View Full Version : S6 Warning to add oil after 3k miles?
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 05:55 AM
2017 S6 that was CPO bought with 25k miles. I did do research on this engine and know that it does love oil and to expect some burn and loss. Checked my oil levels a few days ago on the MMI and it read at min. Last night I just got to around 28k miles and had a warning come on my dash with "Add oil, max 1 1/2 qt. You may continue driving". Freaked out since I had been driving the car somewhat hard. Added some Castrol EDGE 5W-40 Advanced Full Synthetic. Correct oil? Have an oil change already on schedule for Thursday to ask if this is really normal to burn through that much oil. It is my daily and half the time and driving it in dynamic. Just seeing if this is really normal and have already asked them to look everything over during the oil change. Thanks for any help and input!
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 05:59 AM
2017 S6 that was CPO bought with 25k miles. I did do research on this engine and know that it does love oil and to expect some burn and loss. Checked my oil levels a few days ago on the MMI and it read at min. Last night I just got to around 28k miles and had a warning come on my dash with "Add oil, max 1 1/2 qt. You may continue driving". Freaked out since I had been driving the car somewhat hard. Added some Castrol EDGE 5W-40 Advanced Full Synthetic. Correct oil? Have an oil change already on schedule for Thursday to ask if this is really normal to burn through that much oil. It is my daily and half the time and driving it in dynamic. Just seeing if this is really normal and have already asked them to look everything over during the oil change. Thanks for any help and input!
So we are supposed to used VW 50800 oils. That’s 0W-20 synthetic. The oil is as thin as water lol. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it as I top my oil off at work every 3 weeks and it’s not leaking. My guess is this 4.0 package gets so hot it just burns it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
daytona rs7
09-21-2020, 06:14 AM
2017 S6 that was CPO bought with 25k miles. I did do research on this engine and know that it does love oil and to expect some burn and loss. Checked my oil levels a few days ago on the MMI and it read at min. Last night I just got to around 28k miles and had a warning come on my dash with "Add oil, max 1 1/2 qt. You may continue driving". Freaked out since I had been driving the car somewhat hard. Added some Castrol EDGE 5W-40 Advanced Full Synthetic. Correct oil? Have an oil change already on schedule for Thursday to ask if this is really normal to burn through that much oil. It is my daily and half the time and driving it in dynamic. Just seeing if this is really normal and have already asked them to look everything over during the oil change. Thanks for any help and input!
5w40 is an acceptable weight.
a good go to oil that is readily available almost anywhere is Mobil 1 european formula 0w40.
the MMI read out is not the most accurate. you may have been on the cusp of min oil and add oil. your hard driving brought you just under the limit of add oil level.
EDITED for clarification
So we are supposed to used VW 50800 oils. That’s 0W-40 synthetic. The oil is as thin as water lol. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it as I top my oil off at work every 3 weeks and it’s not leaking. My guess is this 4.0 package gets so hot it just burns it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
adding oil every 3 weeks seems excessive. i guess it all depends on how much you drive?
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 06:22 AM
[QUOTE=daytona rs7;14289612]incorrect oil.
a good go to oil that is readily available almost anywhere is Mobil 1 european formula 0w20.
the MMI read out is not the most accurate. you may have been on the cusp of min oil and add oil. your hard driving brought you just under the limit of add oil level.
Think I am okay running the Castrol for a few days until my oil change Thursday, or would you call them and see if I can get it in earlier?
Wait...what? Why are you guys quoting 0w-20 508 spec? That's for the newer motors.
This is a C7 S6 the oil spec is VW502 5w-40. The Castrol Edge the OP used is fine.
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 06:36 AM
incorrect oil.
a good go to oil that is readily available almost anywhere is Mobil 1 european formula 0w20.
the MMI read out is not the most accurate. you may have been on the cusp of min oil and add oil. your hard driving brought you just under the limit of add oil level.
adding oil every 3 weeks seems excessive. i guess it all depends on how much you drive?
Audi tech here. These things come in often for top offs. As a 4.0 owner, I also know a few guys who own em. Same stuff add oil when using 0W-20. I’ve had the car in the air plenty. It’s not leaking. It had all the TSB’s performed before I bought it. It had only been serviced at Audi Seattle it’s entire life and I knew the tech who only worked on it. As he was the customers favorite. I daily it. If you drive enough It’ll burn it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 06:37 AM
Wait...what? Why are you guys quoting 0w-20 508 spec? That's for the newer motors.
This is a C7 S6 the oil spec is VW502 5w-40. The Castrol Edge the OP used is fine.
They say right under the hood. 50200 or 50800. I use the 0W-20. Because it’s cool and has a green dye to find leaks!!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rob4.2
09-21-2020, 06:39 AM
sorry if I missed it, but you didn't say when the last oil change/service was.
you just said "bought with 25k miles"
Valpo A7
09-21-2020, 06:50 AM
Sadly it seems that Audi thinks that an engine should use some oil. I have been driving since 1984 and the only cars up to this point that used oil actually had a hurt engine.
