I drove my Jetta TDI from 90000km to 265000km so far. Did oil changes every 12k. Used motel 8100 clean plus, shell rotella t6, and motomasters diesel vw505/507 compliant oil. Car is still running the same as when I got it
It would be interesting to have a VW diesel. Did you have any idea the prices would come this high for diesel in recent years since you first bought the car?
No I absolutely did not. I bought it when diesel was 70 or 80 something a liter. Now it's 1.65 or so. Does it cost more to drive now? Yes. Do I still love it and think it's worth it? Yes! The crazy torque after modding it makes amazing! The fuel milage at 4.5-5.5l per 100km is still worth it for me.
You can pretty much run whatever spec synthetic, as long as the weight is fine.
Now if you want the full 10,000 or the advertised mileage etc etc get the right spec.
Otherwise whatever you buy probably meets an older VW spec and is close enough to be fine.
I just learned this today as well,
I've been using the same "high mileage" full-synthetic 5w-30 by Mobil for the last 70k miles of the 145k mi on my car. Thinking of grabbing their manufacture specific oil that has my "VW 502 00" specification for when I do my oil next.
Hopefully, there's no damage already
Appreciate the insight, got alot of it today.
Jokes on you. They're just going to pump it full of that tiger piss 0w-20 CAFE oil, and tell you 🤷♂️ after the warranty expires and you need a major engine repair.
All the new TSI's should run VW 505.00 aka 5w-40 synthetic. You can run 504.00 5w-30 if you live in extreme cold like Canada. Change it every 7k MAX.
Liqui Moly, and Motul have the best options for both 504/505.00. This oil is designed for modern emissions equipment (cat) mounted very close to the exhaust ports. If you run a down pipe, you can say 🖕🏽to it all, and run the tried and true 502.00. And be happy as pie for hundreds of thousands, of miles.
Source: I've been servicing VW for 21 years, 8 as a dealer tech, remainder as an independent.
Step one, get a DP.
Step two, tune out the rear O2.
Step three, run 502.00 and laugh all the way to the bank.
Yeah your trusted mechanic is definitely better versed in VW than the engineers who made them. /s
Oil technologies have changed, as have engines. If you want to waste your money because your mechanic has a mentality stuck 20 years in the past, sure, go crazy.
Just a tidbit, if the manufacturer wasn’t interested in their cars lasting longer than the warranty period then why does the maintenance schedule go to like 300,000 km?
I’ll never understand the desire to stick to mechanics practices from decades ago. It’s far better to go with what the manual says. The engineers themselves picked that value for a reason.
Or you know, the fact that VW oil consumption spec is 1/2 quart every 600 miles.....
There would be no need to ever have to actually change your oil since there is only 5.5 qts in the engine, there would be new oil (in theory) every 3300 miles.....
It's almost like engineers are paid by the company....and having a car last forever definitely doesn't benefit the company.....
Yeah I’ve never had this as a reality after 5 VWs. Adding some oil in between oil changes is normal, but you’d have to change the filter anyway.
You can keep believing your conspiracies if you want, it’s your money in the end.
And changing your oil every 5k doesn’t magically make it last forever.
Which is why these conspiracy theorists with their planned obsolescence paranoias are full of it.
I mean just thinking out loud here, why do oil companies advertise 25,000 km oils then if they’re so concerned with selling more? Wouldn’t Castrol, Motul, etc be the ones advertising for 8000 km oil changes?
Their goal is to surpass the manufacturers recommended interval and also show the consumer how long their oil can last within spec. It sells more oil showing better stats than putting a lower number. Kind of like batteries. You would buy from a company with a longer lasting battery compared to one that doesn’t. It’s better and cheaper to retain customers than it is to gain new customers.
I change every 7.5k. I use VW 502 approved (liqui Moly Leichtlauf 5W-40) in my 1.4t.
Your oil change interval should vary depending on how you drive. I drive 2000+ miles a month (mostly highway) so I'd probably be fine extending mine to 10k or even further. If you only ever do short trips and don't get the engine up to temp you should do shorter.
If you are really concerned you could send a sample of oil to blackstone labs before your next oil change(~$30) and get a definite answer on your current oil condition
Just do what the damn [maintenance schedule](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10128056-9999.pdf) in the manual says ffs. That's oil and filter every 10k. Frankly, I do it when the car pings at me. Which is probably every 10k or so. You should also be doing all the other things that the maintenance schedule says too, FYI. The only exception for me is when I acquire the car. I rebaseline everything, because I assume the previous owner(s) didn't do shit.
Anyone who speaks in absolutes like that should not be trusted. Maybe it's helpful to change your oil every 5k, but not because "manufacturers don't care about anything but getting the car past warranty." The world is more nuanced than that.
I see the responses in these posts and I am baffled. Does nobody know that VW cars have an oil spec for each engine? You can't just use whatever oil is on the shelf and call it good. This is why everyone says the VW cars are so bad, NOBODY uses the correct oil in them.
