Golf gti mk5 oil grades?!

[Snooze]

Its all very confusing!  Handbook says 503.00 or 504.00 for long life servicing, which includes several different grades.  The problem came to light when I went to halfords to buy some oil for topping up.  They recommended 5w 30, but the garage had used 0w 30 when they serviced it last week.  I want to make sure im certain what oil I should be using before I have a go at my garage for putting the wrong oil in!

[Hyperspace]

The required VW oil standard takes precedence over brand and viscosity grade.

Here is the list of VW oil standards for petrol engines, according to performance level (in ascending order):

500.00
501.01
502.00
503.00
503.01
504.00

Each VW oil standard has a different range of allowable viscosity grades. For example, 504.00 oils are exclusively 5W-30, while 502.00 oils can be found in several different grades (5W-30, 5W-40, 0W-40, etc). Viscosity grade alone is not always an indicator of quality.

Generally, vehicles with fixed service intervals require 502.00 as a minimum, while vehicles with variable service intervals require 504.00 as a minimum.

Also note that each standard is compatible with, and supersedes, all previous oil standards.

At the end of the day, if you want the best, all you need to look for when purchasing oil is to look for "504.00 approved" on the bottle and nothing else. Easy as.


Disclaimer - the above information generally holds true unless stated otherwise, so always refer to the owner's manual for specifics.

[Snooze]

Well I called my garage today, and they said that the 0w 30 was the best oil to use on my car.  I have been going to this garage ever since I started driving, and I respect their knowledge and advice.  To be fair my car has been running really nicely since it was serviced next week, and the 0w 30 oil is in the 503.01 category which is recommended for my car. 

The only thing that puts a doubt in my mind is that it says the 503.01 category has been superceded by the 504.00 category   

[Stitch]

I think Mobil 1 ESP 5w 30 is 504.00 - for the sake of £50 I'd buy the oil myself and ask the garage if they'll change it FOC as a good will gesture.

[Primus84]

Only 5w-30 is now approved for use on the GTI by VW. Anything else is out of spec.

[kingbilly]

Primus84,

I thought this as well.  My gti was serviced yesterday and the dealer used spec vw502 (time and distance).  I queried this and they insisted it was correct.

I left and phoned vw customer services...they agreed with the dealer.

They also stated that at no point in time has there ever been an edict from vw stating that longlife oil is to be used in all servicing regimes.

Unless anyone here can prove otherwise...?

[Primus84]

ETKA says otherwise!

Currently ETKA only provides for 5w-30 to be used on the GTI.

[Hyperspace]

Only 5w-30 is now approved for use on the GTI by VW.

That is incorrect, as not all 5W-30 oils are the same. It would be more accurate to say, "only 504.00 is now approved for use on the GTI by VW", which is what I suspect you are trying to say.

Having said that, if the owner's manual says 502.00 is acceptable, then 503.01 is acceptable as well, though you will have to switch to fixed service intervals if you haven't already done so.

But for any VW direct-injection petrol engine (FSI, TSI, TFSI, etc) 504.00 oils are best, regardless of service regime.

[Primus84]

Yeah, you're right I wasn't saying any 5w-30.

Regardless of what the manual says do you not think there must be a reason behind ETKA only listing LL oil now.

Dealers are aware of this, if you speak to the service manager you are more likely to get the correct information - last time my GTI was in to have the coil pack recall done I was told they needed it overnight for a part - when I asked what part I was told it needed glow plugs! You need to speak to the manager to get a proper answer KingBilly. Ask them to show you in ETKA where it allows for that oil to be used.

[kingbilly]

thanks Primus,

I did notice your EKTA screen print on page 2 of this thread, but couldn't quite read it too clearly.

Is EKTA the bible and legally binding on dealers...or can they view it as a recommendation...but revert to the manual, as they have done in my instance...?

Not quite 100% confident to storm into the manager's office and complain just yet.

Thanks again for sharing better knowledge than I have.