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 06:56 AM
sorry if I missed it, but you didn't say when the last oil change/service was.
you just said "bought with 25k miles"
My bad, Bought with 25k miles and was CPO'd then with oil change done at that time. I am pretty sure they did the 30k service as well then. That is why I am mostly like uhhhhh. I know around 5k-6k maybe some top off, but 3k.
They say right under the hood. 50200 or 50800. I use the 0W-20. Because it’s cool and has a green dye to find leaks!!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Really? On a C7? The car predates that spec. Got any pictures?
I've seen the one where it says 50400 or 50200. The 50400 generally being a 5w-30, but I have never seen or even heard of a sticker having 50200 or 50800 before.
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 07:14 AM
Really? On a C7? The car predates that spec. Got any pictures?
I've seen the one where it says 50400 or 50200. The 50400 generally being a 5w-30, but I have never seen or even heard of a sticker having 50200 or 50800 before.
Agree. I looked under the hood and in the info books. Everywhere online said 5w30 5w40
Optimus247
09-21-2020, 07:36 AM
Hmmm … going to look under my hood (will take a picture) … Dealer uses 5w/40 Castrol Professional …
LOL … bought because of green dye … LOL
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 08:04 AM
Really? On a C7? The car predates that spec. Got any pictures?
I've seen the one where it says 50400 or 50200. The 50400 generally being a 5w-30, but I have never seen or even heard of a sticker having 50200 or 50800 before.
I drove the Jetta to work today. When I get home I’ll send a picture. You have to work at Audi to know how much they don’t have their shit together. We have 10 different oils on tap because the vehicles vary so much between what they will and will not take!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 08:13 AM
Really? On a C7? The car predates that spec. Got any pictures?
I've seen the one where it says 50400 or 50200. The 50400 generally being a 5w-30, but I have never seen or even heard of a sticker having 50200 or 50800 before.
I drove the Jetta to work today. When I get home I’ll send a picture. You have to work at Audi to know how much they don’t have their shit together. We have 10 different oils on tap because the vehicles vary so much between what they will and will not take!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I drove the Jetta to work today. When I get home I’ll send a picture. You have to work at Audi to know how much they don’t have their shit together. We have 10 different oils on tap because the vehicles vary so much between what they will and will not take!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OK.
Yep, it's understood there are a lot of specs, but if what you are saying pans out you will be the first and only I have ever heard of that has a C7 4.0T with a "50200 or 50800" spec sticker and actually runs 0w-20 in a 4.0T.
From my limited understanding of oils that is way too thin for the circa 2012 4.0T nuclear power plant.
It may be fine for the newer 3.0T (turbo) since it was designed with the new spec 0w-20 in mind, but no wonder you have to top off every three weeks.
(I see daytona edited his post to show 0w-40 which is fine.)
0w20 is the problem here. These manufacturers recommending the thinnest oil is not good for these turbo cars. I would grab lubrymoly or Motul on 5w40 and run that
Sent from a misfiring cylinder
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 09:11 AM
I just feel like everywhere you look it is different haha. I felt like an idiot sitting with my hood popped at AutoZone using my phone and tablet to do a quick research while trying not to have a panic attack about which oil is going to destroy or be bad for this thing hahaha
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 09:26 AM
Lol oil is free since I have 0W-20 on tap in my bay... so I just top it off.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Lol oil is free since I have 0W-20 on tap in my bay... so I just top it off.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Water is basically free too, but I wouldn't put it in my engine instead of oil. I exaggerate obviously, but you see the point, burning through rings, cams, HPFP followers, bearings etc etc. only bad things can come from using the incorrect weight oil for the motor. At operating temperatures a 502 spec 40w oil is 75% thicker than a 508 spec 20w oil. (14cSt vs 8cSt) Not to mention the +40% HTHS rating.
I would hope as a tech you would understand that.
IssaWrapVinyl
09-21-2020, 10:16 AM
Water is basically free too, but I wouldn't put it in my engine instead of oil. I exaggerate obviously, but you see the point, burning through rings, cams, HPFP followers, bearings etc etc. only bad things can come from using the incorrect weight oil for the motor. At operating temperatures a 502 spec 40w oil is 75% thicker than a 508 spec 20w oil. (14cSt vs 8cSt) Not to mention the +40% HTHS rating.
I would hope as a tech you would understand that.
The sticker under my hood says 50800 or 50200. I have extended warranty & change oil every 5k. I follow what the car says to put it in. I’m well aware. Its ok.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The sticker under my hood says 50800 or 50200. I have extended warranty & change oil every 5k. I follow what the car says to put it in. I’m well aware. Its ok.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm still a skeptic.
