What type of oil is best for the b5 a4 (non turbo)? Or better stated is there any real need for synthetic, especially for higher mileage b5's

 

I run melted dinosaurs in my 2.8 with no ill effects.

 

it doesnt say that you need synthetic in the manual but mostly everyone uses synthetic here

 

I know that in the earlier days Audi officially recommended any premium oil for the A4. Then the problems started rolling in, almost entirely with the 1.8T engines. Audi changed their tune and instead of premium oil at 10,000, they changed it to synthetic at 5,000k interval changes. Audi/VW also extended the warranty for oil starvation damage to 8 years/unlimited mileage, since both dealers and customers in the US were using non-synthetic.

It's been all over the internet and the media for years, but for the unfamiliar, apparently non-synthetic oil causes accelerated oil sludge build-up. This quickly blocks the oil pick-up in the 1.8T engine (as it is finer than the 2.8 one) which starves the engine resulting in loss of the engine. Audi apparently stated that they assumed people would simply use synthetic as most people in Germany and the rest of Europe do, so they didn't think Americans would act differently.

I'm sure if you search oil-sludge you'll find more than enough info. I have a 2.8, but I use synthetic for more than just for cheap insurance, it also performs better ie more resistant to breaking down under high heat and doesn't thicken as much in colder temperatures. I see -40c in winter and +30c in the summer. If you have a turbo car, I would recommend synth. If you have a modded turbo car, synth is a must. Increased heat equals increased strain. Oil is cheap compared to the price of an engine.

 

https://www.audiforums.com/forum/sho...04&postcount=3

There are lots of older threads about it as well...

 

yup audi took a lot o crap for that bullshit they pulled. ever 10k for an oil change....thats what they get for trying to sell more cars. heard many stories of people having busted engines for doing this and yet Audi would not cover their repair costs because they needed proof that they got an oil change every 10k miles. good thing i run a 2.8, but i still run synthetic

 

lol, under warranty all my service was supposed to be covered, but they started charging me for the 5k oil changes... the guy said the interval is 10. I looked him in the eye and said "You are insane."

 

Funny, I use melted army men in my 1.8T.


Use synthetic and change it every 5k.