Confusion With VW Car Engine Oil

siliconbits

Hi guys, just wondering what car oil to use for my 1999 VW Polo (Petrol).

Castrol Suggests a 5W-30 one http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_210681_langId_-1_categoryId_165581
(it also says Drain/refill, Service Interval QG1 = Flexible Service Interval (Long-life service). Service Interval QG0/2 = Time/distance dependent interval (non-flexible))

On the other hand, Comma OIL, another such service, suggests the 10w-40 http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/vrm. So, which one is which should I choose and should I actually drain the oil first or just refull it?

bungle4by4

its 1991, so the seals are toasted. buy on price, drain and refill. the thicker stuff 10w40 will be perfectly fine.

siliconbits

bungle4by4 wrote: »

its 1991, so the seals are toasted. buy on price, drain and refill. the thicker stuff 10w40 will be perfectly fine.

Hi Bungle4by4. What does "the seals are toasted" mean? By "buy on price", does that mean that the brand is not important? Any link to show how to "drain and refill". Can you mix and match oil (i'm assuming yes)? The car had a full service/MOT back in June.
Thanks

bungle4by4

if you dont know how to drain your oil. then go to any tyre change garage, they will do and oil/filter change for about 25 quid. and then you wont have to worry about it.

your car is 19 yrs old. the seals in the engine are toast. so thinner oil will pass through where it isn't supposed to go. dont worry, its an old car.

buy cheap stuff. there is no point putting 50quids worth of oil into a banger.

but if your car had a full service in june and needs oil again then buy any old junk, litterally the cheapest you can find in your local motor factors and top it up with that.

Stigy

siliconbits wrote: »

Hi Bungle4by4. What does "the seals are toasted" mean? By "buy on price", does that mean that the brand is not important? Any link to show how to "drain and refill". Can you mix and match oil (i'm assuming yes)? The car had a full service/MOT back in June.
Thanks

Buy on what you can afford, and dont worry about brands/viscosity, probably.

Given the age of your car I'd imagine the mileage is proportionate to a vehicle of that age and size (100,000ish?). Go to Halfords or Tesco and read the reverse of the oil they sell there, some will be advertised as being good for older, higher mileage cars, and others for fuel injected, younger engines etc etc. I'd say this is more important than the viscosity (10w40 for example) itself.

Hammyman

Bungle4by is demonstrating they don't have a clue. If there's no oil leaks or very minor ones, the seals aren't worn. Bungle is assuming that because the car is from 1991, they'll automatically be shot and the engine leaking oil like a seive. As a result, bungle is saying to use the cheapest oil as it'll just chuck it out.

The reality is the age of the car means little as to whether the oil seals are leaking or not. 5W 30 is advisable to put in as its thinner and will get round the engine quicker, especially in the sub zero freeze we're currently having.

Although not ideal, you can mix grades however you should not mix mineral with synthetic.

siliconbits

Guys,

The car is 11 years old, not 19... Bungle4by4, would your comments still hold after this slight adjustment? Distance counter shows less than 60K BTW

bungle4by4

Hammyman wrote: »

Bungle4by is demonstrating they don't have a clue. If there's no oil leaks or very minor ones, the seals aren't worn. Bungle is assuming that because the car is from 1991, they'll automatically be shot and the engine leaking oil like a seive. As a result, bungle is saying to use the cheapest oil as it'll just chuck it out.

The reality is the age of the car means little as to whether the oil seals are leaking or not. 5W 30 is advisable to put in as its thinner and will get round the engine quicker, especially in the sub zero freeze we're currently having.

Although not ideal, you can mix grades however you should not mix mineral with synthetic.

ok then, you deal with the question asking idiot. and tell him to spend a fortune while your at it.

see ya

Stigy

siliconbits wrote: »

Guys,

The car is 11 years old, not 19... Bungle4by4, would your comments still hold after this slight adjustment? Distance counter shows less than 60K BTW

siliconbits wrote:

Hi guys, just wondering what car oil to use for my 1991 VW Polo (Petrol).

So it's not a 1991 model then?

I'd say still use the idiot guide set out on the oil itself, as it'll equate to the same as what VW recommend.

Flying-High_2

Them Old VW motors will run for ever with regular oil changes... A half decent 10W40 Semi such as Carlube will more than do the job... £11.50ish for 5litres.

Flying-High_2

.... I only missed a bit of school but surely to F*$K..... 1991 makes it 19years old