The car has done 220,000 miles on a G-plate and run great (except for the recent heater matrix leak, but this sounds quite common from reading the thread on here!). Thing is, the lad I bought it off told me to use Castrol Magnatech, which I did until just recently.
When the time came to change the oil, bearing in mind it seemed to be sporting a tad of tappet noise, my attention was grasped by this new "re-marketed- high milage" oil, also made by our friends at castrol. In an attempt to minimise any engine wear that i thought could have been caused by the Magnatech, I bought and filled my car with some of that stuff.
Now I have been to the website: www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/index.html?menu....l it tells me that you should never go to mineral oil when your car has been used to semi synth and vice versa.
So the dilema is; what do i do when the next oil change is due? Stick to the high milage or go back to the Magnatech?
Help....
|
Hi JH1
I've also got a mk2 GTI, and have also just changed oil. I started a thread asking about the castrol high mileage oil, as my car has also done a lot of miles (134,000) and I had put this in to try to reduce wear/improve life. A few people suggested that the high-milage oil was just a marketing ploy, and the general concensus appeared to be to use Semi-synthetic 10W-40, as this is the type recommended by VW - I haven't got a manual for the car, but this is what I'm lead to believe.
I havd heard that both magnatec and high-mileage come in 10W-40 grade, however I don't know ins and outs of mineral and semi-synthetic, all I really understand is that semi-synthetic breaks down at much higher temperatures and that might be a factor. It sounds like you have probably already read the thread I started, there are some pretty clued-up contributors so hopefully one of those will know.
sorry to not be much use
Matt
|
|
|
I doubt that you're in for any sort of dramatic failure, but if it's making you nervous then drain out the present stuff now(someone else might be grateful for it, if it is hardly used) and fill up with Magnatec. Don't bother with the filter if it's been fitted only recently. Doing this is not going to break the bank and it will give you peace of mind.
I accept what Chris Longhurst has to say. If the car has been running happily on Magnatec for a long time, then it's got used to it and will be happiest if things stay that way. It's good to hear about a car that's done 220k and I hope you get many more k out of it.
(Given the relative cheapness of oil and its importance to engine health, it suprises me that so many seem concerned to extend oil-change intervals rather than shorten them.)
|
VW engines will go on and on if they are properly cared for with regular oil and filter changes and servicing.
Posting six figure mileages are a doddle to a looked after VW unit.
|
PS
That applies to small, medium and large engine sizes.
|
|
|
|
Thanks for the replies, I think i will drop the high milage stuff, give it to a mate and put the magnatech back in..
The comment from Roger "(Given the relative cheapness of oil and its importance to engine health, it suprises me that so many seem concerned to extend oil-change intervals rather than shorten them.)"
I havent seen anyone mention anything about extending the oil change intervals. I may have just not seen it if its been said on other threads. I think anyone who knows anything about engines and wants to keep one in good condition, would know that you can never change the oil too often.
|
|
Yes, I didn't express that very well. I was alluding to the apparent appeal of extended service (oil-change) intervals, in that manufacturers tend to feature them as a plus point when promoting new models. It could be that this is mainly targeted on fleet buyers, but I suspect that most motorists will assume that it is a good thing -- it must be a good thing because the manufacturers are boasting about it. Regulars on this board know different.
|
|
|
|
|
![2020 Vauxhall Crossland X 1.2T [130] Elite 5dr [Start Stop]](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/f5c0f3b293af1e1e5b4e130af0e8c71f/33575eaff6dc100c2381eac6aa5603a7.jpg)
![2021 Kia Picanto 1.0 3 5dr [4 seats]](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/88b8f5d45e30ace97451eb863ec9fe3a/ee7aed317eddd7c53a645be83121d0bd.jpg)
