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Author Topic: Which engine oil for top up?  (Read 10574 times)

Offline Lucastheone92

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Which engine oil for top up?
« on: October 03, 2016, 10:36:10 am »
My oil could do with a top up but I've only had the car around a month and I'm not sure what the previous owner has used. Would I be ok just putting some Castrol Edge in or will I need to find out what is currently in there?
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Offline leebes

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2016, 11:20:46 am »
Pretty sure it's generally ok to mix oils. Better to keep the same grade if possible, 5w30 / 5w40 etc, but don't think it's essential.

Personally use Quantum Platinum 5w40, which I think I'm right in saying is made by Castrol anyway. Sure I've opened myself up to a huge amount of abuse there!  :P
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Offline Paradox1

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2016, 11:31:04 am »
Quote from: leebes on October 03, 2016, 11:20:46 am
Pretty sure it's generally ok to mix oils. Better to keep the same grade if possible, 5w30 / 5w40 etc, but don't think it's essential.

Personally use Quantum Platinum 5w40, which I think I'm right in saying is made by Castrol anyway. Sure I've opened myself up to a huge amount of abuse there!  :P

I think its only me and you who uses Quantum lol. Everyone else love millers haha. but a you said any oil will do as for top up if its the right grade id imagine
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Offline Lucastheone92

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2016, 11:31:52 am »
Cheers guys
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Offline leebes

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2016, 11:38:48 am »
Quote from: Paradox1 on October 03, 2016, 11:31:04 am
Quote from: leebes on October 03, 2016, 11:20:46 am
Pretty sure it's generally ok to mix oils. Better to keep the same grade if possible, 5w30 / 5w40 etc, but don't think it's essential.

Personally use Quantum Platinum 5w40, which I think I'm right in saying is made by Castrol anyway. Sure I've opened myself up to a huge amount of abuse there!  :P

I think its only me and you who uses Quantum lol. Everyone else love millers haha. but a you said any oil will do as for top up if its the right grade id imagine

My mate who runs a Porsche specialist garage uses it as well, so there's probably a few people out there running it without knowing!  :happy2:
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Offline Paradox1

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2016, 11:50:49 am »
Quote from: leebes on October 03, 2016, 11:38:48 am
Quote from: Paradox1 on October 03, 2016, 11:31:04 am
Quote from: leebes on October 03, 2016, 11:20:46 am
Pretty sure it's generally ok to mix oils. Better to keep the same grade if possible, 5w30 / 5w40 etc, but don't think it's essential.

Personally use Quantum Platinum 5w40, which I think I'm right in saying is made by Castrol anyway. Sure I've opened myself up to a huge amount of abuse there!  :P

I think its only me and you who uses Quantum lol. Everyone else love millers haha. but a you said any oil will do as for top up if its the right grade id imagine

My mate who runs a Porsche specialist garage uses it as well, so there's probably a few people out there running it without knowing!  :happy2:

I was referring to everyone on this forum. i usually get mine from TPS or my mechanic who orders drums of it
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Offline pudding

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2016, 12:27:59 pm »
Quote from: Paradox1 on October 03, 2016, 11:31:04 am
Quote from: leebes on October 03, 2016, 11:20:46 am
Pretty sure it's generally ok to mix oils. Better to keep the same grade if possible, 5w30 / 5w40 etc, but don't think it's essential.

Personally use Quantum Platinum 5w40, which I think I'm right in saying is made by Castrol anyway. Sure I've opened myself up to a huge amount of abuse there!  :P

I think its only me and you who uses Quantum lol. Everyone else love millers haha. but a you said any oil will do as for top up if its the right grade id imagine

I don't, I like my Silkolene.  But only because I've have good experience with it in previous engines.  When I do an oil change and it's completely choked with soot, it's still super slippery and viscous.  I always found Castrol and some other oils to smell a bit burnt and thinner.
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Offline lukemk5gti

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2016, 12:39:14 pm »
It will be 5W-30 or 5W40.

5W-30 is VW OEM requirement where as the slightly more viscous 5W-40 is used by most of the forum members as it's ideal for a mapped car.

Generally it's not great to mix oils since they're different viscosity will separate them but it won't destroy the engine.

In the case of mixing coolants (i.e. propylene glycol, ethylene glycol along with their additives to meet G12 and G13 spec). That's a really bad idea, the coolants can mix and coagulate blocking the coolant system. I've seen this on another golf actually with a faulty water pump. The driver kept topping the coolant up with any old coolant they found and eventually it coagulated and blocked!

I would top it up for now and the next time you service it then opt for 5W-30 or 40 as you see fit.
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Offline Lewo

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Re: Which engine oil for top up?
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2016, 09:05:36 pm »
Do you know when the oil was last changed?
If you can't find out when and what oil, play safe and do an oil and filter change perhaps then you will know  :driver:
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