Which oil?

[vw754]

I've been using 5w-40 quantum synta in my 2015 stock S3.
Tps said that's the right oil.
I've read online that 5w-30 is better,but then I've also read 5w-40 works better at higher temperatures, especially when giving the car some beanz , which oil is recommended?
I saw this in the manual,but at the bottom it states something about in China only?

 

[Gazwould]

Oil film strength is all that matters and there is this misunderstanding that higher viscosity protects more , which was probably true many years ago with non synthetic group oils .

I've several different references including VW themselves that 5W30 504.00 provides the best protection and to back that up in general a mechanical engineer who researched tribology tested over 200 oils for oil film strength at high temperatures and found that the 30 grade is champion .

 

[vw754]

Thanks,I'm not too clued up here.
At the moment I use quantum 5w-40 Acea A3/B4 502.00/505.00
Could I use long life 5W-30 which is Acea C3 504.00/507.00? Or stick to what I got?
Audi s3 2015

 

[alpesh26]

I've always used Quantum or Castrol 5w-30 in the Audi's I've owned and that's what goes in to my S3 too. My friend (ex Audi tech) also recommends 5w-30.
5w-40 should be fine, but maybe change it after a year dependent on mileage? I'm no expert though.

 

[vw754]

I've been using 5w-40 quantum synta in mine but as Gaz above has mentioned it's only a medium grade oil, didn't want medium grade I rather best stuff,I've done 2,000 miles in a year,but it's only oil,so I will drain, change filter and renew, thought as it's time may as well ask the question.
I heard that 5W-40 was better at higher temperatures but as said above by Gaz 5w-30 is way better.
Do you find car uses 5w-30 oil as it's thinner,I read somewhere some people using it said they top up every few thousand miles,also for the record my cars just turned 38k

 

[alpesh26]

I've been using 5w-40 quantum synta in mine but as Gaz above has mentioned it's only a medium grade oil, didn't want medium grade I rather best stuff,I've done 2,000 miles in a year,but it's only oil,so I will drain, change filter and renew, thought as it's time may as well ask the question.
I heard that 5W-40 was better at higher temperatures but as said above by Gaz 5w-30 is way better.
Do you find car uses 5w-30 oil as it's thinner,I read somewhere some people using it said they top up every few thousand miles,also for the record my cars just turned 38k

I've probably only topped up either half a litre or 1 litre and that's with me checking the dipstick, not the car telling me oil is low.

I've owned the car for 5 years (currently on 51k) and I think I've only topped up 3 times so I don't think it is excessive in my case.

I find myself topping up the coolant more!

 

[vw754]

Just rang Audi dealer,they said 0w-30 oil they use,rang Audi specialist he said quantum 5w-40 synta.....talk about confusion

 

[Gazwould]

That's oil for ya....

The several...

 

[vw754]

Oil film strength is all that matters and there is this misunderstanding that higher viscosity protects more , which was probably true many years ago with non synthetic group oils .

I've several different references including VW themselves that 5W30 504.00 provides the best protection and to back that up in general a mechanical engineer who researched tribology tested over 200 oils for oil film strength at high temperatures and found that the 30 grade is champion .

View attachment 264272

So many dealers and specialist are saying 5w-40 and some 0w-30 and other dealers are saying 5w-30.
Acea A3 is the 5w-40
Acea C3 is the 5w-30
Should I go for the 5w-30 then as I want the best grade of oil and look after the engine as much as possible.

 

[Gazwould]

What was also interesting about the mechanical engineers testing of over 200 oils was is one C3 504.00 507.00 came in 5th !

OK this scored very highly on his psi test higher than some racing marketed Ester racing oils some are familiar here with but truth be known and bang for buck is you don't even need to have an 'approved' oil as a spec is a spec and that's another chapter within itself !

 

[vw754]

I would expect all the dealers using same lol

 

[Gazwould]

In the two most recent suppliers formally Castrol in Ghent , Belgium then Fuchs .

 

[vw754]

In the two most recent suppliers formally Castrol in Ghent , Belgium then Fuchs .

Thanks for the help.
So 5w-30 is way better then?
I change oil every 12 months as that's what it says in the manual regardless of mileage (I do around 4k a year) Audi s3 2015.
Should I use quantum 5-30 or mobil 1 or doesn't it matter?

 

[Gazwould]

Or Asda , Triple QX , Mannol , etc .

A spec is a spec regardless of approval which is a marketing decision .