What Penrite oil are you using in the Tdi

[PAT303]

I've just changed the oil in the Tdi,I was using HPR diesel light but now there's 5w/40,10w40,10w/50,10w/60,20w/60,15w/40,bloody hell,it's just a Tdi.I ended up using the 5w/40 as it's getting cooler now,it's a semi synthetic but is there a preference on what grade people are using,as a side note running Penrite oil in the D4D seems to be the fix as they don't burn it. Pat

[Sirocco]

I've just changed the oil in the Tdi,I was using HPR diesel light but now there's 5w/40,10w40,10w/50,10w/60,20w/60,15w/40,bloody hell,it's just a Tdi.I ended up using the 5w/40 as it's getting cooler now,it's a semi synthetic but is there a preference on what grade people are using,as a side note running Penrite oil in the D4D seems to be the fix as they don't burn it. Pat

Im no oil guru but the TDIs are old engines, stick with 15/40w. I have previously used 10/40w but that was when temperatures were down to minus 20c. Im not sure what your definition of 'cooler' is but I think 5/40 would be too light in a TDI.

Mine is a 300

G

[vnx205]

You missed HPR DIESEL 15 SAE 15W-50.

That is what Penrite recommend for a 300tdi.

Penrite Australia - NetLube

Is there any good reason not to follow their advice?

[PAT303]

I don't like the 50 viscosity,it's a little motor.I always run a lower cold number oil in the cooler months. Pat

[Judo]

Maybe you will get away with it during cold months, but I would still recommend HPR Diesel 15-50. I tried 5-40 Penrite once, but it was too thin. If I ran the motor up to max temp (freeway hill) then stopped and let it idle with the air con on, I would get the oil light flickering. I've gone back to 15-50 and never had that happen again.

[rick130]

Maybe you will get away with it during cold months, but I would still recommend HPR Diesel 15-50. I tried 5-40 Penrite once, but it was too thin. If I ran the motor up to max temp (freeway hill) then stopped and let it idle with the air con on, I would get the oil light flickering. I've gone back to 15-50 and never had that happen again.

That's indicative of the bearings having too much clearance, not the oil being too thin.

IMO you don't want to go heavier than an xW-40 and if you need to, go looking for the cause.
Generally with a Tdi it's big end bearings, cam bearings or pump wear.
'98 Tdi's have a habit of delaminating big end shells.

Remember fellas that the initial 5/10/15W number only refers to the oils pumpability at well below zero temps, it has nothing to do with the hot operating viscosity with a new oil.

Pat, FWIW I've been running Enviro+ 10W-40 (Formerly Diesel SP) for years after I went away from Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40.
Don't have any recent oil test results but it seems to be doing the job considering it's a low SAPS oil.

[schuy1]

Ever since new I have only ever ran 15/40 oil . Apart from the warranty services its always been Castrol Tection Global( and all its other names that it lurks under) which is 15w-40 , 330 kms now and it seems to work oki
Anything under 15w is light for the TDi I think. Follow Ricks reco's and you cant go wrong.
Cheers Scott