B7 Highline 3.6 V6 oil?

[kook]

Link doesn't work.

Link does work, you just have to double click your way through the vehicle selector part...

[Passat R36]

How about Mobil 1 Engine Oil ESP 5W30 on eBay link here:
Mobil 1 Engine OIL ESP 5W30 Litre Bottle | eBay
I am thinking about buying some.

[Hillbilly]

That is 21.50 a Litre on there so why not just buy 5L of Penrite or Shell Ultra Extra for about $69.

Brad & I have told you the popular ones that most of us use so whats wrong with them..

We also posted the link to why you should use them

Your money your car I guess

[Diesel_vert]

I have a 2011 B7 Highline. I'm wanting to change my oil out every 5-6,000km's, but only want to do every second change at the dealers.

Factory service intervals are 15 000 km or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

IMO, if you feel inclined to do an interim oil change, I think an interval of 7 500 km or 6 months would be more than sufficient. I don't think a more frequent schedule would achieve anything of value.

Just wondering what the oil is to use? I figure its Castrol as that's what written on the cap.

Castrol is Volkswagen's commercial and technical partner, but one is not beholden to use exclusively Castrol engine lubricants.

From poking around I can see both the fully synthetic Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30 or 10W-60 get recommended.

The easiest way of selecting a suitable lubricant is to check whether it has VW 502.00 or VW 504.00 on the label, which are VW oil specifications. Others have already explained the nuance between approved and unapproved oils.

There is nothing in Volkswagen literature that states a recommended or specific viscosity grade, but if pressed for choice, 5W-30 is used in a lot of modern VWs.

I imagine the 10W-60 would be far better for Australian temps, same oil I used in my E46 M3. What oil do others here use?

Using an engine lubricant with a heavier viscosity grade than is necessary adversely affects efficiency, which saps power and fuel economy simultaneously. It also means the engine has to work harder and use more energy to get the oil flowing, which is reflected in increased oil temperatures.

If it were me, I would avoid using a 10W-60 grade motor oil for any modern car unless specified.

On the other hand, Castrol TWS Motorsport 10W-60 and Castrol EDGE Professional TWS 10W-60 (and not Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60 nor Castrol Edge 10W-60 SN) are the only approved oils for BMW M models, so that's a different story.

[kook]

If it were me, I would avoid using a 10W-60 grade motor oil for any modern car unless specified.
On the other hand, Castrol TWS Motorsport 10W-60 and Castrol EDGE Professional TWS 10W-60 (and not Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60 nor Castrol Edge 10W-60 SN) are the only approved oils for BMW M models, so that's a different story.

Thanks for the info, I had lots of input yesterday from the good folks here and have figured out what to use. I guess I was somewhat keen (and green) on the 10W-60 at the time due to putting that in my BMW M car. I will still be using Castrol, just the correct spec

Factory service intervals are 15 000 km or 12 months, whichever is reached first.
IMO, if you feel inclined to do an interim oil change, I think an interval of 7 500 km or 6 months would be more than sufficient. I don't think a more frequent schedule would achieve anything of value.

Here's one thread among many I just found on early oil changes in E46 M3's. As you can see changing your oil out early can make massive differences. Mine at 106,000km's looked pretty much like the 4th picture down.

The "Why you shouldn't follow dealer oil change intervals" thread - BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X)

I used to over maintain My M and I'll be doing the same to the VW. Keeps me off the

[Diesel_vert]

Here's one thread among many I just found on early oil changes in E46 M3's. As you can see changing your oil out early can make massive differences.

The "Why you shouldn't follow dealer oil change intervals" thread - BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X)

I used to over maintain My M and I'll be doing the same to the VW. Keeps me off the

BMW appear to have a variable service regime, where the service interval is determined on how the car the driven, with the maximum possible interval being 25 000 km (15 000 miles) if driven under ideal conditions.

In the forum that you've linked to, the majority of people appear to advocate halving that figure and changing the oil every 12 500 km (7 500 miles). The remaining others go even further and advocate performing oil changes every 8 000 km (5 000 miles).

Likewise, a 7 500 km (4 700 mile) oil change interval would be more than sufficient for your VW.

Again, I don't see why a more frequent schedule, i.e. every 5 000 - 6 000 km (3 000 - 3 750 miles), would achieve anything of value.

Mine at 106,000km's looked pretty much like the 4th picture down.

If you're referring Obioban's car, he or she changed the oil every 7 500 miles (12 000 km) according to the first post.

[kook]

Again, I don't see why a more frequent schedule, i.e. every 5 000 - 6 000 km (3 000 - 3 750 miles), would achieve anything of value.

No problems. In all honesty it might float out closer to the 7500km mark sometimes. Either way, you service your car to your needs and I'll do likewise with mine. Happy motoring...

[snerlo]

Just a quick question to the people in the know, filter change during the midcycle oil change? Just curious as i used to do the oil and filter on my xr8 but it was really easy. Just a bit nervous doing it on the R36 if i decide to change every 7,500km. I havent investigated where the filter is located and how easy it is to get off.

[Lucas_R]

I would always change the filter.

[Hillbilly]

Just a quick question to the people in the know, filter change during the midcycle oil change? Just curious as i used to do the oil and filter on my xr8 but it was really easy. Just a bit nervous doing it on the R36 if i decide to change every 7,500km. I havent investigated where the filter is located and how easy it is to get off.

Why would you change the oil and leave dirty stuff in the filter. Kind of defeats the purpose of what you are trying to do isn't it.

If VW specify 15,000k (or 12 month) oil changes I wouldn't waste the money doing it sooner unless I lived in a high dust area or somewhere that was classed as a extreme driving condition area.