

I'd save the money for new wheels and use it towards repairs and maintenance.

 

[Finn]

No repairs needed

but lots of preventive maintenance planned. For example timing kit next weekend.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Finn
Originally Posted By: edyvw
Finland? Once you are done with 5W40 and 0W40, switch to 0W40 or even better 0W30.
Castrol 0W30 that meets VW 502.00 among other specifications in my opinion proved best in that engine.

Yep, Finland. If there is no severe oil usage I might be tempted to try Total Quartz 9000 Energy in 0W30. I ran that in my Lexus and it seemed to do a good job. Might try Castrol, too, but Total is a lot cheaper.

I just don't know how hard these 1.8T engines are on oil.

Very hard! Especially 225hp version since hp was increased with more turbo pressure.
That turbo is cooking oil like crazy, and in the U.S. there was even law suit because of that on 150, 170, 180 and 225hp versions.
My friend used Mobil1 5W30 ACEA A1 (not VW 502.00) in Audi A4 1.8T with 180hp, and engine had a sludge bomb at 80K miles.
Europe generally have more selection of high end oils, so probably that TT was filled with VW 502.00. So make sure you use VW 502.00 oil strictly and look for oil that meets besides VW 502.00, MB 229.5, BMW LL-01, Porsche A40. New Shell with pure plus technology proved really good.

 

[Gene K]

I think you will be fine on 10000 km changes on a 502.00 oil. Many of the issues in the USA were caused by oil that didnt meet 502.00, running low oil levels and 16000 km changes. Its hard to convince Americans to check the oil between services for some reason.

 

[Finn]

Thanks, guys.

Would be interesting to learn what the difference is between 503.01/504.00 and 502.00 is.

M1 0W40 meets 503.01, though.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
I think you will be fine on 10000 km changes on a 502.00 oil. Many of the issues in the USA were caused by oil that didnt meet 502.00, running low oil levels and 16000 km changes. Its hard to convince Americans to check the oil between services for some reason.




Yes, issue was cause because of using non VW 502.00 oil. But OCI was 5K for 1.8T at dealerships. For 2.0T is 10K in dealerships (still too long considering sulfur in gas).

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Finn
Thanks, guys.

Would be interesting to learn what the difference is between 503.01/504.00 and 502.00 is.

M1 0W40 meets 503.01, though.

503.01 is old, outdated spec.
VW 502.00 is High-SAPS oil that works best in older engines such as yours or where you have high sulfur in gas (USA).
VW 504.00/507.00 is designed for new Euro V and Euro VI engines with DPF (diesel) and direct injection in gasoline engines. However, it is Low-SAPS oil and does not fare well with high sulfur gas (USA). In Finland you use ULSG and you would be fine with VW 504.00/507.00 oil. However using that oil in that engine will not do anything for you. I would stick with VW 502.00 oil since you might get top notch oil (like M1 0W40, Castrol 0W40 etc) that is cheaper then some average VW 504.00/507.00 oil.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Finn
Would be interesting to learn what the difference is between 503.01/504.00 and 502.00 is.

You can find the differences between 504.00 and 502.00 here:
https://www.aftonchemical.com/Lists/Brochure/Attachments/40/Specification_Handbook.pdf


Quote:
M1 0W40 meets 503.01, though.

It does not have the official approval for this spec (probably because VW does not provide approvals for out of date specs). XOM just thinks the oil could meet it.

 

[Finn]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: Finn
Thanks, guys.

Would be interesting to learn what the difference is between 503.01/504.00 and 502.00 is.

M1 0W40 meets 503.01, though.

503.01 is old, outdated spec.
VW 502.00 is High-SAPS oil that works best in older engines such as yours or where you have high sulfur in gas (USA).
VW 504.00/507.00 is designed for new Euro V and Euro VI engines with DPF (diesel) and direct injection in gasoline engines. However, it is Low-SAPS oil and does not fare well with high sulfur gas (USA). In Finland you use ULSG and you would be fine with VW 504.00/507.00 oil. However using that oil in that engine will not do anything for you. I would stick with VW 502.00 oil since you might get top notch oil (like M1 0W40, Castrol 0W40 etc) that is cheaper then some average VW 504.00/507.00 oil.

That makes sense for a layman like me. Thanks!

 

[Finn]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Quote:
M1 0W40 meets 503.01, though.

It does not have the official approval for this spec (probably because VW does not provide approvals for out of date specs). XOM just thinks the oil could meet it.

Thanks, Pete, for the correction. I saw a sentence in German but my German is no longer what it used to be - my bad.

 

[Quattro Pete]

No worries. Doesn't really matter, IMO.