Cheap, non-approved oil that meets 507 spec - Logic & facts

dj_efk

dj_efk

A2OC Donor
United-Kingdom
Hi all,

I know we have a few oil industry professionals on here - I was just wondering, given that Audrey has only done a few thousand miles before the oil in the engine was changed due to already being shockingly black (and as it turned out, with swarf present on the magnetic sump plug), is there any point spending £40+ on premium oil if you’re not doing more than say, 6-7000 miles a year (I would change the oil every year as a matter of course)?

I was just looking at Mannol, Westway Lubricants and similar, you can pick up 5 litres that meets the 507 spec for 20-25 quid. Am I really going to see the additional 20 quid of quality in any even slightly measurable way? If it meets the spec then currently I think not, unless someone else can change my mind.

This topic was raised to me by an article that I’d read: That you pay a lot for the well-known oil brands and unless you really push the oil (ie. by going for 2 year / 19k mile drain intervals as per the long life regime for example), you’re best off buying the cheapest stuff you can find as it’s all made in the same refineries - Although that doesn’t account for the blending process and the additives that are put in of course - This article was advising to use supermarket oil as that would have been sourced from a well-known manufacturer.

Now if I was pushing beyond say 8000 miles or more and doing sustained autobahn speeds in very hot conditions then I wouldn’t ask, but I just wonder if I’m better off doing slightly more regular changes with the cheapest 507 spec oil.

Thoughts?
 
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Given that you can get the proper VW-endorsed Quantum Longlife3 for around £25 from TPS, I'd agree, don't spend £40+ on oil.

Oil will go black almost immediately after a change - it loses the honey colour within a few hours of driving, from heat and carbon absorption. I'd be a touch more troubled by swarf on your sump plug though.
 
Skipton01 said:
Given that you can get the proper VW-endorsed Quantum Longlife3 for around £25 from TPS, I'd agree, don't spend £40+ on oil.

Oil will go black almost immediately after a change - it loses the honey colour within a few hours of driving, from heat and carbon absorption. I'd be a touch more troubled by swarf on your sump plug though.
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On your last point, this is what’s prompting me to think about this - I’m going to drop the oil again in 5-6 months before the weather turns cold again to see if there is further swarf on the plug - that means the car will only most likely have done another 4000 miles max.

Do you have a link to a TPS outlet that will sell to Joe Public by mail order?
 
Not mail order no, I don't think any of them will do a mail order service as they're quite geographically limited and I think there's a bit of an agreement that they don't encroach on other branch territory.

Have you tried your local one to see if they'll sell you a 'service pack' (oil, filter, sump plug, air filter and cabin filter)? They don't like to do little bits and bobs, so if you can put a few parts together, you're far more likely to get a positive response.
 
I have been using oil from Westway Lubricants for a couple of years now on two vehicles both diesel, Audi ,& Honda CRV, as long as you have the right spec (you can call them & they will check for you) you should have no issues especially as your on going to do low miles.
Had good service from Westway and bought my last 20 LTRs for £65 enough for 3 changes and top ups between on the CRV. The same applies to the fuel as well. Did 5 years as an oil & fuel tanker driver.
The swarf is a concern though.
Might want to invest in a cheap umbilical camera with a light you can put in the sump plug hole when you drain to have a look around.
 
Whilst that would be interesting to do, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to see anything of interest in terms of where the swarf might have come from.

Back to the subject of oil - really I think as I have a dirty engine (I suspect from running for a while whilst over-fuelling), I just need one that meets the VW spec (doesn’t have to be approved) that has a very effective cleaning pack
 
One reason the oil goes black so quickly is the the filter housing on the tdi holds about 200ml of oil that doesn't drain. I always suck this out from the top using a vac bottle.
There was an ebay seller with quantum platinum PD oil at £20 for 5 Ltr and free delivery. Bargain! Sold out right now but worth watching for.
 
I sponged out the remaining oil in the filter housing using most of a roll of kitchen towel (would use a syringe next time, unless I’m using my pela extractor anyway).

I was thinking the next time I do a change of putting the old filter element back in, filling the engine with literally the cheapest 5/30 or 5/40 synthetic I can find, running the engine for 30 minutes and then draining / cleaning the filter housing / refilling with my choice of oil afterwards, just to flush out the engine further.

