VW Golf GTI Edition 30 DSG 2007 - Engine oil...

VW Golf GTI Edition 30 DSG 2007 - Engine oil...

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gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi all,

checked my engine oil level this evening (using the dipstick) and its on the MIN mark. I had let the car cool down for over one hour and it was on a level surface. There are no warning lamps on the instrumentation panel to say its low.

I am due away to work tomorrow and will return in four weeks. My wife will only drive the car at the weekend and perhaps a few short journeys during the week. Maybe one longer journey whilst I am away.

I know it needs topping up but will it be ok until I return or should I have my wife get engine oil and top it up?

I would prefer to do it myself so she doesnt overfill etc etc. However I am sure she can follow the instructions in the manual.

If I need engine oil do I need the one specified in the manual (something like VW 502 00) or can I get a good quality engine oil from Halfords? If so which one. I would want the best engine oil possible, price is not a concern.

Regards, Gordon

OctyVrs

107 posts

159 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
It's about a litre from min to max (just less i think). It's about £12-£15 for a 1L bottle of Castrol Edge (check for vw507.00 on the back), it's not the best but it's at the top end of average and easy to find in Tescos or Halfords.

Clean round the oil filer with a cloth. Open the filler, pour in half. You can pick up the rest when you get back? :-)

FamilyDub

3,587 posts

164 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
^^ seconded.

deveng

3,917 posts

179 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
with oil level you tend not to get a warning light until its too late.

Having said that, if its on the min, it is still ok, so no immediate emergency.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
OctyVrs said:
It's about a litre from min to max (just less i think). It's about £12-£15 for a 1L bottle of Castrol Edge (check for vw507.00 on the back), it's not the best but it's at the top end of average and easy to find in Tescos or Halfords.

Clean round the oil filer with a cloth. Open the filler, pour in half. You can pick up the rest when you get back? :-)
I thought an engine would take alot more than 1 litre of engine oil? I will do as suggested re: cloth etc

Thanks.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
deveng said:
with oil level you tend not to get a warning light until its too late.

Having said that, if its on the min, it is still ok, so no immediate emergency.
Its not a risk I want to take. I just dont think it would be suitable to leave it for a month whilst I am away to work.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
The Halfords website has an 'oil chooser' which requires your registration. It returned the correct details of my car however I am confused by the terms:

Fixed Service(01/2005 to 12/2008)
Variable Service(01/2005 to 12/2008)

Each of these terms can be expanded to reveal a drop-down list of engine oil options but I dont know which to choose as I dont know what the two aforementioned terms mean.

Have a look at this link.

http://tinyurl.com/4jtn3wa

Looking for the best oil (price is not a consideration) and would appreciate your suggestions.

I dont have the manual to hand for my Edition 30 so dont know what it recommends.


OctyVrs

107 posts

159 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
gordonhunter said:
I thought an engine would take alot more than 1 litre of engine oil?
Yeah they do, it's just that the Min marker starts at about 3.5 litres. Even if it's off the bottom of the scale, it's possible there's up to 3 litres in the sump.

Hope it helps

cuprabob

14,419 posts

213 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
As above any oil that meets VW 504.00 and 507.00.

These days VW dealers use longlife oil both for variable and time and distance servicing due o it being fully synthetic and better quality.

Go to Halfords, Tesco or Asda and get some Castrol Edge 5W-30 for around £16 / litre and that will do the job.

blank

3,439 posts

187 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
You can get a Halfords own VW/Audi oil that meets the correct specs.

You'll get 2l for the price of 1l of Castrol Edge. And it's made by Castrol.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
OctyVrs said:
Yeah they do, it's just that the Min marker starts at about 3.5 litres. Even if it's off the bottom of the scale, it's possible there's up to 3 litres in the sump.

Hope it helps
This little tidbit helps. I used the dipstick and could see the level touching the MIN marker so it aint running dry yet.

Do these engines use up alot of oil?

How often is a top up typically required? How often should I check?

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
blank said:
You can get a Halfords own VW/Audi oil that meets the correct specs.

You'll get 2l for the price of 1l of Castrol Edge. And it's made by Castrol.
Well this seems like a no brainer. Does buying the 1L Castrol Edge 5W/30 have any specific advantage or are they exactly the same?

FamilyDub

3,587 posts

164 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
gordonhunter said:
I am confused by the terms: Fixed Service(01/2005 to 12/2008)
Variable Service(01/2005 to 12/2008)
^^ 'Fixed' (aka Time & Distance, aka T&D) is every year/10k miles.

'Variable' (aka Long-life, aka LL) is exactly that - variable, up to 20k miles or two years, whatever comes first.

It's not actually per 10k/20k miles, the computer calibrates it in km. I'm sure if you check it on the day of service it says 'SERVICE IN 365 DAYS, or 9,700 miles', or similar nerd

In my opinion, MKV GTI & ED30 should NOT be on 'variable' service regimes, they should be on fixed.