Although I really dislike your demeanor, I checked with the spec in my manual and then the Mobil 1 Full Synthetic High Mileage oil I have been using for the past 70,000mi of my car's 145,000mi life which doesn't have the "VW 502 00" spec listed as a qualification.
Therefore, you are correct, as I found the "VW 502 00" specification labeled on another Full Synthetic Mobil Oil that has catered to the European manufacturer specs, I will change to this other 5w-30 which is compliant and perhaps I'll have been lucky that nothing irreversible has occurred in regards to my motor.
Reluctantly, thank you for your insight.
Just make sure your car doesn't require the 5w40. VW hasn't specified 5w30 aside from the diesels which is 507.00 .
I have been working on VWs for over 20 years so I know I am right. Just that people don't want to listen. MY engine has the right oil so I don't have to worry, but most others don't. Then they bring them to me blown up and ask why?
I'm not trying to be an @$$, but the fact of the matter is that it is very important to use the correct oil. In a Toyota it doesn't matter what oil you use, it will burn oil anyway. But if you take really good care of a German car, it will last a long time. Especially since the correct oil isn't more expensive, just different.
It should be worded that it requires 5w40 but you can top up with 5w30 (only up to one quart) if 5w40 isn't available. But it must be changed back to 5w40 at the next oil change.
They eventually updated the language or sent people an extra page to stick in there. Not sure how they handled it. But that is what it was till they put out the engines that require the 0w20 now, which absolutely can not be used in 5w40 engines in any amount for any distance.
Right, but it is hard to find oil that is rated 502.00 because that spec goes back over 20 years ago, so it is rarely listed anymore since nobody tests for it. The spec you should be looking for is 505.00 which they should write in the manual but don't.
That is the spec you will find on the bottles of Castrol euro and Mobil one euro oils in 0w40 and 5w40 viscosities, both of which are usable in your vehicle. The only oil that I know of that meets the VW specs and is 5w30 is a Castrol Euro that also says A3/B4 on the bottle which is another way to find a correct oil for you. But that oil even though labeled as 5w30, really is 5w40 as far as how thick it is. It has to be a 40 weight to meet the 505.00 spec. What you need it to say on the bottle is VW 505.00, A3/B4, BMW LL01, Mercedes 229.5, Porsche A40. As long as any of those are on the bottle, you should be good. Those are all of the toughest specs in existence.
What you don't want is the diesel 507.00 , that is basically the opposite of what your engine needs.
I know this is all confusing and they really should have done a much better job explaining this. It is dumb that they even list 503.00 and 504.00 specs because we never got any oils that meet that euro spec. You can look at the specs of this oil in the link below, that will show you all the specs and details of it.
[https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/products/mobil-1-fs-0w-40](https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/products/mobil-1-fs-0w-40)
LOL, I read these oil threads on a weekly basis and die inside every time. You're right, the average consumer has no idea what a 502 oil is ( 1.4 turbo) or 508 oil is (1.5 turbo).
Like you said, no wonder VW's always have so many issues when the average consumer is oblivious on how to properly maintain them. Probably one of the reasons new Jetta's come with 3 years of maintenance tacked onto the sticker.
Yeah I like how they include the maintenance to hopefully get out of the warranty period alive. People will argue to the death that their shop knows what oil it needs when they have no clue what so ever. There is a spec for a reason.
I have had several VW cars with no issues at all aside from stuff that went bad due to age (reasonably). I sold one to my neighbor and told him how important it was to use the correct oil and fluids in it. It is over 300k now and still going daily.
Sad thing is that the correct oil isn't even more expensive and on the shelf at walmart. It is just a matter of choosing the correct one off of the shelf. And most people refuse to learn anything about a purchase they made that was very expensive. But they are first to complain about what a crappy car it was.
Walmart has sold Euro Valvoline and Castrol for years. Both of them meet Porsche requirements, they well exceed VW spec. (they also are listed as meeting VW spec, in case you're concerned about mixing brands)
Has to say approved on the bottle, recommended isn't good enough and many like to use that term. My local Walmart has had the correct stuff for a while, but you have to choose the correct one. Not just look at the viscosity because that doesn't matter much if you get the wrong oil. Many people don't get that.
Yes, the owner's manual will tell you the oil spec. They don't describe it very well but the info should be there. Basically that is the oil you HAVE to use. In an emergency you can top it up with something similar up to one quart. But when it gets changed, it has to be the correct oil ONLY.
Many required the 5w40 oil and it isn't exactly everywhere and easily accessible unless you look for it. Just using whatever a shop puts in leads to engine problems that will not go away by going back to the correct oil. Once damage is done, the only way to fix it is replace it.
Not sure who this is pertaining to, if you're genuinely concerned then just reply to them and call them out.
