Sharm

Hello chaps - changing oil this week - going to try Auto RX treatment.

Is there much point to, or benefit from, changing the air filter more frequently than scheduled?

Thanks.

palewhitemale

depends on where you live, unless it's heavily soiled there's no reason to change it more frequently

Audi Junkie

Yes, it's better to run your filter longer than to mess with it. It's a double-dose of Si, one from the load of dust created in the removal process, and again when the large pores of the new filter are open, passing larger particles. This extra Si shows up in used oil analysis. I would go 20-30k on a paper filter depending on conditions. Winter salt is dusty around here, so are dry summers. Changing once a year is too much though. I think the best way to beat the Si is to change the air filter before the oil change, maybe a month, so you can get the Si out with the old oil.

Which oil were you going with for ARX? I am stuck on the 15w-40 Delvac 1300S. A few good non-ester oils are: Any 15w-40, Shell Rotella Syn 5w-40, Syntec 10w-40, Synpower 5w-40, 30 weight Mobil 1 is ester delete now too. 15w-50 M1 would be worth a look in the 3.0, long-term. I am finishing my rinse phase and am going to cut open my filter to see if I need another full treatment or just a maintenance dose of ARX until I (maybe) ease back to an ester oil like Mobil 1 SUV 5w-40.

Sharm

Thanks junkie, appreciate the advice on the filter - makes sense so I'll leave it until it's due and then change it a few weeks before the oil change.

As for oil, I was thinking of using the delvac 15/40 as u suggested before, but I wasn't sure that this was non synthetic - I was going to check. My car was up north for 20k and only had scheduled maintenance (dino 5w30) and now I've brought it to the hot South. I have the 1.8T engine, so I'm keen to give it a "wash" to make up for all the hard winters.

So I'm looking for a good dino change + ARX, then good dino for rinse phase, then sythetic - probably german castrol or mobil 1 0 40 at a pinch.

So looks like Delvac, Delvac then GC, assuming that the Delvac is good dino.

What do you think? Remember I have a 1.8T

Audi Junkie

I was also talking with a 3.0 owner who was ARXing too. I LOVE Delvac 15w-40 in my V6s. In summer, it will work great in the 1.8t, but I'd get the 15w thing over with before you see <+20f degrees for more than a day or two. I'd go strait to M1 SUV 5w-40 for an ester+winter oil. Now, all that said, you do not need 40 weight in a 1.8t, it is optional. Just to get the non-ester 40s listed: Shell 5w-40 Rotella T, Syntec 10w-40, SynPower 5w-40 (Pep Boys?!) Since you are in hot temps, I'd probally shoot for a 40 weight. However, no real reason not to use a GOOD 5w-30 like Havoline, Pennzoil or especially, Motorcraft(yay!). MPG and power will be a bit better, but nothing beats the cleaning of a 15w-40 diesel-rated oil. Since you are into it, look in the Yellow pages for an oil jobber or truck service, even Mobil has a finder page, ask for a diesel-rated >>10w-30<< like Delvac 1300S, Rotella or Delo. They are as heavy as GC or Mobil 1 0w-40, high detergents and no esters. The visc chart is still on my pic poster if you want to look. I have Rotella 10w-30 here for Fall, but would rather 10w-30 Delvac. At least the Delvac 15w-40 does not bog down my engine like other 15w-40s do. ARX is a smart plan to avoid a gummy oil pump after dealer dino.