Hurt

I recently bought a 2008 A8L 4.2 with 125,000 miles from a used car lot. I don't know the history other than what a car fax told me. I changed the oil and used Castrol 5w-40 full synthetic making sure it met the 502 requirements.

Today I went to Castrol's website to see what they recommend for my car for the next oil change. Turns out it is Castrol EDGE 0W-30. So now my question is do I continue using what Audi specified back in 2008 or go with what Castrol says in 2018?

Castrol Oil Selector

Thanks - Dan

volvopentaman

As far what I see from your link it gives 3 alternatives:
Edge 0W30 Acea A3/B4
Edge 0W40 Acea A3/B4
Edge 5W30 Acea C3

At the Finnish castrol site it only gives the last 5W30LL (LongLife) as alternative to our cars, which I have used, AND every VAG workshop uses.Tough the site also gives 10W60 as an alternative and the 0W40 and 0W30.

As far as I know, your engine should always use the 504.00 oil, so basically this translates to Acea C3 compatible. Using the two first alternatives will certainly not break your ENGINE. The difference is that Acea C3 is low soot especially for DPF diesel engines AND gasoline engines with precats (you have two catalythic converters per engine bank). And both DPF and precat cars basically require C3 oil. The A3/B4 oil won't break anything immediately, BUT it will eventually wear out the catalyzers over time, because some soot from the oil burns through the cylinders and slowly contaminates the catalyzers. This is what is the main difference between Acea Ax and Cx oils (the low SAPS low soot quantinity)

So if you are a cheap guy go with the two upper, but there is just no sense in that, because they are relatively same priced AND the last alternative is unquestionably the best oil.

I always put the castrol 5W30 in every VAG car newer than 2004, and absolutely ZERO problems. And i do tens of oil changes per year to cars like theese (i have a workshop).

uberwgn

Dan, you'd continue using a 502.00 spec oil. The 502.00 spec will be more robust and offer better with longer oil drain intervals with the gasoline sold in the USA.

The Owner's Manual will say they prefer 5W40, but 0W40 has become commonplace and e-z to source.

Dalplex

JulianHicks

Guys; what we have here is the strange US/Euro 'conflict' for oil specs!
For some strange reason in Europe we have the option of LongLife service [up to 15,000 miles, determined by car electronics] which you don't use in the US, even though the car supports it.
To meet this Longlife requirement, we have VAG oil spec 504.00 [Longlife] for petrol [gasoline] engines which is 'better' than the 502.00 [Normal Life] recommended for US engines but just as cheap.

So, my interpretation of the 'rules' for Petrol/Gasoline engines is:
In the US, use the cheapest oil that meets VAG spec 502.00.
In Europe, use the cheapest oil that meets VAG spec 504.00. [Note; we can buy this oil for about $25 for 5 litres]

Julian

Go here for Audi USA's thoughts on the subject:

https://www.audiusa.com/help/maintenance

MP4.2+6.0

Back to OP's starting question, my reaction is it is up to you, as long as it is VW 502 compliant. I believe the oil you are referring to is labelled "European Formula" and then is the 502 compliant oil. In turn, being in Minn. I can see where you might want to run a colder weather oriented oil like that. If you are trying to cover both winter ad summer, than you might want a common Audi owner standby with Mobil 1 0W40, which is 502 compliant.

It is also hard to find a 502 compliant oil in 5W30. In 5W40 yes (or 0W40 for Mobil 1), but not 5W30. There are 504 compliant oils that are 5W30, including one Audi dealers have if you ask (a Castrol Professional flavor). But in turn with 504 compliant oils when in the USA you have to be sure your gas is very low sulphur. In Europe it is by law, hence the common use there and the extended change intervals. I am comfortable our California gas is now, so am moving to a 504 compliant oil that does have other wear and longevity benefits (with the right gas spec). But in other states it is less clear to me what finally happened to the technical regulations, which had delayed mandatory cut in dates.

Meantime, look back to your owners manual. It likely said 30 weight (the hot part of the spec) was okay. 0W-30 was also the spec'ed oil for D3 W12's when it first came out in Europe, though again USA dealers typically just put 5W40 in them. If it says 5W in the car manual instead of 0W (as in, 5W-30), the "0" gets you incrementally better very cold/start up characteristics.

Finally, there is the real world practical of does your car burn oil? If (when) it does, I move away from the 0W ones (OW-30 or 40) and then go to 5W40 in a 502 spec oil. Castrol and some others offer one off the shelf, often similarly labeled "European Formula" or something similar.

Hurt

First, thank you to the folks that have taken the time to offer advice. I appreciate it!

Second, I can see where I can get a headache trying to split the baby between cost and longevity. Edge 5W30 Acea C3 at Amazon is $45 for a 5qt container. I want the car to last as long as possible but $90 just for oil is a bit steep for me. If that allows me to go 10k miles between changes then I may do it.

My plan is to do a few oil changes every 5k miles with Castrol 5w-40 so I can see if there are any oil burning issues. I then may try going with a different brand/viscosity and see what happens. I'd love to run 0w-40 because this morning was a balmy 0F.

JulianHicks

It's always puzzled me, that in the 'land of cheap fuel' you guys seem to pay twice as much as we do in Europe for oil.
So just for your amusement; I've just filled up my A8 with fuel that cost the equivalent of $6.61 per US gallon. [Our gallons are bigger and we actually buy in litres [35fl ozs]- I actually paid the equivalent of $7.94 for each UK gallon].

However, when it comes to oil, we have to buy pre-packaged in litres [35 fl ozs] which is slightly bigger than your Quarts [32 fl ozs], typically in 5 litre packs.
My A8 takes about 9 litres so I need to buy 2 x 5 litre packs of 504.00 oil [which is higher spec. than the 502.00 that is used in the US]. Last time, I paid £36 for these, delivered next day, the equivalent of $47 for a complete oil change with higher spec. oil.

Julian

MP4.2+6.0

Here you go: Less than $50 for 10 quarts on your doorstep in a couple days, 0W40 in Castrol Euro Formula that is spec'ed 502/505.
Mobil 1 0W40 is sometime sold on sale at this price too, including occasionally in the chain parts stores and Wally World. I drive these oils the 10K change cycle and have for 15 years+ now back to my 2000 A6 4.2. I try to do a turbo motor on a 5K or 7.5K mile cycle, but for normally aspirated and synthetic it has always worked for me. And yes, I like the OW side for year around, where I can be comfortable in Tahoe alpine winter. Tahoe winter is as low as -15 or more F some nights, and many nights 0F.

Hurt

I was able to get 10 quarts of Castrol 5w-40 at Walmart for about $50, I was saying that the Castrol Edge 5W30 Acea C3 that volvopentaman recommended is really expensive. If you can find 10 quarts of that for under $50 let me know!