I have a 1996 855T and I've been using 10-30w Mobil 1 (and occsionally other synthetics) and have no compliants. The weight is good for life here in Southern California.

Eric

FLO-unless you REALLY NEED to use "THE BEST" synthetic(which is highly subjective), you could save your self alot of time and buy any of the most reputable brands(M1, amsoil, redline, Valvoline,) in any reasonable VISCOSITY and your engine will be HAPPY FOREVER. I don't think it's worth the hassle; (just IMO). Instead debate what tires is the best for your all-year weather activities. I'm sure you'll be benefiting much more. Good luck, BD

I spent quite a bit of time of VWvortex.com the last few days and discovered that there are some hardcore technical guys on that forum. These people even have their oil analyzed and it seems that Redline synthetic has a pretty good reputation with these guys. Mobil 1 does okay as well but one guy has experienced problems with it after about 90,000 miles. Quite a few of them vouch for Amsoil but it is not supported by objective data. My mechanic also tells me that it is great oil.

I have used 5w-40 Valvoline pure synthetic @ $4.50 qt and it works fine. I checked out the Amsoil website and found their oil to cost about the same maybe a bit more.

It seems the only people pushing Amsoil products on this board sell it. Other people don't seem to care as long as the oil does the job.

Walmart sells Shell Rotella 5w-40 synthetic for three dollars and some odd cents per quart. Thinking about using them and changing at 3k-4k interval.

By the book, once every 5000 miles. Sorry for the delayed response.

Not sure why the person below made the comment about 5W-30 Amsoil being irrelevent. This is a great oil and I use it in my 1996 850. Then he goes on to recommend a specific brand of 0W-40. Strange.

I just would like to ask why only ask about 5W-40? Not many oil companies have this grade. You could use Amsoil synthetic 0W-30 all the way to 10W-40 with no problems.

--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

I'm just looking for a year-round synthetic oil that can handle cold starts when I go skiing up in the mountains and then take on the deserts of Southwestern U.S., not to mention stop-and-go traffic in the city, and high speed driving in the highway. Shell Rotella makes a 5w-40 synthetic for $3.40 per quart. Are they any good? I wouldn't mind changing it every 3k. 5w-40 is a viscosity approved by the manual, is it okay to not follow it? Let's say with a 0w-30 or 10w-40 as you recommend?

Thanks!

Shell Rotella is a fine oil. I have not seen any tests specically on the 5W-40, but changed at 3K intervals it should be no problem.

0W-30, 10W-40 and EVEN 15W-40 Synthetic oil will also work great.
--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

Shell Rotella is not a true synthetic. Yes, its data is not too bad but it is an average oil. Might as well use Mobil 1 if you are going to use a petroleum based synthetic oil.

Yannis
--
2001 V70 T-5M SR, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., ipd ME7 ECU Upgrade, K&N Air Filter, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17" 'Tethys' alloys

They CLAIM a 100% synthetic, but.........:


Mixture 100 %volume Synthetic Motor Oil
92062-09-4 65 - 74.99 %volume Hydrotreated Petroleum Slack Wax
64742-54-7 10 - 19.99 %volume Hydrotreated heavy paraffinic
distillate
Mixture 3 - 8.99 %volume Hydrocraked, hydroisomerized HVI
paraffinic oil
Proprietary 3 - 8.99 %volume Proprietary additives
64742-65-0 1 - 2.99 %volume Solvent dewaxed heavy paraffinic
distillate

--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

You do have a few options
1 I did mentioned before 76 lubricants ( best bang for the buck )
2 most convievient Mobil 1 which is actually PAO base and no petroluem as somobody posted
3 excelent choice avail. here in Canada is Motul synergie 6100
4 Amsoil , Red line and so on


Now it's up to You

Eric

The following regards to the Shell Rotella 5w-40 (from the official website):

Flash Point: > 397 ºF [Pensky-Martens Closed Cup]

Pour Point: -27 ºF

Specific Gravity: 0.888

Viscosity: 14 cSt - 15 cSt @ 40 ºC

Does that sound okay? Thanks!

NO it does not sound good , I know this oil well it's shell's group III synthetic for diesel application , I'm a member of TDI club and those guys are nuts about they oil , that shell sucks let me guess it cost 12.83 a galon ? Get yourself PAO or ester based oils with flash point of 450-480 range , for example 76 lubricants synthetic 10w30 is a PAO and ester blend ,and let me give youi some no . flush point 480 , pour point -58 tbn 9 VI146 this are impressive numbers for this viscosity.They also have strait PAO based oil in the 5W40 range but not as good as the one mentioned above.

Eric

Flash point seems about right, but rather low for a true synthetic without pour point agents.

Pour point is relatively high at -27°F for a synthetic 5W-40. For example the Amsoil HD Syn 15W-40 is -47° F.

SG, no comment.

Viscosity, are you sure that's 40°C? 14-15 centistokes (per ASTM D-445) seems really thin....maybe that's the number for 100°C? (I would expect a number like 90 cSt or so at 40°C)

I tried getting to the tech numbers page at Shell Rotella and it said the specs page is down. Do you have a link? I need to see more numbers, before I draw any conclusions.

Again I don't think you would have any problem with this oil and 3000 mile intervals. I would hesitate to use if for longer drain intervals and here is why: looking at the few numbers you gave me in combination with the price, it seems that this oil MAY not be a true 100% synthetic as Amsoil, Mobil and Redline, et al are. By true synthetic I don't mean hyrodrcracked petroleum oil, or lawyer defined, I mean synthetic base stocks that are truly organochemically synthesized starting with smaller feedstock molecules and made into a specific lubricating molecule. Synthetic oils are made of these (typically in a class called polyalphaolefins) and for some synthetic lubes some diesters along with antiwear chemistry, antifoam, acid nuetralizers, etc)

Also I want to stress that the numbers given have not much to do with wear characteristics there are tests for these numbers along with volatility, shear that I would like to see as well.
--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

The Technical Specs was the first link I clicked on, and you're right, it is down. The MSDS link, right next to it, however, does work, and this is where I got the numbers.

Why not just use Mobil 1 0W-40? Unlike with "normal" oils, a big stretch between viscosity ratings is not a problem with synthetics. 0W-40 Mobil 1 is now the factory fill on Mercedes. The 5W-30 response to this is irrelevant.

I use 5w30 AMSOIL on my 98 S70. got to www.amsoil.com