MP4.2+6.0

Yep over oiling is the party line folks with them go with. 25 years experience oiling them back to a 32/36DGAV Weber on 100LS. I will unqualifiedly say they are a piece of crap on any MAF vehicle. Used it on my C5 4.2 for the last time. Found telltale red oil at least 2 feet UP the intake track--all the way to the throttle body. Very fine mist. Later found same when I ripped another out of the Toyota Sienna. Oh, and the MAF flow instrumented per VCDS showed it down 20% on the 4.2. As in, 20% misread. Technically why they are performance subtract and you never even know it. Happens very insidiously over perhaps tens of thousands of miles. 02 correction can hide it too, but their limit is maybe 25% and even then you have the closed loop lag time for O2 to see it lean and kick to richen. Never again anywhere near MAF's, and now gun shy on others too unless I look at how sensor works. If it is hot wire like typical MAF, no way.

Much better and cheaper for me: just pull std. filter out mid cycle and blow it out with air. On W12 with 40K cycle, would just do that every other oil change for the tweener one. Current Audi designs are very straight in (and efficient for cold air), but they also then eat more leaves, bugs, road crap, etc. Will do same on S8 at 20K and then 60K. Yours is 60K cycle. Factory is then disassembly and about 2 minutes air time instead of: oil, mess, newspaper, overnight to try to get off extra (oiling it right...), etc.

LexusLSguy

Any comments on what oil these engines like? Or specifically the 3.0? I have used mobile 1 extended performance for years with good results. I was noticing others using mobile ones 0w - 40 European formula. PUP is also great oil but it's never in stock when I head to the store.

MP4.2+6.0

Short version: Mobil1 0W40 as most common; NO other common Mobil 1 typically acceptable. Or Castrol Edge 5W40 US as possible closest proxy to dealer oil. Many others to but MUST meet specific VW/Audi spec.

So, first thing you need to know is the 502/505 VW oil spec. Your post says as a subtle matter to be sure to be able to recognize it. That is required for any Audi gas motor in USA to meet spec. If under warranty and you don't run it, that can punch the warranty when it most counts--internal motor nightmare. They are literally known to run oil analyses these days in suspect situations and that seem oil related and if it comes up wrong, bill can be on you.

Fortunately the list is long. It's on the Audi USA web site, and I have posted link several times. Your post is why I also say to get familiar with the spec. Thus, Mobil1 0W40 European Formula meets the 502 spec, but almost no other Mobil 1 common shelf version does, in any viscosity. There are a few corner cases, but none of the common like 10W40, 5W30, etc. So, forget any other easy to find grade you may have used (ESP is only other footnote BTW for 504/507 discussion below). Mobil1 0W40 is probably the most common go-to cited on the boards, though there are always the fans of some of the specialty brands out there. Mobil 1 can be found in jugs these days, periodic sales, WallyWorld, Amazon, etc. Not Costco though in that viscosity.

I checked and the fill they ran the A8 3.0T motor on in the EPA tests was 5W40 in 502 spec. Basically that is standard USA dealer fill, though they actually have been certifying the 4.0T's on a different oil and spec in recent years. More specifically, at the dealers it is usually Castrol Professional Grade, in 5W40. 4.0T is spec'ed for that too, even if not necessarily factory fill. Can't buy that label on average store shelf, though keep reading...

If you want 5W40, another choice also found pretty easily is Castrol Edge 5W40US. May well be the dealer oil, just without the uV dye in the Professional Grades they use Euro dealer channels. Again, if motor blows up in nightmare scenario but then either has their dealer change service history and/or they see the uV dye, end of any questions about oil type. Castrol also have a 0W40 and OW30 marked European Formula that is 502/505, but harder to find.

