What oil for the R36

[gerhard]

Why buy oil for the top up - go to the dealer - they do it for free.

[Lance B]

I'm pretty sure they will have specified a "VW Approved" standard (eg VW 504.00 or 505.00 or similar) in the owners manual, not "5W30 synthetic". So if you put an oil that doesn't meet their approved spec, then yes, they can refuse a warranty claim.

It wouldn't be too difficult to do an oil analysis on an engine if it saved them $5,000 or $10,000 (or whatever it is that an R36 engine costs as a spare part ). Certainly it is something I would do if I worked in VW's warranty area and I had any doubts whatsoever about the claim.

Anybody can put whatever oil they want in their engine (and also take responsibility for doing so). I did say "I'd be very wary", but that doesn't mean you have to do what I would do

Considering the overall costs of buying and running an R36 I wouldn't have thought it is worth the risk of running a cheaper, non-spec oil.

Definitely not worth the risk for a saving of a few $, as you say.

*But*, if the oil that you use *meets*, but actually they generally *exceed*, the requirements of the specification of VW, then they cannot refute a claim and *that is the law*.

These VW requirements are not some secret formula, they are easily obtainable, and the oil makers generally well *exceed* these requirements. These requirements are specs like SAE, API, ACEA, VW etc.

Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30, Castrol Edge 5W-30 and Shell Helix Ultra Extra 5W-30 are all VW 504 or 505 compliant. You can take these to any VW dealership and get them to put the oil of your choice in your VW and there will be no problem. The major problem I have with dealership oils are, while they have the same specifications, VW purchases their oils by a person in a procurement team and makes the decision based on which oils they can get the cheapest, not which is the best. They then mark it up rediculously to sell to you. They are in the business of making money after all. That is why I buy my own oils and take them to the dealership. I know what it is I am putting in my car and I am not gettgin ripped off by the dealer.

I agree. The only issue I have with getting VW to use oil that you have purchased is whether they actually put *your* oil in *your* car. I can imagine that a mechanic may see your oil and think that it is better than what they have and he may use it in *his* car and then he puts the normal VW oil into your car like they would normally do. The only way that this may not happen is if they keep careful inventory of their own oil so that the mechanic can't substitute it. Someone has to pay for the 5-6lts they put in your car.

[tryingavw]

I agree. The only issue I have with getting VW to use oil that you have purchased is whether they actually put *your* oil in *your* car. I can imagine that a mechanic may see your oil and think that it is better than what they have and he may use it in *his* car and then he puts the normal VW oil into your car like they would normally do. The only way that this may not happen is if they keep careful inventory of their own oil so that the mechanic can't substitute it. Someone has to pay for the 5-6lts they put in your car.

you need more faith- they can't be that bad! ( can they?)

[Autopia]

I've always been a big advocate of Motul oil. I've used it in my Renault Clio Sport and Chrysler 300C. It's damn expensive ($25 for 2L) but it works extremely well.

This first link shows that it's suitable for some VW engines.

http://www.motul.com.au/product_line...4stroke14.html

But I intend to use this one.

http://www.motul.com.au/product_line...4stroke05.html

[Lance B]

you need more faith- they can't be that bad! ( can they?)

I am sure that most would do what you ask, but you never know. I am a cynical bastard at the best of times.

[Jayse]

Why buy oil for the top up - go to the dealer - they do it for free.

I'm with Gerhard on this one Andrew. When i got my car the dealer mentioned this to me and just before i did the xmas trip up to Sydney i dropped in and they DID a free top up.

Good luck with it.

Cheers,

Jayse.

[Steve]

Dragging up and old thread...!

My R36 told me it needs oil tonight, but I couldn't find any at any of the petrol stations that were open on my way home (all were BP).

Where's a good place to get oil from? I used to feed my Commodore whatever it needed and I could get it from a nearby Mobil, and I can get oil for Mum's GTI at the same Mobil too... but not so sure about my R36. Where should I look?

[Cro]

If you want to just top up the oil you already have (Castrol 5w30 Longlife III) you will need to buy it from VW. There is no other distributor available for this exact oil. I bought a 5L bottle for under $100 (can't remember the exact amount).

If you want to flush your system, go get any vw 504/505 compliant oil and a compliant filter.

[Steve]

I just called the service guys and they said that the Castrol stuff that's in there is hard to hunt down (no ****) but any fully synthetic 5w-30 oil is "perfectly fine."

That makes life easy!

[GHW]

Each to there own but, for me, I will only ever use the recommended oil and I don't care about the extra $20 mark-up.
Much better than giving VW an excuse to refuse warranty, not that I'm sayimg they would but this was used as a major excuse by Audi on my A4 and it cost me $13k.
My last car was sold, serviced exactly to spec (right down to the replacement tyres) so there were absolutely no excuses in case of an issue and, besides, who am I to think I know better than the engineers who built this thing? (and therefore specced the appropriate oil) I don't believe for one second it's "buy the cheapest to make the most profit' as they wouldn't risk the warranty claims. My 2c.