1.9 tdi pd oil worry

**a6mother** · 22-07-2009,03:02 PM

I have a 2003 a6 1.9tdi pd 130. I had it serviced 5000 miles ago at an independent specialist which used 5w40 Quantum PD oil that is WV505.01 compliant.
Recently on a mototrway journey the oil warning light came on indicating that the oil level was below minimum. I stopped at a garage and topped up with some 300 ml ELF Quartz Oil 5w40 which is fully syntetic but only WV505.00 so not recomended for PD engines.
Recently I did a further 200-300ml topup, this time I bought some Castrol 5w40 505.01 PD Oil - because I could not find any Quantum.

I know that mixing oils and most importantly using NON PD oils can be potentially damaging for the engine (camshaft wear etc). Also there's some controversy over this subject...

Could anyone advise me on whether I need to change the oil urgently or is it ok to continue like this to the next service and keep topping it up with the Castrol oil I mentioned?
I have done about 300 miles since the first topup (with the ELF non pd oil).

Thanks a lot!

**farmamick** · 24-07-2009,09:43 PM

The answer to your question is debatable. I asked a similar one the other day - I topped up with 505.00 in my 1.9tdi, and then drove it for about 500 miles before I ended up changing the oil to the proper spec.

Of course you should change the oil asap, especially if you want to look after it. In fairness, if its using oil, its probably got high mileage? In that case, you want to look after the car, and should change the oil every 5 or 6k miles anyway....

**a6mother** · 30-07-2009,04:36 PM

Thanks a lot

It has done 87000 miles so far... not sure whether this is considered very high mileage or not

But yes I do plan to change the oil every 5k. I is quite a pain to get it to a garage to do it, so I am planning to get a Pella pump and do it myself. I just find the ideea of getting under the car to unscrew stuff terribly unappealing

**bora(ing) nick** · 30-07-2009,04:39 PM

The pump also removes more oil

**radix** · 07-08-2009,12:31 PM

87000 miles will u stop thats only gettin goin!

Mine has 120 now and i regard it as low, for a car like that it is anyway! Friend of mine has a 00 first edition A6, 1.9TDI 110bhp, tipping 300k, plus he's dog rough! Car is still spot on...original gearbox, clutch, the lot!

**farmamick** · 07-08-2009,12:39 PM

A car with only 87,000 miles is using oil - I would be a little concerned at that. The oil light coming on only after 5k miles means it is using a fair bit??

**a6mother** · 10-08-2009,11:35 PM

It's using oil that's for sure... but I was told (by an independent mechanic) that anything up to 1litre/1000 miles is considered "normal" by Audi.
I reckon mine has used 300-400ml over 5000 miles.

Before the previous service it was set on "long intervals" and using the long life 5w30 507.00 oil. It was eating a lot more oil that it does now, required top-ups every 1000 miles... and it was smoking so ridiculously that I decided to have it checked - no fault was found...
Since switching on 5w40 505.00 oil the smoke is gone completely but still using some oil.