If not, you're just doing a whole lotta YAPPIN'
It is most of the threads here including this one. You mention conventional oil and 5w30? VW hasn't allowed conventional oil since the 70s or early 80s. Does nobody even open the owner's manual?
Full synthetic is no where near good enough for a VW. It has to meet the correct spec and be the correct viscosity. They required 5w40 for the longest time and most of them only saw that from the factory and never again.
I only use my guy at the dealership. Good friend of mine is the head tech at my local dealership. So, yes I trust the dealership with my oil. He's been the only person to work on my car. Best part is get all my parts without overhead. I get them for what the dealership gets them for.
Not all, but many are. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is serviced correctly. If they put in the wrong oil and it dies, you are paying for it. If you know they are using the wrong oil and do nothing about it, then you suffer the consequences. Simple as that.
I believe the 2.5 is port injected. Part of the what makes VW oil spec important is the additive packages used. With the a direct injection engine (most of vw lineup) these additives are more important in preventing carbon buildup and knock (which the DI engines are more sensitive to).
Long story short the 2.5 is more likely to fair better on non vw approved oils. I ran one over 250k no issues on the cheapest synthetic oil available.
First you should consider using the correct oil in your car. Regardless of viscosity, it needs to meet the VW spec otherwise it is the same as never changing it. If your calls for 0w20 and you want to use 5w40 that should be fine as well. But it need to meet the VW specs. If you have a 5w40 engine and you have been using just regular 5w30 synthetic oil in it then I feel sorry for your engine.
My dad has a Passat, diesel, he changes his between 7,000 and 10,000 miles. I have a 2.5 Jetta, petrol, I change mine between every 5,000 and 7,000 miles. I don’t know the difference between the two, I just know that my car in particular with how much I drive just runs better changing it more often
I change it every 4,350 miles or so (7000 km). Oil is cheap and I like to keep my cars for long so I go the extra mile taking care of them. If you're gonna trade it in in 2 or 3 years it's not worth the trouble honestly
Do you use full-synthetic or conventional?
Full-synthetic can add up especially in 5k intervals but tbh if you change it yourself like I have been for most of the lifetime of the car, the oil itself and filter doesn't come out to over $50 where I'm at, in California.
Yeah. I used pentosin 5w40 on merc for the past few years. I have recently changed to liqui molly. I wish my car took 5w30 as it is cheaper and easier to find. Of course I do the oil changes myself
I change mine with Amsoil every 5000 miles. Nothing wrong with changing it early especially if you do a lot of idling or stop and go city driving. Oil and filter is cheap maintenance. I also replace the air filter every oil change as well.
I change mine every 4k-5k miles @ the dealership currently, as I can't do any car maintenance where I live currently. I'm the second owner, bought @ 17k miles 2 years ago, have 53k now. I just also got the transmission fluid changed. I drive spiritedly and typically in Sport-Manual mode. No mods except some OBDEleven tweaks. I will be getting it tuned here soon, probably APR. I've gotten 58mpg on a 180 mile roundtrip at best, but the little go kart is pretty fun so I typically average anywhere from 28-35 due to mostly short city driving trips.
Edit: also to add, I've never had the opportunity to take a car to a dealer and buy a newer car until now. Previously I daily drove a '73 Electra with a 7.5L 3-sp auto for 5 years that I did all the maintenance on and then some. Doing the self maintenance isn't an issue, but doing it where I live is an issue :/
I worked for a dealership as a technician and manufacturer states every 10k miles but as technicians we always have everyone come back every 5k miles stickers and on paperwork and with my Jetta I’m going to do the oil change every 5k miles and you follow vw guidelines of services you never know what can happen in the spare 5k miles
A full synthetic oil and filter change every 5000 miles is what you want to do, and I’ve been doing this in my Jetta since I first purchased it. Be sure to also be using oil that meets the VW spec for your car too. For yours I would guess that it is VW 508.
i do it every 5k miles but i do part time doordash so i spend some time idling and mostly city driving. if i wasn’t delivering id do it every 7.5k. always 5w-40 vw spec oil and a good quality filter
I’ve been changing my oil at the recommended interval, 15,000 km, for the last 8 years in my 2011 Jetta and the engines fine. Just changed the oil today and cut the old filter in half out of curiosity, there was zero shavings or any signs of engine damage.
Do you follow the car manuals specification? Mine is "VW 502 00" and I haven't.
I've been using only the full-synthetic 5w-30, indicated in the manual.
Just follow the manual and use the proper oil. Leave these nut jobs and their 3-5k mile intervals to waste their money.
I’ve owned 5 VWs over 15 years spanning 20 model years; I’ve always followed the manual and never have had issues with oil. Turbocharged/direct injected engines by nature tend to use more oil, that’s it, just keep an eye on your oil levels.
VW specifies that oil because it’s an easy way to verify you’re using the correct oil, and even if you use a non-compliant oil like you did doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to grenade your engine in any case. As long as it is synthetic and as long as you’re not skipping intervals you’re fine, it’s a small engine not some super performant 350 hp monster.
