Question re: Engine oil for VW Golf

NIMAN

Can anyone answer these quickies?

1) I was given 5W30 for my Golf, as I use it to top up my oil when the light comes on (maybe couple of times each year). When I check the Halfords site for oil, it gives suitable oils as 5W30 and 5W40, one for variable service the other for fixed service. Can someone explain the difference in using these 2 oils?

2) I see Castrol Magnetec at half price in Halfords. When I check the 5W30 thats on offer, it has an 'A1' and 'for Ford vehicles' on the label. Why would an oil be for Fords rather than VWs? And can I use it ok in the Golf?

Thanks.

sean1141

what year/engine is in the golf?

Nissan doctor

NIMAN wrote: »

Can anyone answer these quickies?

1) I was given 5W30 for my Golf, as I use it to top up my oil when the light comes on (maybe couple of times each year). When I check the Halfords site for oil, it gives suitable oils as 5W30 and 5W40, one for variable service the other for fixed service. Can someone explain the difference in using these 2 oils?

2) I see Castrol Magnetec at half price in Halfords. When I check the 5W30 thats on offer, it has an 'A1' and 'for Ford vehicles' on the label. Why would an oil be for Fords rather than VWs? And can I use it ok in the Golf?

Thanks.

The oil has to be of a suitable VW spec. i.e VW 501.00, 507.00 etc

sunnysoutheast

NIMAN wrote: »

Can anyone answer these quickies?

1) I was given 5W30 for my Golf, as I use it to top up my oil when the light comes on (maybe couple of times each year). When I check the Halfords site for oil, it gives suitable oils as 5W30 and 5W40, one for variable service the other for fixed service. Can someone explain the difference in using these 2 oils?

2) I see Castrol Magnetec at half price in Halfords. When I check the 5W30 thats on offer, it has an 'A1' and 'for Ford vehicles' on the label. Why would an oil be for Fords rather than VWs? And can I use it ok in the Golf?

Thanks.

First off I wouldn't rely on the oil light coming on before topping up!

I've used the Halfords 5W/40 as a topup for a couple of years now - 2003 Audi 2.0 petrol on 10k mile intervals. For oil changes it has Valvoline or Gulf depending on what the guy has in.

I think the 5W/30 is recommended for the newer engines.

NIMAN

sean1141 wrote: »

what year/engine is in the golf?

2001, 1.4 petrol.

Weylin

NIMAN wrote: »

Can anyone answer these quickies?

1) I was given 5W30 for my Golf, as I use it to top up my oil when the light comes on (maybe couple of times each year). When I check the Halfords site for oil, it gives suitable oils as 5W30 and 5W40, one for variable service the other for fixed service. Can someone explain the difference in using these 2 oils?

2) I see Castrol Magnetec at half price in Halfords. When I check the 5W30 thats on offer, it has an 'A1' and 'for Ford vehicles' on the label. Why would an oil be for Fords rather than VWs? And can I use it ok in the Golf?

Thanks.

mother of god :eek:.............have u ever heard of a dipstick ...........p.s. what would you do if you are belting down the motorway and the engine oil light comes on ? drive 10 k to the nearest station with the light on!:pac: :pac: 5w30 fully synthetic is the oil.

NIMAN

I do dip my oil the odd time too, perhaps I shouldn't have said that ~I only top up oil when the light comes on. Not strictly true. It has happened the odd time though!

5W30 - thanks for that. I have a load of 5W40 in the boot that I use to top up - is that doing any damage? Should I stop using it?

And why would some 5W30 be suitable for Fords but not VWs?

George Dalton

To be perfectly honest when it comes to a 2001 1.4 16v VW with an oil consumption problem it really doesn't matter what kind of oil you put in it. You may as well just buy a gallon of cheap 10w40 and use that for topping up.

lomb

OSI wrote: »

Just means they exchanged money.

Also, when the oil light comes on, it means the oil pressure is so low, you need to turn off the engine immediately to stop damage. I'm amazed it's gotten that that low a few times and not done any damage.

Nah the MkIV that I had an oil level sensor, and also an oil pressure warning, one said STOP OIL PRESSURE LOW, Another said Check oil level.
When it said check oil level, merely opening and closing the bonnet without even touching the dipstick cancelled the warning for 20 miles or so. The oil was somewhere below minimum but not that far below when the level warning activated.
My 1.4 Mkiv used around 500 ml of oil every 3500 or so miles, the engine still ran sweet in any case and I found it better/smoother than the terrible 8 valve 1.6.

NIMAN

Mine has been similar.

Afaik, the Golf has an amber colour for 'warning, please check this out', and the light can also go red for 'stop driving NOW!!'.

When I had the amber light come on a few times, and I checked the oil, it was actually right at the MIN mark, not way below and almost empty. I think the warning seems fairly accurate, and comes on long before you do any serious damage.

sean1141

OSI wrote: »

Also, when the oil light comes on, it means the oil pressure is so low, you need to turn off the engine immediately to stop damage.

Weylin wrote: »

mother of god :eek:.............have u ever heard of a dipstick ...........p.s. what would you do if you are belting down the motorway and the engine oil light comes on ? drive 10 k to the nearest station with the light on!:pac: :pac: 5w30 fully synthetic is the oil.

Red light is oil pressure yellow light is oil level. Two compleatly different warnings but both use the oil light on the mk4 (that is if an oil level sensor is fitted of course).

The level light usually comes on when the oil is at the min mark on the dipstick.

Still not good to be letting it get any lower. Try keep it around the max mark if you can op.

As said above no need for expencive oil. Any oil will be better than no oil!!