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Author Topic: Normal oil or the upgraded ?  (Read 2245 times)

Offline RichardBaronGolf

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Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« on: 27 February 2013, 17:08 »
Hi Everybody!

I'm going to be buying some oil for my mk3 gti 16v (1995) tomorrow, Was wondering if there was any specific oil you would recommend.

Looking at Opie oils they do two different packages of oil and oil filter for my car! They do there standard packages which seem to consist of semi synthetic 10w 40 Oils and upgraded packages which seem to consist of 5w 40 synthetic oils.

I was once told that you shouldn't put fully synthetic engine oils in an engine unless that is what it had all its service life. Is there any truth in this?

Is there any advantage to using the 5-40w oil?

Thanks in advance!
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Offline itavaltalainen

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #1 on: 27 February 2013, 17:21 »
Go for 5w40 with VW spec 502.00 and ideally a MB 229.3 or MB 229.5 - then you can be sure it's good oil ;)

Lots of reasons why it's better, no disadvantage not even cost....
advantages include better cold start (even on these islands...)
slightly better fuel economy
more stable performance
.......use google..........

There is NOT the slightest bit of truth in the myth that you cannot change oil from even mineral to synthetic - or a different grade (or the other way round even - except why would you wanna do that). All the horror stories out there that cars all of a sudden started leaking and burning oil.... well, those engines wouldn't have been around much longer even with the crap - ahem... oil they were run with originally.

The only exception to this is classic cars, but only really classic ones - i.e. your grandparents may have had when they were young...

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Offline RichardBaronGolf

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #2 on: 27 February 2013, 17:44 »
That's brilliant thanks for the reply mate, Sorry didn't use google great information there though for anyone looking for it! I'll look for those things which you said :)
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Offline Wayne

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #3 on: 27 February 2013, 21:03 »
I would stick with 10/40 semi synth tbh
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Offline Khare

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #4 on: 28 February 2013, 16:02 »
I wouldn't.

I'd buy this, which is what I've bought for my previous 4 oil changes already.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-984-fuchs-titan-supersyn-5w-40-high-performance-fully-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx

It's great value, a very reputable brand, synthetic and the lower cold viscosity will mean when the engine is cold it'll crank over easier, faster and protect better.

Use it with a decent oil filter with a non return valve  :smiley:
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Offline RichardBaronGolf

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #5 on: 28 February 2013, 17:29 »
This may sound stupid but whats a non return valve?
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Offline RichardBaronGolf

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #6 on: 28 February 2013, 17:30 »
I actually bought exactly that before seeing your post :)
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Offline Khare

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #7 on: 28 February 2013, 23:35 »
Quote from: RichardBaronGolf on 28 February 2013, 17:29
This may sound stupid but whats a non return valve?

It's a valve fitted to quality oil filters that stops the oil above the oil filter (so the head mainly) draining back into the sump. Advantage of this is on the first start up there will already be oil at the head rather than running dry for a few seconds while pressure builds up and oil travels upwards. Any good oil filter will have it.

I'd buy this

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-62490-mahle-oil-filter-oc264-audi-seat-skoda-vw-.aspx

Mahle is an OEM supplier and is very good quality. You could try a K&N oil filter if you wanted, I've tried it twice now but there really is no advantage having one other than the fancy K&N writing on it and the hex nut welded at the bottom, which didn't get used for removal anyway. They say that the K&N one has more space for oil flow between the filter element and the outer skin meaning better and faster flow, but I really don't think it makes much difference unless you're running maybe an extremely high revving engine :smiley:
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Offline danny_p

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #8 on: 02 March 2013, 00:13 »
only thing to watch when you fill an engine up with fully synth thats never had it before is its bloody good at cleaning.  if any oil seals are getting done, the fully synth will cleans out all the crap and they'll leack

fully synth oil is better but if it means leacking seals and haveing to change them    moost people can't be botherd with that sort of job on a mk3 and it gets scraped

if it's been well serviced it'll be fine,  if it hasent been it may tell you
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Offline RichardBaronGolf

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Re: Normal oil or the upgraded ?
« Reply #9 on: 02 March 2013, 06:54 »
I'll remember that for next time khare I bought the package which cam with a UFL filter!

The engine I have seems pretty sound mate hopefully nothing goes wrong I'll update on how its running with the new oil a week after I put it in :)
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