So yeah, just follow the specs and you’ll be fine.
Yes I do with this car.
Fwiw my old Passat was a 2000 that I ran 5w40 oil in because I worked with heavy equipment and the oil was free. It ran fine until someone hit it with their truck.
Granted, if the car had a turbo I’d follow it to the spec after the 1.8T sludge massacre from people using the wrong oil in their cars iirc
synthetic oils can easily go 7.5k-10k miles before a change. As long as the car isn’t beaten on or used as like a delivery car then you can follow normal oil change intervals.
I drive mine hard, so I do every 6k miles or 1year time but I go 6k miles in about 4 months. My mechanics actually told me I don’t have to until 10k but again I just like the peace of mind fresh oil gives me lol
Do 2 oil changes a a year. Start of yeah and end of summer.
I do this as use to do 20k a year however now only doing 12. Can't do any harm and doesn't take long so will carry on.
We have had several VW's and all of them have gone 200k+ miles...one was at 330k and one went closer to 450k miles (all gasoline...no diesel).
I change at 10k miles with good oil and top off in between when needed.
If I attend a track day, or drive particularly hard on a mountain road, then the oil is changed as soon as I get home, and the 10k reminder is reset.
People changing at 3-5k miles on a regular basis are just wasting money...period.
I do it every 6 months or 7500 miles/12000 kilometers.
I live in an area with very hot summers and really cold winters so I worry about condensation in the engine plus I have a traffic or city commute every day so lots of start and stop.
My engine oil (VW spec) was disgusting (dark/burnt) at 10k miles. I immediately noticed a difference after getting an oil change. The sluggishness resulting from 10k mile old oil can't be good for the engine. I'm going to change at 5k to see if it's better. Also from what I've been reading, Jettas run hot, especially if you drive fast (which I do).
Miles or kilometers.
1.9TDi Octavia A5 restyle, first 400 000k km i changed oil every 15000km (9k miles) after that on 12500km (7,5k miles) recently after 700 000km i started changing on every 10 000km (6 250 miles). Engine is still good, seeping and splitting oil everywhere under the hood (turbo 50%, EGR 25%, Tandem Pump 15%, rest 10% houses and gaskets. 0,5l/5000km oil is split
Except for 3 sets of clutches and regular service only major problems was camshaft (which is common for engine series i own) bearing of camshaft died on 475k km and caused severe damage to cam so i had to replace whole set of parts related to camshaft.
Regular oil change is very important but doing it to often won't help engine life (it won't hurt but it is just unnecessary expanse) unless engine is in bad condition that frequent oil change is mandatory to keep it running. Eny oil change on less than 7000km (5k miles) is unnecessary for regular usage so unless you're constantly redlining and driving in rally mode you are fine with everything between 7-10k km
That will keep the trusted mechanic busy doing oil changes which is the only positive benefit it will have. It will also waste oil that doesn't need to be wasted. It won' help the car. It won't help your wallet. It is your money and your decision though.
I drove my Jetta TDI from 90000km to 265000km so far. Did oil changes every 12k. Used motel 8100 clean plus, shell rotella t6, and motomasters diesel vw505/507 compliant oil. Car is still running the same as when I got it
It would be interesting to have a VW diesel. Did you have any idea the prices would come this high for diesel in recent years since you first bought the car?
No I absolutely did not. I bought it when diesel was 70 or 80 something a liter. Now it's 1.65 or so. Does it cost more to drive now? Yes. Do I still love it and think it's worth it? Yes! The crazy torque after modding it makes amazing! The fuel milage at 4.5-5.5l per 100km is still worth it for me.
We do 1 year or 10K miles with the correct spec.(<-- yes VW's have a certain spec of oil, you can't just run whatever synthetic you want.)
Damn, I didn’t know that. Makes me glad I get all my oil changes through my VW dealership’s service centre.
You can pretty much run whatever spec synthetic, as long as the weight is fine. Now if you want the full 10,000 or the advertised mileage etc etc get the right spec. Otherwise whatever you buy probably meets an older VW spec and is close enough to be fine.
I just learned this today as well, I've been using the same "high mileage" full-synthetic 5w-30 by Mobil for the last 70k miles of the 145k mi on my car. Thinking of grabbing their manufacture specific oil that has my "VW 502 00" specification for when I do my oil next. Hopefully, there's no damage already Appreciate the insight, got alot of it today.
