Top up oil?

[RRRRIT]

so just been to the vw dealer to top up the oil in the scirocco just over 5000km now.
the mechanic told me not to top up the oil until the light comes on and if so just swing by as they use special run in oil.

[phaeton]

Never heard of special run in oil?????

If you want to top it up, go to the parts department and buy the spec of oil that is relevant and top it up.
IMO I would never wait for the light to tell me when my oil is due for a top up, as its usually very low.

[RRRRIT]

yeah i dont know what they are on about i would never starve the engine of oil
they wont tell me the specific oil but apparently vw dealers use castrol,been reading up on it and its CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30

[Hillbilly]

As long as it meets 507 specs it is Ok Lots use Penrite

Read this Volkswagen Oil Standards – lists of all approved oils – Skoda – Audi – Seat | my-gti.com

[Candyman]

There is a certain truth to the old Mineral versus Synthetic oil for run in periods but not really relevant anymore to modern engines.

As long as the level is above minimum, all good. The max level is just that - max. There is actually not much between min and max really.

[AdamD]

the mechanic told me not to top up the oil until the light comes on and if so just swing by as they use special run in oil.

There's been a ton of speculation about this mythical run-in oil as fitted at the factory, but no-one has been able to verify it exists as yet. Quite a few mechanics suspect it's just a standard synthetic oil that meets VW's specs. Take a look at this thread:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...nes-47140.html

[Transporter]

so just been to the vw dealer to top up the oil in the scirocco just over 5000km now.
the mechanic told me not to top up the oil until the light comes on and if so just swing by as they use special run in oil.

That's just plain wrong and should be disregarded. The right oil level is important.

I've replaced the factory oil in all our cars at around 1000km and I can't see any ill affect. None of our engines requires topping up between the oil changes (7,500km/6months). All I can think of is; that the factory oil has some extra additives to combat the moisture, either from the sea air or when moved in the transport (condensation, after been started just to move a few meters).

If there were any special additives to help the engine run in, then they don't do a very good job, do they? Since we see too many new car's engines with the excessive oil consumption and other issues, right from the start.

[blutopless2]

don't mean to sound like a smart ass or anything here... and don't take offense... but isn't the "right oil level" anything between when the low level light comes on and "full"??

[Hillbilly]

Well I would NEVER run a car till the light comes on. Sometimes that can be accompanied by heat and smoke and pain in the pocket.

A prudent owner would check their oil level regularly depending on kms covered each week.

When travelling full time I checked oil, water, batteries and tyres EVERY MORNING. Towbar bolts once a week. Van brakes and bearings for heat every morning after running for 20 mins.

Never had any problems but if I did I would have caught it in time.


Even now when I have only done 9000km in 15 months I check it every week on both my Vw's.

If you never bother you deserve whatever goes wrong.

[Transporter]

don't mean to sound like a smart ass or anything here... and don't take offense... but isn't the "right oil level" anything between when the low level light comes on and "full"??

No offense taken. The purpose of the engine oil light is not to indicate the driver that you need to top up the oil.
The engine oil also cools the engine, so having the low level means less oil to cool the engine down, less antiwear and antifoaming additives, less cleaning and anticorosion addives. Driving constantly with less oil shortens the oil's life which affects the engine as well.

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