Tensioner rattle cure...

[BlingBling]

Check you handbook. It states clearly in there that the spec for fixed service intervals is VW502, 5w-40 is compatible with this spec. The opie oils website has various 5w-40 oils for VW502. BTW I have a B6.

[marv]

Kwik Fit would be the last people I would use or recommend to play with anyone's car. Considering the damage that could be done by messing up an oil change, how much is a new engine these days?

Anyway are you really going to get good oil for £49 when you need 9litres. No doubt once they've had a look you'll get a whole list of problems that only they can fix i.e. don't exist and get relieved of a large amount of cash at the same time.

Taking your car to kwik fit is nothing short of being cruel.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you're saying, especially about trying to fleece you for stuff that's not required. Their website does say that they include a "complimentary" check of Lights, Windscreen wipers, Battery charge and condition, Exhaust mountings and condition, Tyre tread and pressure check... so they're obviously going to try it on and get extra cash out of you for those things. But if you go in there expecting that to happen, and you've got an ounce of knowledge about your car, then you'll know just to refuse any other work that they suggest.

I also agree that, at £49, the oil may not be top brand, but providing that it meets the correct VAG specs, is that not enough?

Actually - I've just checked and their website says that they stock and recommend Mobil oils. Other people have also said that they actually use Mobil from 1 litre bottles! (see here). In which case, I'd be happy for them to do it I think. They would almost certainly make a loss on a car that needs 9 litres, but they probably treat is as a loss-leader, to try to get other business.

They may be spotty kids, but they've done more oil changes than me I'm sure. My local Kwik Fit also has a decent reputation for servicing regular cars, although that'll obviously vary from place to place.

I realise I probably sound like a PR guy for Kwik Fit! I'm actually very skeptical of them, and generally don't trust them, but given that a few of my colleagues actually have their cars serviced there regularly, and the complexity of an oil change is minimal, I'd be happy to try them out for this.

When I think I want it doing, I'll probably call them up and check that they actually have the required spec of oil. Otherwise it's a no go.

[xs2man]

So based on these oil specs, what would be the best oil to use in a B6 S4? Having just bought my car, privately, the car has been on AVS all its life, and was, in fact, serviced just a couple months ago. However, this was done from a local garage rather than main dealer, and the guy who sold it, gave me some oil for "topping" up the engine between services.

This oil is cheap and nasty though, so I'm thinking of changing the oil and filter myself just for peace of mind. So what specific oil would you guys recommend? Just get it from Audi? Or go for Castrol or Mobil or something?

[BlingBling]

Try www.opieoils.co.uk Give them a call and they will recommend an oil depending upon your intended useage. I have been using Fuchs oils.

[neckarsulm]

VW Audi supply Platinum full synthetic which is what I use and so do most of the specialists.
It's a 5w/40 and is the correct spec for time & distance (10k/1 year).
Make sure you get a sump plug seal too!
I'd like to see Kwik Fit reprogram the car from long life to time and distance

[neckarsulm]

This is my air filter with 11k to next service

[MattS5]

Ok, so sunds like the 5w 40 can be used for the 1 year service.
I've now got my S4 about to go in for service in the 1st week of June, however (as normal) I have purchased the oil instead of getting shafted by the dealer price for the stuff.
Only thing is I bought the Edge 5w 30 viscosity, as I believed this was a better quality. Now bear in mind I will be changing it again in 12 months time, have I bought better than I needed to, in which case I'm happy, or should I have gone for the cheaper option?
Are you saying over a 12 month period, 5w 40 is better than 5w 30?

[marv]

I'd like to see Kwik Fit reprogram the car from long life to time and distance

Very true! Although I'm thinking of just changing the oil annually, and keeping the rest of the stuff on the AVS, as I don't do many miles. As long as I tell them to use the 5w40 oil then I assume that'd be ok.

If I change my mind in future, I should just be able to change the setting in VAG COM myself (I assume that's where it's done?).

[nidfix]

Are you saying over a 12 month period, 5w 40 is better than 5w 30?

The difference between 5w30 and 5w40 is that when hot the later will be thicker than the earlier. Taking into account that we do not have a dry sump system, I would prefer to have something that will tend to stay longer in touch with the parts it is supposed to lubricate (so 5w40). For sure it is probably more useful if you like to push hard on twisty roads rather than on straight motorways.
I think that VAG went to 5w30 for the entire range more to limit the cost of service (for each kind of oil it is something more to manage for the garages) and fuel economy than to protect the engines.

[neckarsulm]

Few weeks on since the flush and it definitely rattles less.
There is a split second of tensioner rattle on start up while the starter motor is still spinning which is acceptable but not the longer rattle it used to do and no start-up at all rattle once warm.