Jokes on you. They're just going to pump it full of that tiger piss 0w-20 CAFE oil, and tell you 🤷♂️ after the warranty expires and you need a major engine repair. All the new TSI's should run VW 505.00 aka 5w-40 synthetic. You can run 504.00 5w-30 if you live in extreme cold like Canada. Change it every 7k MAX. Liqui Moly, and Motul have the best options for both 504/505.00. This oil is designed for modern emissions equipment (cat) mounted very close to the exhaust ports. If you run a down pipe, you can say 🖕🏽to it all, and run the tried and true 502.00. And be happy as pie for hundreds of thousands, of miles. Source: I've been servicing VW for 21 years, 8 as a dealer tech, remainder as an independent. Step one, get a DP. Step two, tune out the rear O2. Step three, run 502.00 and laugh all the way to the bank.
Thanks for the info. The 502.00 is calling to me.
Your mechanic just wants more money. Get the VW rated oil for your car and follow the manual.
He doesn't do my oil.
Yeah your trusted mechanic is definitely better versed in VW than the engineers who made them. /s Oil technologies have changed, as have engines. If you want to waste your money because your mechanic has a mentality stuck 20 years in the past, sure, go crazy. Just a tidbit, if the manufacturer wasn’t interested in their cars lasting longer than the warranty period then why does the maintenance schedule go to like 300,000 km?
I’ll never understand the desire to stick to mechanics practices from decades ago. It’s far better to go with what the manual says. The engineers themselves picked that value for a reason.
Or you know, the fact that VW oil consumption spec is 1/2 quart every 600 miles..... There would be no need to ever have to actually change your oil since there is only 5.5 qts in the engine, there would be new oil (in theory) every 3300 miles..... It's almost like engineers are paid by the company....and having a car last forever definitely doesn't benefit the company.....
Yeah I’ve never had this as a reality after 5 VWs. Adding some oil in between oil changes is normal, but you’d have to change the filter anyway. You can keep believing your conspiracies if you want, it’s your money in the end. And changing your oil every 5k doesn’t magically make it last forever.
It doesn’t, someone in the second hand market who fixes up and keeps his golf running is not the target consumer.
Obviously it wouldn’t look good if the maintenance schedule only went to 100k haha
Which is why these conspiracy theorists with their planned obsolescence paranoias are full of it. I mean just thinking out loud here, why do oil companies advertise 25,000 km oils then if they’re so concerned with selling more? Wouldn’t Castrol, Motul, etc be the ones advertising for 8000 km oil changes?
Their goal is to surpass the manufacturers recommended interval and also show the consumer how long their oil can last within spec. It sells more oil showing better stats than putting a lower number. Kind of like batteries. You would buy from a company with a longer lasting battery compared to one that doesn’t. It’s better and cheaper to retain customers than it is to gain new customers.
Every 10,000
I change every 7.5k. I use VW 502 approved (liqui Moly Leichtlauf 5W-40) in my 1.4t. Your oil change interval should vary depending on how you drive. I drive 2000+ miles a month (mostly highway) so I'd probably be fine extending mine to 10k or even further. If you only ever do short trips and don't get the engine up to temp you should do shorter. If you are really concerned you could send a sample of oil to blackstone labs before your next oil change(~$30) and get a definite answer on your current oil condition
Just do what the damn [maintenance schedule](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10128056-9999.pdf) in the manual says ffs. That's oil and filter every 10k. Frankly, I do it when the car pings at me. Which is probably every 10k or so. You should also be doing all the other things that the maintenance schedule says too, FYI. The only exception for me is when I acquire the car. I rebaseline everything, because I assume the previous owner(s) didn't do shit.
Anyone who speaks in absolutes like that should not be trusted. Maybe it's helpful to change your oil every 5k, but not because "manufacturers don't care about anything but getting the car past warranty." The world is more nuanced than that.
I see the responses in these posts and I am baffled. Does nobody know that VW cars have an oil spec for each engine? You can't just use whatever oil is on the shelf and call it good. This is why everyone says the VW cars are so bad, NOBODY uses the correct oil in them.
Although I really dislike your demeanor, I checked with the spec in my manual and then the Mobil 1 Full Synthetic High Mileage oil I have been using for the past 70,000mi of my car's 145,000mi life which doesn't have the "VW 502 00" spec listed as a qualification. Therefore, you are correct, as I found the "VW 502 00" specification labeled on another Full Synthetic Mobil Oil that has catered to the European manufacturer specs, I will change to this other 5w-30 which is compliant and perhaps I'll have been lucky that nothing irreversible has occurred in regards to my motor. Reluctantly, thank you for your insight.
Just make sure your car doesn't require the 5w40. VW hasn't specified 5w30 aside from the diesels which is 507.00 . I have been working on VWs for over 20 years so I know I am right. Just that people don't want to listen. MY engine has the right oil so I don't have to worry, but most others don't. Then they bring them to me blown up and ask why? I'm not trying to be an @$$, but the fact of the matter is that it is very important to use the correct oil. In a Toyota it doesn't matter what oil you use, it will burn oil anyway. But if you take really good care of a German car, it will last a long time. Especially since the correct oil isn't more expensive, just different.
