PD vs Normal Engine Oil

[jezza16v]

Does anyone know the difference between VW 5w-40 PD (diesel) engine oil and the normal stuff for a Mk2.
I know I'm being a bit tight here but I have 60 ltr of PD oil in my garage and I need to change the oil in my 8v digi so I don't want to be splashing out on more oil if the PD would do the job ok.
Do you reckon it would be safe to use this stuff in my 8v digi?   

[Dan34]

i really doubt it! i wouldnt use it, go to dealers and buy some 10w-40 under 20quid for 5 litres

Dan

[H981CVV]

PD oil is especially for pump duse diesels, i think its a green colour and i really wouldnt use it in your digi. However on a similar vain my mate had a pd T5 and was to tight to put pd oil in it, so he put it a supposed equivalent oil and blew his motor up lol

[danny_p]

10-40w is what your enigne was menat to run on 5-40 is to thin  also diesel oil is loaded with detergent and some of the synthetic may not get on with you oil seals,  may find yourself doing valvestems and cranck end seals in a few weeks

[wil892]

As long as your 8v has been serviced well throughout its life that oil should be fine. If it leaks or has had poor maintenance history then the detergents in the oil may clean up some 'wanted' deposits on rings or valve seals.
But really that oil is very good and it is only slightly thinner when cold and then the same thickness as 10w40 when hot. If anything it would resist thinning at higher temperatures due to its synthetic properties. Synthetic oils are only 'thinner' if you buy a thinner viscosity oil such as 5w30.
PD oil is basically like any other VAG oil exept it has been tested further to make it safe to use in the TDI engines.

I would not hesitate to use it in a well maintained 8v.

[Ben Lessani]

I wouldn't even consider using it. Given oil is so cheap to buy, just use the right stuff.

dannyp knocked the nail on the head.

[jezza16v]

I would not hesitate to use it in a well maintained 8v.

Well, that sounds like a very educated response. Do you work for VW by any chance?
The question is, I suppose, has it been well maintained? Hmmmm  probably not, its done 160k at least with only sketchy service history. My choice to take the risk or not I guess. 

Thanks for all your responses.

J

[wil892]

Do you work for VW by any chance?

[/quote]

lol no, my dad has a PD TDI and the camshaft and followers wore through so i've done quite a bit of research as to why he had to spend a huge amount of money on a repair that shouldn't have needed.

To be honest if it has 160k on it you might as well keep going with 10w40. If it has come this far then you probably wouldn't be best to change, especially if you are not too sure about the maintenance history. Thats not to say the PD oil wouldn't be fine, but maybe it should have what its been happy with for the past 18-20 years. When I got oil and filter from GSF a couple of months ago for my 1.6 Driver (same requirements) it came to about £15, thats with excellent quality Fuchs oil and an OEM Mann filter.

Will