follow-up, that we are the VW 502.00 class for engine oil. They cannot explain why there is no published approved oil list for the 2004 model year but admit other years have them. They know there are other documents out there circulating the forums etc, but they tell me today that the Tech Bulletin I have mentioned here recently (Group: 17; Number: 04-04; Date: Oct. 6, 2004) titled "Engine Oil, Specifications" and "Models: All 2005" is the only one applicable to our car. I asked for this in writing from them and was told they would mail me a letter stating this bulletin applied to my car. Obviously we have the same engine as the '05 S-4.
Of note is the fact that this bulletin,while saying we (actually it says ALL 2005 models) are a 502 class for oil then specifically allows only 5W-40, 5W-30 and 0W-40. This does not match our owners manual nor does it match the "Approved Engine Oil For Audi" list I have seen on this forum for 502 class. All I can tell you is what they say applies to this car, this year.
The following is the 3rd page of this Tech. Bulletin. The bulletin specifically says this is the approved engine oil list. I will list every oil on that list:

Castrol Syntec 5w-40
Chevron Supreme Synthetic 5w-40
Elf Excellium LDX 5w-40
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5w-40
Mobil 1 0w-40
Motul 8100X-cess 5w-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5w-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula Ultra 5w-40
Quaker State Full Synth.Europ.Formula 5w-40
Quaker State Full Synth.Europ.Formula Ultra 5w-30
76 Pure Synthetic Motor Oil 5w-40
Havoline Synthetic 5w-40
Total Quartz 9000 5w-40
Valvoline Synpower 5w-30
Valvoline Synpower 5w-40

There is only one 0w-40 and one 5w-30, the rest are 5w-40. I recommend you get a copy of the Bulletin, call Customer Relations and get it on the record for yourself that you want a document authorizing these oils and this list as the standard for your 2004 S4. That is, of course, unless you don't see your favorite oil on the list! Then just use what you want and forget all this BS. To each their own, right?

 

Seriously, AoA has no idea what class of oil the engine should be. The techs at the dealerships SHOULD know, but many don't. The engineers in Germany certainly DO know, but they ain't writing the owners manual, and they are certainly not giving customer service oil info.

Again, Motul is 502 approved. And 503, and 505, and whatever else you need. ;-)

 

big company like VW/Audi couldn't get this straight. I'd just like to know I'm running something actually approved so it's M1 0W-40 for me and I should have a letter in my file showing it's approved to run an oil not shown in my owners manual. Dot the i, cross the t kinda guy. Comes from thirty years of flying airplanes and taking owners manuals seriously. I'll lighten up. This thing hasn't been airborne yet!

 

and while it IS the owners manual, not everything is set in stone at Audi. What's printed one year can totally change the next. But they always have it written the first year with such wording that if you don't follow their procedure all HELL is going to break loose. And then they go ahead and change it anyway the following year. Take the 1.8t and the oil fiasco for example. For how many years people thought they were doing right by following the manual? Should have just gone with a high-quality synthetic anyway. Would have never had any of the sludge issues.

 

The 1.8T motor. After years of "oil sludge" problems with the 1.8T in the A4s and Passats, they finally came out with "a solution" that could be considered a band aid solution. In doing so they changed the specifications for the oil to be used in those cars but in all their glory, most of these oils listed were available only in Europe and some of the best oils like MOTUL that met and exceeded the new norms were left off the list "by mistake" although they were on the VAG "master oil list".