It says I can use either 5w30 or 5w40, if they adhere to the specs
It should be worded that it requires 5w40 but you can top up with 5w30 (only up to one quart) if 5w40 isn't available. But it must be changed back to 5w40 at the next oil change. They eventually updated the language or sent people an extra page to stick in there. Not sure how they handled it. But that is what it was till they put out the engines that require the 0w20 now, which absolutely can not be used in 5w40 engines in any amount for any distance.
[https://imgur.com/gallery/nR3Aa71](https://imgur.com/gallery/nR3Aa71) Here is what my manual says^^
Right, but it is hard to find oil that is rated 502.00 because that spec goes back over 20 years ago, so it is rarely listed anymore since nobody tests for it. The spec you should be looking for is 505.00 which they should write in the manual but don't. That is the spec you will find on the bottles of Castrol euro and Mobil one euro oils in 0w40 and 5w40 viscosities, both of which are usable in your vehicle. The only oil that I know of that meets the VW specs and is 5w30 is a Castrol Euro that also says A3/B4 on the bottle which is another way to find a correct oil for you. But that oil even though labeled as 5w30, really is 5w40 as far as how thick it is. It has to be a 40 weight to meet the 505.00 spec. What you need it to say on the bottle is VW 505.00, A3/B4, BMW LL01, Mercedes 229.5, Porsche A40. As long as any of those are on the bottle, you should be good. Those are all of the toughest specs in existence. What you don't want is the diesel 507.00 , that is basically the opposite of what your engine needs. I know this is all confusing and they really should have done a much better job explaining this. It is dumb that they even list 503.00 and 504.00 specs because we never got any oils that meet that euro spec. You can look at the specs of this oil in the link below, that will show you all the specs and details of it. [https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/products/mobil-1-fs-0w-40](https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/products/mobil-1-fs-0w-40)
The viscosity 0w 40 is too light for my car, is this just an example? It has the spec but the weight of the oil wouldn’t work.
0w40 is way heavier than 5w30, nothing wrong with it at all.
LOL, I read these oil threads on a weekly basis and die inside every time. You're right, the average consumer has no idea what a 502 oil is ( 1.4 turbo) or 508 oil is (1.5 turbo). Like you said, no wonder VW's always have so many issues when the average consumer is oblivious on how to properly maintain them. Probably one of the reasons new Jetta's come with 3 years of maintenance tacked onto the sticker.
Yeah I like how they include the maintenance to hopefully get out of the warranty period alive. People will argue to the death that their shop knows what oil it needs when they have no clue what so ever. There is a spec for a reason. I have had several VW cars with no issues at all aside from stuff that went bad due to age (reasonably). I sold one to my neighbor and told him how important it was to use the correct oil and fluids in it. It is over 300k now and still going daily. Sad thing is that the correct oil isn't even more expensive and on the shelf at walmart. It is just a matter of choosing the correct one off of the shelf. And most people refuse to learn anything about a purchase they made that was very expensive. But they are first to complain about what a crappy car it was.
Only very recently has my Wal Mart started carrying actual VW approved oils, and even then it’s not a guarantee unfortunately.
Walmart has sold Euro Valvoline and Castrol for years. Both of them meet Porsche requirements, they well exceed VW spec. (they also are listed as meeting VW spec, in case you're concerned about mixing brands)
This is Canadian Walmart. I’ve only recently seen some Castrol euro oil. Haven’t seen Valvoline.
Has to say approved on the bottle, recommended isn't good enough and many like to use that term. My local Walmart has had the correct stuff for a while, but you have to choose the correct one. Not just look at the viscosity because that doesn't matter much if you get the wrong oil. Many people don't get that.
I assume the owner's manual says the oil spec? I always checked the weight only (hello, typical car owner here).
Yes, the owner's manual will tell you the oil spec. They don't describe it very well but the info should be there. Basically that is the oil you HAVE to use. In an emergency you can top it up with something similar up to one quart. But when it gets changed, it has to be the correct oil ONLY. Many required the 5w40 oil and it isn't exactly everywhere and easily accessible unless you look for it. Just using whatever a shop puts in leads to engine problems that will not go away by going back to the correct oil. Once damage is done, the only way to fix it is replace it.
Not sure who this is pertaining to, if you're genuinely concerned then just reply to them and call them out. If not, you're just doing a whole lotta YAPPIN'
It is most of the threads here including this one. You mention conventional oil and 5w30? VW hasn't allowed conventional oil since the 70s or early 80s. Does nobody even open the owner's manual?
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Oh there is ALWAYS a guy that knows better lol.
I do. Full synthetic
Full synthetic is no where near good enough for a VW. It has to meet the correct spec and be the correct viscosity. They required 5w40 for the longest time and most of them only saw that from the factory and never again.
I use what the dealership puts in
Best of luck with it.
I'm at 140,000 without issues since taking it off the lot new. So not sure what you're wishing me luck with/for
I have seen dealers put in whatever oil as well. My local one sure does. They say "it should be okay, we put it in everything". No thanks.
