Oil for the RS4

[p.binks]

Hi All
What oil do you guys use or recommend for the RS4 and is it best to stay on variable service or not ?
The stealers say they use Castrol slx 3 now for everything but in Halfords they stock something called "Edge" for use with VW/Audi and does it have to be Castrol on variable service.
I have got the filters all in for £16 from GSF,thats oil/air/pollen,and the plugs for £65 all in from Scoobymania in notts,just the oil to source now so your help would be much appreciated.
Cheers "Bingo"

[Taymir]

Hi All
What oil do you guys use or recommend for the RS4 and is it best to stay on variable service or not ?
The stealers say they use Castrol slx 3 now for everything but in Halfords they stock something called "Edge" for use with VW/Audi and does it have to be Castrol on variable service.
I have got the filters all in for £16 from GSF,thats oil/air/pollen,and the plugs for £65 all in from Scoobymania in notts,just the oil to source now so your help would be much appreciated.
Cheers "Bingo"

I use Mobil 1 0W-40, and i change it every 10 000 km. Works good for me.

[Dippy]

Officially the oil needs to meet VAG 503.01, and that means Castrol Formual SLX, Synta, or Mobil 1.
For AVS this is actually quite important because the car is using it's viscosity sensor to detect when the oil is too thick, and for other oils this MIGHT not work properly.

Oil is very important, especially for turbocharged cars, so personally I'd recommend changing it more regularly. Most enthusiasts aim for the 5K interval. I certainly think 10K is the max. If you change it regularly then really any decent fully synthetic oil should be OK, even if it does not meet VAG 503.01.

[jsahlman]

I use Castrol TWS 10W60 oil.

[don]

I notice Mobil 1 comes in a variety of grades:

Mobil 1 0W-40
Mobil 1 10W30
Mobil 1 5W-50
Mobil 1 15W-50

Still doesn't make proper sense to me. Seems 5W-50 is more common down under, perhaps because its hot.

Anyone got any thoughts?

[dodgydave]

I personally tried Mobil 1 0w-40 and now I'm using Mobil 1 5W-50 (The Rally Formula), which I think is much better suited. It was especially designed for tuned street turbo cars. The oil consumption is much less than with 0w-40 and the engine is much quieter as it is a bid thicker. Unfortunately, it's difficult to get hold of in the UK.

[Charly]

Would agree to dodgydave: 5W-50 is better suited in the long run.
Some engines developed camshaft wear above 50,000 km due to the very thin 0W-50 especially if the car is not used every day. Cams seem to fall dry when the engine is not used for some days. At start of an engine which was idled for a few days there is no oil film for just a few seconds around the cams which results in enough friction to develop considerable wear. With the "thicker" 5W-50 this should not happen.

[JonnyX]

Would agree to dodgydave: 5W-50 is better suited in the long run.
Some engines developed camshaft wear above 50,000 km due to the very thin 0W-50 especially if the car is not used every day. Cams seem to fall dry when the engine is not used for some days. At start of an engine which was idled for a few days there is no oil film for just a few seconds around the cams which results in enough friction to develop considerable wear. With the "thicker" 5W-50 this should not happen.

Surely the opposite would be true. Thinner oil should flow better at
lower temperatures (although oil pressure will be lower).

[Charly]

well, thinner oil "flows" better, quite right.....and therefore the film does not stay at the cams if the engine is idled for a few days. With 5W-50 it would stay.

Thicker oil is a little more "sticky" and that's what is needed in this case.

[VST]

I use Castrol RS 10W60

[flashyg]

Millers lOw-60 cfs . "Liquid Gold", in my opinion. This oil is used in many indurance situations. It is highly recommended by many in the motorsport world.

[zeke]

Mobil 1 5w-50 or any Mobil 1 is the best you can put in the car, I tried Castrol 15W-50 and the oil temp went to 140c and the water temp past 90c, and with the Mobil 1 the water temp is always at 90c and the oil temp goes max to 120-130C

[dodgydave]

Mobil 1 5w-50 or any Mobil 1 is the best you can put in the car, I tried Castrol 15W-50 and the oil temp went to 140c and the water temp past 90c, and with the Mobil 1 the water temp is always at 90c and the oil temp goes max to 120-130C

I second the opinion on Castrol and Oil/water temps. I experinced this in my RS2. That's why I didn't even try anything else than MOBIL 1 in my rs4!!