Many more, but those are some. Post AudiCare/off warranty, historically I have run Mobil 1 0W40 most of time, both on C5 4.2 and D3 W12. At 115K miles D3 W12 still burned not even a small fraction of a quart on full 10K change cycles. Literally only time I put any in was for the change itself. FWIW, as I sneak some tweener changes in and transition Q5 off AudiCare, for the hell of it I recently bought both some 502/505 oil and some 504/507 from audiusaparts. I paid in mid $5 range/qt. for a couple cases of the 5W40, and a few more for 504/507. Mid $5qt. is getting close to jug price for Mobil1 discounted, and there is no 504/507 oil out there for at least several dollars more than I paid from any normal source. 504/507 is for S8, but that's a whole separate discussion and even state dependent for some technical (fuel) reasons. Dealers still think of 504/507 as basically for diesels meantime, plus pricier and not what Audi factory put into 3.0T anyway nor that dealers use in general with gas motors.

LexusLSguy

MP, any experience with PUP's 0w40.


Think I found that link you were talking about.

https://www.audiusa.com/content/dam/...e-Bulletin.pdf

MP4.2+6.0

Certainly have run Pennzoil in my 40+ years now, but not that one specifically. Good exemplar though. And yes, you found "the list." So simple on this one. There are four Pennzoil types on the list. None are 0W40 like your Amazon listing, so end of disccussion spec wise. Next one. Or, validate now for Mobil 1, check OW-40 on list. But nix on any other viscosity. And so on. You do have 4 Pennzoil choices on the "list" if you like their products, and one is oriented to European cars obviously with the branding. It is exactly the typical dealer and Audi 5W40 fill. Unless you are in a cold to cool locale throughout year (some mountains, maybe PNW, Vancouver, or other similar places) and such to want to drop to a 30, it's a good all around viscosity choice. At margin if cold winters yet warmer summers, then the OW class may be a bit more preferred, but delta to a 5W is marginal until it gets extremely cold. Again if you want 5 quart jug cheap, universally accepted, well respected and available super widely, that's the Mobil 1. The standard $25 jug on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mobil-12076...s=mobil+1+0w40 Can be several bucks less at Wallyworld physical store on sale if you can stand that, though on web same price.

LexusLSguy

How about oil filters, are you sticking with OEM Mahl? They have a great reputation and I don't really see a need to deviate.

MP4.2+6.0

Yes on an OES--commonly Mahle, Hengst, Mann, etc.--but maybe not on source. This is a good example to show why Amazon or indy web is usually not my go to. It's fine, but I do marginally better sticking to discounted dealer. Difference is small on single part, but across a typical tune up order its often somewhat less percentage wise than elsewhere, fitment is by VIN, personal relationship I then leverage for help, inevitable need for dealer only parts, etc.

Same application, audiusaparts: Oil Filter for 2014 Audi A8 Quattro|06E-115-562-C : Audi Wholesale OEM Parts - Audi Genuine Accessories - AudiUSAParts.com e-Store $12.29. $13.37 on Amazon. Some though reasonable shipping cost for a given order vs. Amazon Prime, but then no sales tax in whatever the state set up is and same two days distant from me. No big deal here, but illustrates on dealer/OES parts for tune ups, discounted dealer in my experience has become fully competitive. That's how they price typical tune up/consumable parts these days. Not the "dealer rip" reputation folks often want to believe. There are several of these dealers scattered around country with a decent web presence and selling at discount, depending on exactly where you are if shipping time is important.

S8 4.0T dealer filter (also cartridge) is unmarked BTW for others. On D3 W12 it was a cartridge in Hengst. On Q5 2.0T it is a spin on "MHO," which I think is Mann's abbreviation for extended name of Mann+Hummel. In that 3.0T filter picture, a little fuzzy but I think it says Mann.

If you want to go another direction, or suddenly need one same day locally for a job, FWIW I often find a Purolator store boxed filter has the OES one inside. Looked on shelf a few weeks ago and they had the S8 one, which looks same as one I have in hand. My old A6 4.2 had spin ones which were Manns. Bought a dozen Purolators on eBay for $4 each that set me up for life; Purolator sticker on the typical Mann black spin on, with all the Mann silk screen printing right there too. $48, 120K miles, just add oil.