Is there a general API specification requirement listed in the Owner's Manual (in addition to the recommended weight and viscosity)? If so, I'd just compare that to the API rating on the Mobil 1 label. I'd do that before taking your dealer's word for it. If the Manual just says "use Audi oil only" and not give any specific requirements I'd say there's quite a conspiracy going on considering how much oil the S4's and RS4s consume. As long as Mobil 1 synthetic oil's weight and viscoisty were the same as the Audi variant, I'd have no problem using it. But thats just my opinion - its your engine.
Stop by your local Kragen's or Autozone and just ask the guy behind the "computer with an answer to every auto question" whick oil you need for an RS4. Simple.
Posts: 4
Joined: 3/24/2007 From: Swampyland, UK Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: yellowblur
Is there a general API specification requirement listed in the Owner's Manual (in addition to the recommended weight and viscosity)? If so, I'd just compare that to the API rating on the Mobil 1 label. I'd do that before taking your dealer's word for it. If the Manual just says "use Audi oil only" and not give any specific requirements I'd say there's quite a conspiracy going on considering how much oil the S4's and RS4s consume. As long as Mobil 1 synthetic oil's weight and viscoisty were the same as the Audi variant, I'd have no problem using it. But thats just my opinion - its your engine.
If the oil is for the new B7 RS4, then there is no API requirement, as the API specifications are just not good enough for the requirements of all the latest VAG motors.
I'm guessing you are from the US, because in UK and Europe, if you go to your dealer with any warranty complaint on your engine, the garage will carry out oil analysis on the sump oil, and if it does not meet the standard as listed in the owners manual, the warranty claim is rejected!
Just use any make of oil which has been approved by VW to meet the required standard. I think AudiUSA.com has a downloadable PDF, listing all the approved oils.
Rgds
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Sean - Independent Motor Vehicle Tech (ret’d) ----- 07 Audi B7 RS4, 07 VW Golf V GTI DSG,
Posts: 4
Joined: 3/24/2007 From: Swampyland, UK Status: offline
Erm, the manual actually states VW504.00 as the preferred oil standard, with 502.00 being a "lesser" quality (and considerably older specification).
Being as the B7 RS4 is a modern engine, being highly stressed, with a high-rev red line, and FSI technology, why do you recommend using the older, less capable 502 standard oils??
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Sean - Independent Motor Vehicle Tech (ret’d) ----- 07 Audi B7 RS4, 07 VW Golf V GTI DSG,
Well my older 07 manual that I just procured last week with the car stills says VW 502 and 505 specs which 0w40 Mobil 1 meets. Also that grade of M1 is longlife approved by BMW, Mercedes and Porsche. I use it because it is $6 a quart here at the PX in Germany. I can get any european oil but oil costs about 20 euro a liter for the good stuff. Even M1 is 20 euros. BTW 1 USD is 0.71 euro cents.
Posts: 4
Joined: 3/24/2007 From: Swampyland, UK Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: army scope jockey
Well my older 07 manual that I just procured last week with the car stills says VW 502 and 505 specs
That looks like the oil specs from the generic Audi Servicing Booklet, and not the RS4 Owners Handbook - as a the 505 is a diesel-only oil specification. As I don't think Audi have managed to shoe-horn the V10 TDI under the bonnet/hood of the B7 RS4, I think we can be pretty sure that the 505 is irrelevent. If you have a European B7 RS4, it definately states (in the owners handbook, and NOT the serving handbook) that 504.00 is the preferred high performance oil.
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which 0w40 Mobil 1 meets. Also that grade of M1 is longlife approved by BMW, Mercedes and Porsche.
And the longlife approvals of BMW, MB and Porsche mean jack-sh!t in an Audi - as they are OEM approvals only, and NOT generic approvals. The only relevent longlife approval to use in an Audi (or VW) would be the appropriate VW longlife spec, in this instance, 504.00. And Mobil 1 0W40 definately does NOT meet the 504 standard.
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I use it because it is $6 a quart here at the PX in Germany. I can get any european oil but oil costs about 20 euro a liter for the good stuff. Even M1 is 20 euros. BTW 1 USD is 0.71 euro cents.
If you are in Germany, then there are literally loads of different suppliers of 504.00 oils - OK, some may be quite expensive - I recently seen Aral (same as BP/Castrol) at 24.95 Euros, but there were also other makes (Shell, OMV and others I cant remember) at cheaper prices.
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Sean - Independent Motor Vehicle Tech (ret’d) ----- 07 Audi B7 RS4, 07 VW Golf V GTI DSG,
Took delivery of B7 RS4 on 6/29/07, I now have 2445 miles. I have added 1 1/2 quarts so far. Lost count of the number of tanks of fuel. I was fairly easy on the engine for the first 1000 miles but have been really working it since. Using Castrol 5W-40 as recommended by my dealer. They even topped it off last time I went in to get my plates. I will be changing the oil at the 2500-3000 mile mark. Old school, but I just feel better about it as I plan on tracking it Aug.2. As I said I have been working it pretty damm hard for the last 1400 miles, hit a buck 40 so far and it still was pulling. Looks like my Continental tires are wearing pretty rapidly and expect if I keep this up I'll need a new set around the 8000 mile mark. This has been some of the best weeks I have spent, no tickets, yet, car is still in one piece and my wife really likes it. Take care and ENJOY this fantastic machine.
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