[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

[ Castrol Edge Professional that replaced Magnatec Professional

For the record, the term Professional has got nothing to do with the grade or quality of the oil. In other words Castrol Edge and Castrol Edge Professional are exactly the same. Just that Professional comes in bulk packing - in drums - for consumption by professionals - (read that as A.S.S.) and the other for non professionals - retail customers.

Additionally, because of agreements between manufacturers and Castrol, the Professional grade cannot be sold to retail customers - again a marketing ploy.

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

For the record, the term Professional has got nothing to do with the grade or quality of the oil. In other words Castrol Edge and Castrol Edge Professional are exactly the same. Just that Professional comes in bulk packing - in drums - for consumption by professionals - (read that as A.S.S.) and the other for non professionals - retail customers.

Additionally, because of agreements between manufacturers and Castrol, the Professional grade cannot be sold to retail customers - again a marketing ploy.

I know. However, the Professional variants of these engine oils conform to the required VW 505.01 standard, while the regular variants are only VW 505.00 compliant.

VW 505.01 is required for these cars, and Castrol Edge Professional and Magnatec Professional have them.

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

the Professional variants of these engine oils conform to the required VW 505.01 standard

Attaching Castrol's spec sheet for Magnatec Professional which says it is 505.00.

[ninjatalli]

^^I'll agree with @AMG Power here - had quite a few of my MBA batch mates working for Castrol a few years ago, back then I had inquired similar Qs about this wrt the oil for my Vento. They said the variants are just created for ensuring certain variants are available only through specific channels (read : with markups and exclusivity) but the underlying oil was the same.

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

Attaching Castrol's spec sheet for Magnatec Professional which says it is 505.00.

Attaching a picture of the packaging where it says VW 505.01 on it.

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

^^I'll agree with @AMG Power here - had quite a few of my MBA batch mates working for Castrol a few years ago, back then I had inquired similar Qs about this wrt the oil for my Vento. They said the variants are just created for ensuring certain variants are available only through specific channels (read : with markups and exclusivity) but the underlying oil was the same.

This is fraudulent on some levels then. It does not say VW 505.01 on the Magnatec packaging, but it does on the Magnatec Professional containers. Same goes with Edge and Edge Professional.


Picture credit - Amazon

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

Attaching a picture of the packaging where it says VW 505.01 on it.

Just to add to the fun, here's another Castrol's spec where it says 505.01 on it.

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

VW 505.01 is required for these cars,

505.01 is VW's specification for Pump Deuse and V8 common rail engines. For the Vento engine VW recommends only an occasional top up with 505.01 if 507.00 is not available.

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

Just to add to the fun, here's another Castrol's spec where it says 505.01 on it.



505.01 is VW's specification for Pump Deuse and V8 common rail engines. For the Vento engine VW recommends only an occasional top up with 505.01 if 507.00 is not available.

Let me put it this way, 507.00 is available in 5W-30 and not 5W-40, while the latter is recommended here due to the hot weather conditions.

For cars without DPF, the manual says 505.01 and 505.01 oil is used by VW in India.



(Ignore the red outline in the image)

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

For cars without DPF, the manual says 505.01 and 505.01 oil is used by VW in India.

Check the footnote - this is applicable when fuel complying with EN 590 (which since 2007 is ULSD) is available in the country.

Also the brochure for the 1.6 TDI engine (attached) specifically permits the use of a max of 0.5 litres of 505.01 for top up when 507.00 is not available. Also warns that engine damage would ensue. Although they say it is for flexible service intervals, damage ensuing to an engine can also happen when used in fixed intervals. (Last but one paragraph on the right hand side)

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

Check the footnote - this is applicable when fuel complying with EN 590 (which since 2007 is ULSD) is available in the country.

Also the brochure for the 1.6 TDI engine (attached) specifically permits the use of a max of 0.5 litres of 505.01 for top up when 507.00 is not available. Also warns that engine damage would ensue. Although they say it is for flexible service intervals, damage ensuing to an engine can also happen when used in fixed intervals. (Last but one paragraph on the right hand side)

You read that wrong! The footnote is applicable only on alternative fuel specifications, that is VW 507.00 and 504.00. It actually means engine oils compliant with VW 507.00 for diesel engine should be used in countries that have ULSD fuel (EN 590).

This is also stated clearly in the manual. I am attaching a picture for reference.

The bottom line is that engine oil complaint with VW 505.01 spec is to used with non-ULSD fuel, which is most of our country until now. This should change when BS-6 fuel is available country wide from April 2020. However, 507.00 complaint oils are only 5W-30 and we need to be absolutely sure they are safe to use in hot weather conditions, which was the reason for using 5W-40 505.01 complaint engine oils over 5W-30.