"VW 508 00 oil spec is Volkswagen's newest and most modern gasoline oil specification. Developed for performance, fuel efficiency and long life service interval applications. VW 508 00 oil specification is only available in a SAE 0W-20 viscosity. The VW 508 00 oil spec is NOT backwards compatible to older VW oil specifications and older engine applications. If VW 508 00 oil specification is used in older VW engine, irreversible engine damage will occur."
xanmato
09-21-2020, 12:00 PM
Unless you have a brand new C8, it's 502 00 oil, as confirmed in the audi maintenance schedules:
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2016.pdf
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2018.pdf
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2020.pdf
Cazt51
09-21-2020, 12:05 PM
Unless you have a brand new C8, it's 502 00 oil, as confirmed in the audi maintenance schedules:
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2016.pdf
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2018.pdf
https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/audiusa/Documents/maintenance-schedules/Audi-Maintenance-Schedule-Model-Year-2020.pdf
Thanks! That is crazy that some of those model yr engines take 0W-20
The sticker under my hood says 50800 or 50200. I have extended warranty & change oil every 5k. I follow what the car says to put it in. I’m well aware. Its ok.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Any luck with that photo of the "50200 or 50800" sticker photo?
97joey
09-26-2020, 04:01 PM
So I run 5W 40 in mine and it seems that every 3 to 4 weeks I always have too top off. Especially if I’m driving dynamically. I asked the dealership and they said that 3.0 and 4.0 engines love to eat up a good amount of oil. I get my oil from Europaparts.com they usually have kits for oil changes and come with extra quarts to top off. All that consumption seems normal.
Alabama
09-27-2020, 10:02 AM
OK.
Yep, it's understood there are a lot of specs, but if what you are saying pans out you will be the first and only I have ever heard of that has a C7 4.0T with a "50200 or 50800" spec sticker and actually runs 0w-20 in a 4.0T.
From my limited understanding of oils that is way too thin for the circa 2012 4.0T nuclear power plant.
It may be fine for the newer 3.0T (turbo) since it was designed with the new spec 0w-20 in mind, but no wonder you have to top off every three weeks.
(I see daytona edited his post to show 0w-40 which is fine.)
Please correct me if I'm wrong; I thought the VW 502 spec allowed several different viscosities per Audi Technical Service Bulletin 17 17 88 2010043/16 October 25, 2017. So, for example, I could use a 0W-30 in the winter and a 5W-40 in the summer, so long as both oils meet the 502 spec. Am I wrong?
Please correct me if I'm wrong; I thought the VW 502 spec allowed several different viscosities per Audi Technical Service Bulletin 17 17 88 2010043/16 October 25, 2017. So, for example, I could use a 0W-30 in the winter and a 5W-40 in the summer, so long as both oils meet the 502 spec. Am I wrong?
The 502 spec allows for 5w-40 (most common) 0w-40(if living in extreme cold) 5w-30 (less common to see 502 spec in this weight in the US, but it does exist) and some 0w-30. But never 0w-20.
Down where you are in AL what is winter like? Just barely touching +32F maybe. A 5w-xx is fine for that climate and down to about -20F where it then might benefit to switch to a 0W for cold flow improvements down to subarctic -40F. Most people never see this temperature unless maybe you are an ice road trucker. The 5w-40 will offer more protection of the reactor at operating temperatures vs. the 0w-30. If you were still concerned about cold flow, then the 0w-40 would still be preferred to the 0w-30. They will all meet the required standard, just there is no need to switch oils in the winter...and the 508 0w-20 is never approved for the 4.0T.
Alabama
09-27-2020, 12:10 PM
The 502 spec allows for 5w-40 (most common) 0w-40(if living in extreme cold) 5w-30 (less common to see 502 spec in this weight in the US, but it does exist) and some 0w-30. But never 0w-20.
Down where you are in AL what is winter like? Just barely touching +32F maybe. A 5w-xx is fine for that climate and down to about -20F where it then might benefit to switch to a 0W for cold flow improvements down to subarctic -40F. Most people never see this temperature unless maybe you are an ice road trucker. The 5w-40 will offer more protection of the reactor at operating temperatures vs. the 0w-30. If you were still concerned about cold flow, then the 0w-40 would still be preferred to the 0w-30. They will all meet the required standard, just there is no need to switch oils in the winter...and the 508 0w-20 is never approved for the 4.0T.
Good advice, thanks. In winter overnight in a hotel parking lot in east Tennessee/Kentucky the temp might fall to single digits, but I've not seen below 0. Still, even within Castrol brand all those various viscosity ranges you mention (except 0W-20) exist and meet the VW502 specification. Anyone know from whom Audi sources its house brand of oil?
Anyone know from whom Audi sources its house brand of oil?
It was Castrol, but they have recently switched to Mobil.