Oil change question - PD Tdi.

[wid77]

I have just bought a 2001 Audi A4 Avant 115 TDi. I took it to my local garage recently for a 10000 mile fixed service. They basically changed the oil and filter together with 2 wiper blades! I wasn't that happy as they left dirty finger marks on the dashboard, steering wheel, gearstick etc. They also didn't specify the type of oil on the invoice so i just phoned them to ask. They said they had used 10W 40 semi-synthetic which was the specified oil for this engine. I have a feeling that it should be 5W 30 but i am not sure. Can anyone let me know who is right? If it should be different then do you think i have a right to ask it to be changed? I can tell that i am starting to get on their nerves! They like the 'non complaining' customer who doesn't know much about cars.

[wid77]

Just to update you. I have since spoken to the Audi main dealer in Leicester. The mechanic has advised that 10W 40 semi-synthetic is fine for 10k service intervals.

[wid77]

Just to update you. I have since spoken to the Audi main dealer in Leicester. The mechanic has advised that 10W 40 semi-synthetic is fine for 10k service intervals.

[Col]

I think they are wrong.

The PD engine has it's own specific oil(s) either normal or long life versions and it is a 5-40 grade.

The oil must conform to VW spec 505.01/505.00

If it doesn't you are likely to suffer accelerated wear on the cam lobes that drive the unit injectors.

Personally I'd do some further online research and armed with that research to the dealer and demand that they sort it!

[wid77]

I think they are wrong.

The PD engine has it's own specific oil(s) either normal or long life versions and it is a 5-40 grade.

The oil must conform to VW spec 505.01/505.00

If it doesn't you are likely to suffer accelerated wear on the cam lobes that drive the unit injectors.

Personally I'd do some further online research and armed with that research to the dealer and demand that they sort it!

Thanks for the reply. This is what i was worried about. I don't think the garage where i got the car serviced know what they are talking about. I did ask when i booked the car in and he said they use 5W 30 or 10W 40. I said 'Are you sure that it doesn't need special VW oil' and they said that normal semi-synthetic is fine. I didn't know enough to argue.

Is there anyone else out there who can confirm that i need to use the VW spec oil? Where would i find this written officially so that i can confront the garage with it? Any help would be very much appreciated.

[audy]

hi wid77
what is the engine code? if your engine is a pd type [pumpe duese] the so called 'mechanic' who advised the 10w-40 is fine is wrong! you must only use oil conforming to vw 505 01.

quote from owners manual;
'for technical reasons, the "longlife service" is not available for your vehicle. the vehicle must be serviced according to the "fixed maintenance intervals"-please refer to "inspection service" in the service schedule booklet.
Use only oil conforming with VW standard 505 01.
this applies to the 96 KW turbo-diesel engine [unit injector type] in the Audi A3 and the 85 KW turbo-diesel engine [unit-injector type] in the Audi A4 and A4 Avant.
hope this helps confirm your suspicions. my personal opinion is, if it's out of warranty, service it yourself! that way your sure. just a thought. daz.

[wid77]

hi wid77
what is the engine code? if your engine is a pd type [pumpe duese] the so called 'mechanic' who advised the 10w-40 is fine is wrong! you must only use oil conforming to vw 505 01.

quote from owners manual;
'for technical reasons, the "longlife service" is not available for your vehicle. the vehicle must be serviced according to the "fixed maintenance intervals"-please refer to "inspection service" in the service schedule booklet.
Use only oil conforming with VW standard 505 01.
this applies to the 96 KW turbo-diesel engine [unit injector type] in the Audi A3 and the 85 KW turbo-diesel engine [unit-injector type] in the Audi A4 and A4 Avant.
hope this helps confirm your suspicions. my personal opinion is, if it's out of warranty, service it yourself! that way your sure. just a thought. daz.

Thanks for the information. Very helpful. It is a PD engine. I will be visiting the garage tomorrow to have a chat. I will ask to see the oil that they have put in although i am pretty sure it won't confirm to VW 505 01. If it doesn't i will ask them to change it and i will buy the new oil for them to put in then. It may cost me a bit more but at least i will know that it has the right stuff in it.

In future i will do the oil changes myself. I am not confident enough to do the major services though so i will use an independent Audi garage i have spoken to every 20k. They seem to know what they are talking about, more than the local Audi dealer do as the Audi dealer said 10W 40 semi is fine. It has confirmed my suspicions that so called experts aren't always expert or don't care that much either way.

Cheers.
Wid77

[devonutopia]

Get the garage to ring up VW/Audi customer helpline, and get the oil type confirmed. 10w 40 IS THE WRONG OIL for a PD engine. It should only be 5w 40 and meet 505.01 VW requirements on standard. I only put Millers XFE-PD oil in mine - an oil developed by Millers, for the PD engine alone, and has VW's stamp of approval.

There's no telling what damage 10w oil could be doing, so get this checked out and rectified a.s.a.p.

[wid77]

Get the garage to ring up VW/Audi customer helpline, and get the oil type confirmed. 10w 40 IS THE WRONG OIL for a PD engine. It should only be 5w 40 and meet 505.01 VW requirements on standard. I only put Millers XFE-PD oil in mine - an oil developed by Millers, for the PD engine alone, and has VW's stamp of approval.

There's no telling what damage 10w oil could be doing, so get this checked out and rectified a.s.a.p.

Hi. I teleponed the Audi helpline this evening. They said '502 00 Castrol SLX' but the chap explained that they weren't technically trained. He advised me to telephone my local Audi Centre. I did this earlier in the day and the mechanic said 10W 40 would be fine. Talk about going around in circles!

I will be visiting the offending garage tomorrow and i will make sure that 505 01 is used. If i can get hold of some of that millers oil then i will. Do you think i will be able to get it from Euro Car Parts as there is one of them near to me? Thanks.

[devonutopia]

I will be visiting the offending garage tomorrow and i will make sure that 505 01 is used. If i can get hold of some of that millers oil then i will. Do you think i will be able to get it from Euro Car Parts as there is one of them near to me? Thanks.

Visit www.milleroils.co.uk and find your nearest stockist by postcode. Ring them first to ensure they have that oil in stock too.

EDIT: Quite a few around Leicester

AVP (ALL VEHICLE PARTS)*
FARNDON ROAD
MARKET HARBOROUGH
LEICESTERSHIRE
LE16 9NP

01858 431 096
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