- Ordinary mineral oil must comply with VW-Norm 50101. In this case, it has sufficient cleaning properties to prevent the formation of deposits.
- Oils with good anti-friction properties reduce internal friction in the engine. They must comply with VW-Norm 500 00.
- Only in the event that the oil from the above listed is not available, you can use all-weather or seasonal oil of categories for topping up «API SF» And «API SG».
Note: Factors such as the price of an oil or its origin say nothing about its quality!
Oil viscosity
The fluidity of the oil, that is, its viscosity, must meet the requirements for use in this engine. In doing so, two criteria should be kept in mind:
- The oil must not be too viscous, as the starter must be able to crank a cold engine, and the places where oil enters in the engine must be lubricated immediately after starting a cold engine.
- The oil should not be too thin, because at high temperatures and engine speeds, the lubricating film may break.
To check the oil level, pull the dipstick out of the guide tube on the left side of the engine. The oil level must be between the max and min marks, that is, in the area of the corrugated surface (arrows) at the tip of the probe. The amount to be added between both marks is 1 liter. The measurement will only be accurate when the vehicle is standing on a level surface.
No SAE classes
The American Society of Automotive Engineers has classified oils into classes according to their viscosity. These classes begin with motor oils with liquid winter (winter) oils SAE 5W, 10W, 15W through the intermediate stage SAE 20W/20 to viscous summer oils SAE 30, 40 and 50.
Seasonal oil
The cheapest motor oil used to be seasonal oil. For perfect lubrication of the engine, it must be filled with viscous or liquid seasonal oil according to the season. Seasonal oil is almost impossible to find at gas stations or supermarkets today, but it is still often used in fleets. It is suitable for use in the Audi-100 (and this is the opinion of the manufacturer) only as a temporary solution in a hopeless situation.
All-weather oil
The production of multigrade oil used today is more complex and therefore multigrade oil is correspondingly more expensive than seasonal oil. As a viscosity index improver (multigrade oil has a viscosity index «VI»), it contains long chains of molecules that «swell» when heated and again lose volume when cooled. In this case, the oil may «elastically» adapt to temperatures and cover many viscosity grades. SAE 15W-50 oil corresponds to a viscosity class of 15W at -15°C, and a viscosity class of 50 at 100°C.
Problematic with multigrade oils based on mineral oils is the fact that the chains of molecules that improve viscosity decompose over time, in which case the oil becomes less resistant to temperature effects. For this reason, Audi does not permit the use of SAE 10W-30 and 10W-40 multigrade oils in its vehicles during the warm season.
The right choice of engine oil
Two criteria are decisive when buying engine oil. The oil must have:
- Correct oil specification. Fraudulent canister labels are extremely rare because the manufacturing firms mutually control each other.
- Correct viscosity (viscosity). It depends on the prevailing outside temperature and can be seen on the top graph.
Engine oil additives
«The use of additives - no matter what kind - in lubricating oils is contrary to our operating instructions. Damage resulting from the use of such products is excluded from the warranty». This is Audi's opinion on adding to oils. The feasibility of spending on oil additives to extend engine life continues to be questionable, especially when considering the use of high performance oils.
How often to change the oil?
According to Audi regulations, the oil should be changed every 15,000 km or at least once a year. We believe that a purely long-distance driver should also keep 15,000 km as the upper limit. On the other hand, those who drive an Audi mainly for short distances should change the oil much earlier. In the cold season, at the latest after six months, regardless of the possible low mileage. With exclusively urban use, you need to think about changing the oil after four months.
Note: Anyone who uses seasonal oil should think about changing it according to the time of year - spring and autumn - so that the oil matches the external temperatures.
Oil change - where and how?
- The engine oil should be changed when the engine is warm so that the oil will wash out all the dirt when it drains.
- In workshops, oil changes are, in our experience, the most expensive, because only very expensive grades of oil are used there. In addition, often the engine cools down again before the used oil has time to drain. And the bill additionally includes at least the work of replacing the oil filter.
- At gas stations, the car, as a rule, immediately goes to work. You can also choose cheaper oil from those sold at gas stations, besides, labor is included in the price of oil.
- Nothing can be objected to self-changing the oil with suction of the old oil at the gas station, but only if the oil filter is also changed every 15,000 km. This can be done independently.
What is needed for an oil change?
- Engine oil of named grades (in most cases can be purchased in a cost-effective five-liter canister).
- New gasket for the oil drain plug.
- Oil filter, for example Audi — No. 056 115 561 G for 4-cylinder engines, 035 115 561 for 5-cylinder engines, as well as 034 115 561 A for 6-cylinder engines or under various manufacturer designations in car shops.
- Waste oil container. An old oil canister with a cut-out side wall or a used large saucepan will do.
- The used oil can is used to transport the used oil.
- Using an oiler, it is easier to pour fresh engine oil.
- The wrench will help unscrew the oil filter.
The graph shows the recommendations from Audi/Volkswagen regarding oil viscosity:
A - all-weather oils that meet the requirements of the VW-Norm 50101 standard;
B - oils with good anti-friction properties that meet the requirements of the VW-Norm 500 00 standard;
C - seasonal oils that meet the requirements of API-Norm SF or SG.
The given temperatures should be understood as long-term. Short-term fluctuations do not play any role.
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