engine oil

[nSun]

The low oil light has been on 3 times since i've had the car and for the first two times i just went to mr.lube and top it off with 5w40 oils of some sort. However this time when the light came on i went to the tuning shop i normally go to and the mechanic filled my engine up with elf 15w50 competition oil. From what i know this oil exceeds the vw 505 standard, but it's semi-synthetic. I read the manual it says that our cars can use any oil that exceeds the vw502 standard. I am not too clear about the differences between vw502 and vw 505 but I assume that 505 is a higher standard? I'm kinda concerned since oil is the most important additive in a car, and a wrong oil could cause expensive failures. Does anyone know if this oil is okay for our cars?

[nSun]

nobody has any idea?

[audipotential]

The low oil light has been on 3 times since i've had the car and for the first two times i just went to mr.lube and top it off with 5w40 oils of some sort. However this time when the light came on i went to the tuning shop i normally go to and the mechanic filled my engine up with elf 15w50 competition oil. From what i know this oil exceeds the vw 505 standard, but it's semi-synthetic. I read the manual it says that our cars can use any oil that exceeds the vw502 standard. I am not too clear about the differences between vw502 and vw 505 but I assume that 505 is a higher standard? I'm kinda concerned since oil is the most important additive in a car, and a wrong oil could cause expensive failures. Does anyone know if this oil is okay for our cars?

I dont suggest at all using a 15W50. Thats way too much. Check your manual Im pretty sure you should be using 0-5W

[4-tified]

The low oil light has been on 3 times since i've had the car and for the first two times i just went to mr.lube and top it off with 5w40 oils of some sort. However this time when the light came on i went to the tuning shop i normally go to and the mechanic filled my engine up with elf 15w50 competition oil. From what i know this oil exceeds the vw 505 standard, but it's semi-synthetic. I read the manual it says that our cars can use any oil that exceeds the vw502 standard. I am not too clear about the differences between vw502 and vw 505 but I assume that 505 is a higher standard? I'm kinda concerned since oil is the most important additive in a car, and a wrong oil could cause expensive failures. Does anyone know if this oil is okay for our cars?

Your A4 will be fine.
Topping off with 1 quart of 5 won't change much.
Plus, if the oil used meets the minimum spec, it'll be just fine.
However, with that weight oil you might want to get one that has a lower 1st (cold) number, if you live in an area that gets really really cold.
The 1st number is the oil viscosity when cold. The lower the number the easier it flows in cold temps.
The next number is the oil's viscosity when hot. The higher number indicates it's ability to maintain viscosity without going too thin.
The "W" indicates that it's a "multi-viscosity" oil, meaning it will handle a broader range of temps.
Example: 15W50, 10W30, 5W50
A "straight" weight oil will be listed as "SAE30, SAE40, or "40" weight.

My question is how often do you need to add that 1 quart?
My A4 2.0T has only 18k miles and 2 oil changes.
I've not had to add any oil so far, and I do drive hard, with my engine seeing redline quite often.

One more thing; why are you going to a shop to have your oil topped off?
Get the oil you need from where ever you can buy it, and top it off yourself. That way you'll know what's in it.

[bhvrdr]

This is not an appropriate oil if all it is certified for is VW505. This is an old diesel requirement. To date there is no non synthetic oil that meets the vw502 spec and I prefer an oil that meets both 502 and 503.01.

cheers! Mike

[4-tified]

This is not an appropriate oil if all it is certified for is VW505. This is an old diesel requirement. To date there is no non synthetic oil that meets the vw502 spec and I prefer an oil that meets both 502 and 503.01.

cheers! Mike

Ah!
In that case, the 505 standard is not the correct one to use.

Still, I don't think 1 quart of that oil will harm his engine.
More info is needed here, such as; how long between these "oil lights", and how long till the next full oil change?

If you're putting in a quart every 2000-3000 miles, you're pretty much running on fresh oil quite often.
If you've got 3000 miles to your next full oil change, then don't use the wrong standard oil again.

From Mikes info, you certainly don't want your engine full of 505 standard, which is the wrong standard.

[bhvrdr]

And I agree with the above that it probably hasnt harmed anything at all. You could probably dump in any crap dollar a quart oil in these motors and as long as you changed it often enough be just fine.

[Sanjman]

3 times? I used to get the low oil light at 5k after my oil change in the beginning... since then I always remember to check my oil every 5k... i'm going to start changing my oils at 5k now too.

you must be having a lot of fun with your car to be getting the low oil light 3 times already... or you must not be topping it off everytime you see the low oil light.

1-2 quarts of regular is fine as long as there is oil in there... but I suggest you go to the nearest auto parts store and get a synthetic blend that meets vw spec... probably you can only find 0w-40 synthetic which is what I carry in my trunk these days in case i need to pour some in at anytime.

P.S. you manual has directions on this situation... and what oil is okay when you really need it.

[nSun]

hmm...i guess i'll have to do a oil change soon.
lol i do not baby my car since it is a lease, the only times i've done oil change is during the scheduled services, which i think they use 5w30 oil that the 2.0t engine eats quite alot. the last time my car got serviced was 8k kms ago, and that's when my valve cover gasket got replaced (i found oil all over my engine bay with low oil light on). i dont quite remember the first time the light came on, probably about a year ago @ 30k kms.
my car has been behaving OK with revo after the SECOND time my valve cover gasket and crankcase valve got replaced alongside with bad coils. it still makes that whistle sound at higher revs which i mentioned in another thread i made.
fyi i do have a heavy foot :)