I have been conditioned to use 507 spec oil even for short drain intervals, is that what the oil you’re referring to is?
 
Quantum Platinum PD is 505.01, specifically designed for use in the tdi pd engine. My VAG trained mechanic suggests you ONLY use this spec oil in our PD Passat and A2.
I think 507 is a higher spec oil but not designed for the PD.

Back in the day I remember flushing oil was very popular. What you suggest sounds a good idea.
 
emptied the A2's oil earlier today - it's probably done 3000kms since the last change (likely not even that, I don't remember). That was end May.. and now it was black, black... but the car was on axle stands for other work, so I did it while I could. I'm using Helix 5w40 as it's available locally, doesn't cost the earth (€27 for 4l), fulfils the 502 specs which is all I want considering I change every year anyway and I'd the other options are hard to find or more expensive. Supermarket oil doesn't really exist here.
I might actually drop this out again in a couple of months when it's warm again, because a change costs 2 hours and €35 inlcuding the plug and filter. The oil was only at 20ish C this time, so I suspect I left quite a bit in, but it will do for the moment.
Swarf on the plug would make me wonder.
 
The 5 30 to spec 507
I was buying two for £27 delivered pre Brexit but they do appear to have gone up a little
Every now and again eBay offer a discount code which so far has been honoured on this oil which at one point made it just under £24 for two delivered to my door - seriously cheap oil hence I took some into the chemical lab at BAE and had them analyse it for me against the official Audi oil. They could find all of the trace elements in both oils in as near as same it the same quantity’s

Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
depronman said:
The 5 30 to spec 507
I was buying two for £27 delivered pre Brexit but they do appear to have gone up a little
Every now and again eBay offer a discount code which so far has been honoured on this oil which at one point made it just under £24 for two delivered to my door - seriously cheap oil hence I took some into the chemical lab at BAE and had them analyse it for me against the official Audi oil. They could find all of the trace elements in both oils in as near as same it the same quantity’s

Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Was it This exact one? Is this the listing you have in your watch list for discount code purposes?

Assuming so, Mannol is the cheapest correct spec oil on eBay - Based on the fact that you’ve had it analysed and it’s identical to approved oil, that’s good enough for me and I’m sure many others here.
I’ve changed the thread title to reflect the fact that when you reply, you may well have contributed to settling one of the greatest debates on VAG related Internet forums Paul!

For those who wish to compare for example, the 507 spec with the older 505, please follow THIS LINK to a very informative visualisation tool that proves why 507 is superior in every way (in fact 507 specification is the toughest there is in the industry and can therefore be safely used on any other non-VAG vehicle too, you don’t actually need to buy the relevant spec of 5-30 for your BMW / Ford / whatever - you can just run them on 507). This also explains why you don’t need to buy specialist PD oil (which will invariably be 505 spec) at 5w/40 grade anymore - The technology has moved on, the 5w/30 is only a smidge thinner at working temperature but has has much better wear protection.

If this topic interests you, take a look at the following posts from this thread on another forum - starting with an explanation of what to look out for if you want the very best 507 spec oil for fuel economy - read onwards from this post: LINK
 
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With 3 leggy PD's on the drive, I also was looking for a good value 507 spec oil, I read up on the Mannol 507 certification and was satisfied enough to try some.
I went for the "Mannol 20L Fully Synthetic Engine Oil Longlife 3 5w30 LL-04 AUDI VW 504/507 C3" bought for £30.79 delivered during a Ebay 20% off certain sellers offer, This : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303124417772

Andy
 
Sidewinder said:
With 3 leggy PD's on the drive, I also was looking for a good value 507 spec oil, I read up on the Mannol 507 certification and was satisfied enough to try some.
I went for the "Mannol 20L Fully Synthetic Engine Oil Longlife 3 5w30 LL-04 AUDI VW 504/507 C3" bought for £30.79 delivered during a Ebay 20% off certain sellers offer, This : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303124417772

Andy
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The link you've shared may not be correct as the oil is over 50 quid even with 15% off? Could you check, or has Brexit pushed the price up?
 
Just for ref i picked up 4L Castrol edge LL 5W/30 for £17 3 weeks back on special in Costco. Its often discounted I just keep my eyes peeled. Never paid more than £20 for it. Its not the absolute cheapest but a decent oil.
 
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