Oil colour and consistency

[Surfjunkie197]

Hi All,

Just getting the chance to get to know my new RS4. Had the car a few months but been working abroad so not had much bonding time apart from a motorway trip from Europe. I am loving the car and finding out a bit more every day about its capabilities and so far very impressed. Today I gave her the full clean and checked everything. The car uses a bit of oil so far and today when I was topping up and although when you look into the filler the oil looks new but at the dipstick it is black or at best very dark and feels thin. My previous car you checked when cold but today car was running about 85 degrees after a few miles I pulled in and checked it. Is it normal to have such dark oil or should I change. No warning lights and service due in 180 days. I have read various opinions on this and some people say it is normal for fully synthetic oils?? but Shell claim it should be changed.

Any help appreciated. Finding this site invaluable when getting to know these cars so thanks to all.

[Dom81]

Regular oil changes (irrespective of the service interval) are recommended by many. Suggest you change at the earliest chance, and supply your own oil to save a load of cash. I'd recommend getting from Opie Oils (using forum discount) and my vote always goes to Fuchs Titan

[oscawhite]

If you were to contact Audi and ask their opinion on when to change your oil, the first question they would ask you, is what is the mileage on your car. They will advise, accordingly - regardless of how and when you drive your vehicle.

Long life oils as per the Audi spec for this car, are very robust, do look black fairly quickly and are less viscous than you might be used to. They are however, very fine oils.

I had my car serviced recently and insisted on certain work to be carried out, despite Audi’s view on what to change and what not to change. The car now drives better, and I know the origin of the oil in the engine and therefore when it will be due its next change.

Concerning the oils to spec for your vehicle, I cribbed this off this sight:-


Oil for RS4 (to VW 504 507 SPEC):-

5W-30

Addinol Mega Light MV0539 LE
Agip 7008
Autol Carrera Longlife III
Aral SuperTronic LongLife III
Astris Matro L-3
Aviasynth 5W-30 LongLife 3
BP Visco 7000 Longlife III
Bucher AG Motorex Profile V-XL
Castrol EDGE 5W-30
Castrol SLX LongLife III
Castrol TXT 507 00
Castrol LongLife III Hochleistungsmotorenol
Castrol SLX Longlife III Topup
Cepsa Star TDI Synth
Divino Syntholight 03
Elf Solaris LLX
Eurol Syntence Longlife
Fuchs TITAN GT1 Longlife III
Galp Formula Longlife III
Gamaparts Super Longlife III
Havoline Ultra V
Madit Gold Longlife
Megol Motorenol Compatible
Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30
MOL Dynamic Gold Longlife
Motorex Profile V-XL
Panolin Avanis SV-X
Pentosin Pento Super Performance III
Repsol Elite Longlife 50700/50400
Shell Helix Ultra Extra
Shell Helix Ultra VX
Statoil LazerWay LL
Tecar Motorenol 504 00 / 507 00
Top Tec 4200
Total Quartz Ineo 504-507
VAPS Vapsoil 507 00
Volkswagen LongLife III
Wintershall ViVA1 SLV Plus
Zeller+Gmelin Divinol Syntholight 03