I have a lengthy thread that I'm sure I've posted for you before in one of your threads about T&D vs LL regimes - do you want me to post it again?

gordonhunter said:
I used the dipstick and could see the level touching the MIN marker so it aint running dry yet.
^^ If it doesn't move from MIN, it's still fine.

gordonhunter said:
Do these engines use up alot of oil?
^^ VW state an engine using 1 litre of oil per 1,000km (i.e. 621 miles) is still within their 'acceptable use' parameters.

I personally seem to go through a litre every 2,500-3,000 miles. I use the Castrol Edge, which has a label with the 'VW/AUDI Longlife approved', or something similar.

Cuprabob is correct - VW now use longlife oil even in their time & distance (10k/12 months) services.

gordonhunter said:
How often is a top up typically required? How often should I check?
^^ It's a performance car - check fluids every 1-2 weeks along with tyre pressures, etc. Only takes 5 mins at a petrol station.

Aplogies for the essay!

type
teacher
soapbox
thumbup

Edited by FamilyDub on Thursday 17th February 12:15

deveng

3,917 posts

179 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
gordonhunter said:
deveng said:
with oil level you tend not to get a warning light until its too late.

Having said that, if its on the min, it is still ok, so no immediate emergency.
Its not a risk I want to take. I just dont think it would be suitable to leave it for a month whilst I am away to work.
no offence but i don't think you grasp the concept of the min and max lines on the dipstick. Its not like when you're fuel level gets to min, its more like if your tyre pressures should be 34-36 PSI and you run them on 34 PSI. its going to make two halves of fk all difference.

OctyVrs

107 posts

159 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
FamilyDub said:
In my opinion, MKV GTI & ED30 should NOT be on 'variable' service regimes, they should be on fixed.
I don't get this either. There's no way i'd run on the same oil for 16k or whatever they go to.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
FamilyDub said:
^^ 'Fixed' (aka Time & Distance, aka T&D) is every year/10k miles.

'Variable' (aka Long-life, aka LL) is exactly that - variable, up to 20k miles or two years, whatever comes first.
Noted

FamilyDub said:
It's not actually per 10k/20k miles, the computer calibrates it in km. I'm sure if you check it on the day of service it says 'SERVICE IN 365 DAYS, or 9,700 miles', or similar nerd
I will stick with 10,000 miles for ease.

FamilyDub said:
In my opinion, MKV GTI & ED30 should NOT be on 'variable' service regimes, they should be on fixed.
I am going to service mine on the fixed regime so its well looked after.

FamilyDub said:
I have a lengthy thread that I'm sure I've posted for you before in one of your threads about T&D vs LL regimes - do you want me to post it again?
No need. When I bought my car it had 24000 miles. I got a service package included and they said bring it in at 34,000. I told them I am sticking to the manufacturers regime and that I will be bringing it in at 30,000. It was supposed to have a brake fluid change after 3 years. This hasnt been done yet and so thats why I am only waiting to 30,000 miles and not 34,000. It did have an oil change at 24,000 miles when it was traded in at the garage, its in the service log but I want it done again at 30,000 and then its easy for me to track.

FamilyDub said:
If it doesn't move from MIN, it's still fine.
I will give it a half litre top up when I get home.

FamilyDub said:
VW state an engine using 1 litre of oil per 1,000km (i.e. 621 miles) is still within their 'acceptable use' parameters.

I personally seem to go through a litre every 2,500-3,000 miles. I use the Castrol Edge, which has a label with the 'VW/AUDI Longlife approved', or something similar.
I reckon I will use the Halfords equivalent considering its only a few pounds more for 2 litre bottle and effectively the same stuff as another poster suggested on this topic. I wonder if it is actually the very same stuff as Castrol?

FamilyDub said:
It's a performance car - check fluids every 1-2 weeks along with tyre pressures, etc. Only takes 5 mins at a petrol station.
I didnt really consider it a performance car. I mean its quick but hey ho I will check the fluids more regularly. I checked my tyre pressures recently. Inside the petrol cap it states 2.6 bar which I converted to being 37 PSI. I have one of those automatic cigarette pumps and when connected it didnt offer to blow the tyre up any so it must be at the correct pressure. The Edition 30 does give a very harsh ride it has to be said, potholes and not the major ones can definitely be felt whilst driving. I try so hard to avoid them.



gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
deveng said:
no offence but i don't think you grasp the concept of the min and max lines on the dipstick. Its not like when you're fuel level gets to min, its more like if your tyre pressures should be 34-36 PSI and you run them on 34 PSI. its going to make two halves of fk all difference.
Fair enough, then I need not worry and can top it up once I am home.

It'll be getting a new oil change at 30,000 miles as well when I get it serviced. Its about 27,500 just now.

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
FamilyDub said:
In my opinion, MKV GTI & ED30 should NOT be on 'variable' service regimes, they should be on fixed.
How do I tell which service regime its on or how many miles I have to go until the next one?


FamilyDub

3,587 posts

164 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
VW set almost all cars to LL from factory.

Check this link for how to check days/miles to service here http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/223177/1438036.aspx

gordonhunter

Original Poster:

148 posts

161 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
FamilyDub said:
VW set almost all cars to LL from factory.

Check this link for how to check days/miles to service here http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/223177/1438036.aspx
Thanks for the link.