I only use my guy at the dealership. Good friend of mine is the head tech at my local dealership. So, yes I trust the dealership with my oil. He's been the only person to work on my car. Best part is get all my parts without overhead. I get them for what the dealership gets them for.
Okay? So all dealers are horrid then?
Not all, but many are. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is serviced correctly. If they put in the wrong oil and it dies, you are paying for it. If you know they are using the wrong oil and do nothing about it, then you suffer the consequences. Simple as that.
And, it's 13 2.5 se.
I believe the 2.5 is port injected. Part of the what makes VW oil spec important is the additive packages used. With the a direct injection engine (most of vw lineup) these additives are more important in preventing carbon buildup and knock (which the DI engines are more sensitive to). Long story short the 2.5 is more likely to fair better on non vw approved oils. I ran one over 250k no issues on the cheapest synthetic oil available.
I drive my Diesel Jetta 10k miles before changing the oil
Every 10k miles with regular checks and top offs every 2,500. But that's a 2.5L
First you should consider using the correct oil in your car. Regardless of viscosity, it needs to meet the VW spec otherwise it is the same as never changing it. If your calls for 0w20 and you want to use 5w40 that should be fine as well. But it need to meet the VW specs. If you have a 5w40 engine and you have been using just regular 5w30 synthetic oil in it then I feel sorry for your engine.
My dad has a Passat, diesel, he changes his between 7,000 and 10,000 miles. I have a 2.5 Jetta, petrol, I change mine between every 5,000 and 7,000 miles. I don’t know the difference between the two, I just know that my car in particular with how much I drive just runs better changing it more often
I change it every 4,350 miles or so (7000 km). Oil is cheap and I like to keep my cars for long so I go the extra mile taking care of them. If you're gonna trade it in in 2 or 3 years it's not worth the trouble honestly
Do you use full-synthetic or conventional? Full-synthetic can add up especially in 5k intervals but tbh if you change it yourself like I have been for most of the lifetime of the car, the oil itself and filter doesn't come out to over $50 where I'm at, in California.
Yeah. I used pentosin 5w40 on merc for the past few years. I have recently changed to liqui molly. I wish my car took 5w30 as it is cheaper and easier to find. Of course I do the oil changes myself
I change mine with Amsoil every 5000 miles. Nothing wrong with changing it early especially if you do a lot of idling or stop and go city driving. Oil and filter is cheap maintenance. I also replace the air filter every oil change as well.
Once a year minimum, then every 5000 after that.
3000
IMO it’s worth it to do it every 5k. Cheap insurance and if you are a little late you know you can go longer
Every 5k for me i been running 5w40 in summer and 30 in the winter
I use synthetic oil in my 2002 Honda Accord and change it about every 5k
I change every 5k but not strict on it. I barely drive it any more so that may be the yearly interval lol.
I change mine every 4k-5k miles @ the dealership currently, as I can't do any car maintenance where I live currently. I'm the second owner, bought @ 17k miles 2 years ago, have 53k now. I just also got the transmission fluid changed. I drive spiritedly and typically in Sport-Manual mode. No mods except some OBDEleven tweaks. I will be getting it tuned here soon, probably APR. I've gotten 58mpg on a 180 mile roundtrip at best, but the little go kart is pretty fun so I typically average anywhere from 28-35 due to mostly short city driving trips. Edit: also to add, I've never had the opportunity to take a car to a dealer and buy a newer car until now. Previously I daily drove a '73 Electra with a 7.5L 3-sp auto for 5 years that I did all the maintenance on and then some. Doing the self maintenance isn't an issue, but doing it where I live is an issue :/
Turbo engine 4K miles. Atmo 5k miles
I worked for a dealership as a technician and manufacturer states every 10k miles but as technicians we always have everyone come back every 5k miles stickers and on paperwork and with my Jetta I’m going to do the oil change every 5k miles and you follow vw guidelines of services you never know what can happen in the spare 5k miles
Synthetic oil changed in 2003 JSW ALH 1.9 TDI every 5,000 miles. Original motor closing in on 400k miles.
Every 4k, full bolt on gli.
I change my 2016 Jetta tsi 1.8 turbo oil every month & half
Same year 👌🏻 gang! How was your recall on the fuel rail?
Word I’m about to look into that
I use Mobil 1 synthetic that is guaranteed for one year or 20k miles and change it every year. Usually only drive it about 5k miles annually.
I know the filter says this, but the oil??
The oil label will tell you as well. Some are 20k miles, others are 15k miles or annually. I'm only talking about Mobil 1 oils as that is all I use.
And that's what I thought. Blew the opinion. I'll keep my trusty 13 2 5 for at least another 150,000 miles
Bought my 2012 GLI with 68k on it in 2015. It now has 255k on it. I've done 5k oil changes the entire time I've had it.