Image credit : *************

[AMG Power]

The amount of contradictory information published by VW, a few of which have been shown here - using more than 0.5 litres of 505.01 can damage the engine coupled with recommending it for the same engine which it was stated to damage / Castrol categorising the same oil differently etc indicates the confusion existing amongst the manufacturers themselves with the owners being the guinea pig.

VW's brochures have always been known to provide differing information on the same topic in quite a few areas. Castrol not so much as VW.

It is safer to go with the gold standard - in this case B3/B4 along with using a different oil for ULSD fuel (which incidentally is also a gold standard not a VW specific requirement).

Engine oil for ULSD fuel requires a reduction in detergents and consequently TBN. They also require corrosion reduction agents and antioxidants. This is met with oils recommended for engines using ULSD. VW 507 5w-30 may not be adequate for Indian conditions even though recommended by VW. So that would be another area of concern for VW owners when BS6 becomes available.

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

The amount of contradictory information published by VW, a few of which have been shown here - using more than 0.5 litres of 505.01 can damage the engine coupled with recommending it for the same engine which it was stated to damage / Castrol categorising the same oil differently etc indicates the confusion existing amongst the manufacturers themselves with the owners being the guinea pig.

VW's brochures have always been known to provide differing information on the same topic in quite a few areas. Castrol not so much as VW.

It is safer to go with the gold standard - in this case B3/B4 along with using a different oil for ULSD fuel (which incidentally is also a gold standard not a VW specific requirement).

Engine oil for ULSD fuel requires a reduction in detergents and consequently TBN. They also require corrosion reduction agents and antioxidants. This is met with oils recommended for engines using ULSD. VW 507 5w-30 may not be adequate for Indian conditions even though recommended by VW. So that would be another area of concern for VW owners when BS6 becomes available.

VW seems to be recommending 500 ml of 505.01 oil just for top up, if 507 00 is not available. It's surprising that they are even permitting mixing of even 500 ml of oil conforming to different specs.

I don't think we can extrapolate that 505.01 can be harmful from this, as this is just about mixing of different oils.

The issue may be valid when comparing the unmixed usage of 505.01 vs 507.00. However, VW have also stated themselves, where 507 00 is recommended, that it should not be used in extreme weather conditions.

I think we are better off using 505.01 engine oil even after BS-6 diesel is available, however only the oil which is designed for using in conjunction with ULSD fuel. Liqui Moly Top Tec 4100 5W-40 fits in well in such conditions.

[blackbeast]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

[b]

I sourced the inline filter from an auto parts store, while the rest of the components were found at local hardware store.

Sourcing these online would likely be much expensive actually.

That was precisely my question. Which auto parts store. name address or contact number

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

I don't think we can extrapolate that 505.01 can be harmful from this, as this is just about mixing of different oils.

The fact that they show this as a cautionary note indicates that it could be harmful. If something is not harmful it will not be shown as a cautionary note.

[halfbytecode]

Originally Posted by blackbeast

That was precisely my question. Which auto parts store. name address or contact number

You are better off finding the parts at the local stores in your city, really. I live far far away from your location, and I don't think these stores here will agree to send you those parts, as the value of them is quite less.

Originally Posted by AMG Power

The fact that they show this as a cautionary note indicates that it could be harmful. If something is not harmful it will not be shown as a cautionary note.

But the context of the cautionary note is limited to mixing of engine oils conforming to different specs, in case the oil of recommended spec is not immediately available.

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by halfbytecode

But the context of the cautionary note is limited to mixing of engine oils conforming to different specs, in case the oil of recommended spec is not immediately available.

Both are recommended oils - now. But when the brochure was put together 505.01 was not recommended. As both are recommended now there cannot be engine damage if they are mixed. But as VW was not recommending 505.01 the cautionary note indicating possible engine damage was put together.

Given the current situation, the cautionary note would be in the reverse order - recommending mixing a max of 0.5 litres of 507.00 with the recommended 505.01.

This is why relying too much on VW brochures can catch one on the wrong foot. So debating a VW recommendation beyond a certain point doesn't really help. In this case, it's better to leverage a little bit of one's own knowledge of tribology.

India is still an unknown quantity for VW - be it tyre pressures, recommended oils, owner handbook guidelines and the lot. Part of this is due to their global operations and the insignificant bit in the overall context that India plays for them to focus more. I'm getting OT here, but India 2.0 is another half baked attempt by VW to get India right.