# Synthetic Oil! 0-40, 5-40, 10-40

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** oil\
**Created:** [May 19, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521 "2012-05-19T18:55:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/21 "2012-05-21T20:11:26Z")

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[bobistheoilguy.com](http://bobistheoilguy.com) is the ‘go to’ on engine oil, but I bet there’s also good info on the vendors’ sites.

Just remember that the second number is the one describing the oil viscosity at operating temperature, so 0W-40 would be the same viscosity as 5W-40 at operating conditions.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/22 "2012-05-21T21:35:02Z")

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**0W-40 would be the same viscosity as 5W-40 at operating conditions.**

The difference is that 0w-40 will have more additives (i.e. less lubrication) then 5w-40.

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**Author:** ![genex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@genex](https://community.cartalk.com/u/genex)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/23 "2012-05-21T21:36:16Z")

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> **[Hear the Exceptional Story of this Quattro S1 - Fourtitude.com](http://www.vwvortex.com/)**
>
> Replicas are very like replicants in that they both cause some serious existential quandries. Namely, how much does authenticity really matter? Movies like

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**Author:** ![Frantzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Frantzy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frantzy)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/24 "2012-05-21T22:31:16Z")

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Found two sources, one a Volkswagen oil chart, and the Mobil website. Both list Mobil 1 at only the 0-40W (all other full synthetic brands are listed as 5W-40W) as meeting the specs for VW502,

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**Author:** ![Frantzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Frantzy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frantzy)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/25 "2012-05-22T00:37:28Z")

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Finally had a VW dealer confirm that 2008 2.5 Jetta calls for vw502/505 synthetic. Mobil site gives Mobil 1 0-40W as the oil to meet specs. I guess I’ll give it a rest.

Thanks for the information. This would have been a whole lot easier with a manual

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**Author:** ![FLASH80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8baadc/32.png) [@FLASH80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FLASH80)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/synthetic-oil-0-40-5-40-10-40/72521/26 "2018-09-23T02:49:24Z")

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I have a 200000 mile 2.0 golf I use 0-40 Castrol European spec you can buy it at Walmart for 26 bucks and I run a bottle of Lucas Oil synthetic oil stabilizer for 15 bucks I can go almost 5,000 miles without it needing any oil added maybe a half a quart at the most otherwise this thing drinks 5 W 30 or 10w 30

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