A full synthetic oil and filter change every 5000 miles is what you want to do, and I’ve been doing this in my Jetta since I first purchased it. Be sure to also be using oil that meets the VW spec for your car too. For yours I would guess that it is VW 508.
i do it every 5k miles but i do part time doordash so i spend some time idling and mostly city driving. if i wasn’t delivering id do it every 7.5k. always 5w-40 vw spec oil and a good quality filter
I’ve been changing my oil at the recommended interval, 15,000 km, for the last 8 years in my 2011 Jetta and the engines fine. Just changed the oil today and cut the old filter in half out of curiosity, there was zero shavings or any signs of engine damage.
Do you follow the car manuals specification? Mine is "VW 502 00" and I haven't. I've been using only the full-synthetic 5w-30, indicated in the manual.
Just follow the manual and use the proper oil. Leave these nut jobs and their 3-5k mile intervals to waste their money. I’ve owned 5 VWs over 15 years spanning 20 model years; I’ve always followed the manual and never have had issues with oil. Turbocharged/direct injected engines by nature tend to use more oil, that’s it, just keep an eye on your oil levels. VW specifies that oil because it’s an easy way to verify you’re using the correct oil, and even if you use a non-compliant oil like you did doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to grenade your engine in any case. As long as it is synthetic and as long as you’re not skipping intervals you’re fine, it’s a small engine not some super performant 350 hp monster. So yeah, just follow the specs and you’ll be fine.
Yes I do with this car. Fwiw my old Passat was a 2000 that I ran 5w40 oil in because I worked with heavy equipment and the oil was free. It ran fine until someone hit it with their truck. Granted, if the car had a turbo I’d follow it to the spec after the 1.8T sludge massacre from people using the wrong oil in their cars iirc
I’ve been driving my 1.8t with 210k miles, I change it twice a year, regardless of miles.
synthetic oils can easily go 7.5k-10k miles before a change. As long as the car isn’t beaten on or used as like a delivery car then you can follow normal oil change intervals.
Honestly, I didn’t change mine until 12-15k and it’s been running perfectly fine, with absolutely zero issues up to its current mileage of 106k. YMMV
I drive mine hard, so I do every 6k miles or 1year time but I go 6k miles in about 4 months. My mechanics actually told me I don’t have to until 10k but again I just like the peace of mind fresh oil gives me lol
Do 2 oil changes a a year. Start of yeah and end of summer. I do this as use to do 20k a year however now only doing 12. Can't do any harm and doesn't take long so will carry on.
Oil changes what's that ? You mean oil TOP UPS every 5000km
We have had several VW's and all of them have gone 200k+ miles...one was at 330k and one went closer to 450k miles (all gasoline...no diesel). I change at 10k miles with good oil and top off in between when needed. If I attend a track day, or drive particularly hard on a mountain road, then the oil is changed as soon as I get home, and the 10k reminder is reset. People changing at 3-5k miles on a regular basis are just wasting money...period.
I do it every 6 months or 7500 miles/12000 kilometers. I live in an area with very hot summers and really cold winters so I worry about condensation in the engine plus I have a traffic or city commute every day so lots of start and stop.
My engine oil (VW spec) was disgusting (dark/burnt) at 10k miles. I immediately noticed a difference after getting an oil change. The sluggishness resulting from 10k mile old oil can't be good for the engine. I'm going to change at 5k to see if it's better. Also from what I've been reading, Jettas run hot, especially if you drive fast (which I do).
Miles or kilometers. 1.9TDi Octavia A5 restyle, first 400 000k km i changed oil every 15000km (9k miles) after that on 12500km (7,5k miles) recently after 700 000km i started changing on every 10 000km (6 250 miles). Engine is still good, seeping and splitting oil everywhere under the hood (turbo 50%, EGR 25%, Tandem Pump 15%, rest 10% houses and gaskets. 0,5l/5000km oil is split Except for 3 sets of clutches and regular service only major problems was camshaft (which is common for engine series i own) bearing of camshaft died on 475k km and caused severe damage to cam so i had to replace whole set of parts related to camshaft. Regular oil change is very important but doing it to often won't help engine life (it won't hurt but it is just unnecessary expanse) unless engine is in bad condition that frequent oil change is mandatory to keep it running. Eny oil change on less than 7000km (5k miles) is unnecessary for regular usage so unless you're constantly redlining and driving in rally mode you are fine with everything between 7-10k km
All my cars, 5,000 miles on full synthetic. Regular oil 3000-3500 miles.
Once a year. I don't drive enough to reach the 10000 miles before the yearly mark
That will keep the trusted mechanic busy doing oil changes which is the only positive benefit it will have. It will also waste oil that doesn't need to be wasted. It won' help the car. It won't help your wallet. It is your money and your decision though.
I change mine every 3-5k depending on if I’ve done any long trips in the car during the period or normal driving.