I believe almost every Audi/Seat/Skoda/Volkswagen*, as well as BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, require an oil with a high temperature / high shear (HTHS) viscosity of > 3.5 mPa.s
Luckily, there is a quick method of determining this. If the oil meets either ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4, C3, or C4, it has a HTHS of >3.5. Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 has a HTHS of 3.56, so it is perfectly acceptable.
If it meets either ACEA A1/B1, A5/B5, C1, or C2, then the HTHS is <3.5. Mobil 1 5W-30 has a HTHS of 3.06, so that means we cannot use it, as it is too thin.
As you can see, it's not as simple as using any 5W-30 oil. But frankly, I'm not too sure if the average consumer can be bothered to know all this! I suppose the safest option is to use oils with VW approvals.
It would be convenient if Mobil sold it here in 4L or 5L bottles like they do in Europe, but it'll certainly be much better value buying in bulk anyway, as indicated by Transporter. Send Mobil an e-mail and they'll point you to your nearest distributor.
*except for engines that call for VW 503.00/506.00/506.01
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