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Author Topic: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?  (Read 5536 times)

Offline Lucastheone92

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Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« on: November 18, 2016, 03:38:29 pm »
As above? I'm only at stage 1 on my ed30 and my vag specialist said 5w-40 really isn't necessary and I should stick to spec oil.


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Offline Paradox1

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2016, 03:44:49 pm »
5w40 is perfectly fine for stock or Remapped

Offline pudding

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2016, 04:26:44 pm »
Mine was Stage 1 for ages on dealer 5W30 Shell oil.

Recently switched to 5W40 as the engine is getting on a bit.  You need a bit of extra lube when you get older  :grin:


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline Lucastheone92

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2016, 07:32:22 pm »
Mine was Stage 1 for ages on dealer 5W30 Shell oil.

Recently switched to 5W40 as the engine is getting on a bit.  You need a bit of extra lube when you get older  :grin:
Hahaha ok thanks man!


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Offline slix

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2016, 09:22:03 pm »
I had 5w30 when mapped and found it used oil whenever I checked.

Since I've moved to 5w40 it's minimal oil use now so defo would recommend it.
Stage "1.5" ED30 [330BHP] Rtech


Offline grey golfster

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2016, 03:04:54 pm »
Not sure that "really necessary" is the best way to put it?

For me and many others on here (try doing a search, there are loads of posts on this subject) the issue has been to minimise oil consumption between servicing. ie less top ups.

Changing to the thicker oil , 5-40 almost stops the need for any top ups at all.
Your choice!

Offline gtininja

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2016, 03:13:07 pm »
5w40 did reduce oil consumption on my car but it didn't stop oil consumption completely.


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Offline pudding

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2016, 03:35:49 pm »
My Ed30 was using about a litre of 5W30 every 4000 miles before I switch to 5W40.  Not sure what it gets through now, but I check it once a month and it hardly moves.


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline gtininja

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2016, 08:56:41 pm »
Yes most people on this forum recommend going from 5w30 to 5w40.


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Offline ducman77

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2016, 11:40:59 pm »
I'm going to give this one a try!

My wife's bog standard 07 GTI has been using a litre of oil per thousand kilometres for the last 50,000klms :surprised: :scared:  :sad1:

Yes you read that right. I've put more than 50 litres of 5W30 Castrol Edge into my wife's car (in top ups alone) over the last 3 years.

That's €500 worth of oil (well, that's if you buy it in Halfrauds :laugh:)

It's also had circa another 20 odd litres in oil changes. It's a joke.

Car drives perfectly. When I spoke to Volkswagen Ireland about it they simply told me it was "within spec" for that model and to get on with it :chicken:

Frustrating. What a stupid spec that is....

If you want to go on a continental road trip you need to bring a 5ltr of oil with you?
It's like a bloody 2 stroke :signLOL:

My 2005 model AXX doesn't use a drop....

Go figure :smiley:

Offline pudding

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2016, 10:20:55 am »
Sounds like your Wife's has the infamous piston ring problem that afflicted so many Audi A4s of the same vintage!

1 litre per 600 miles is truly abysmal and they consider that normal?  I've had old bangers from the 80s use less oil than that, but typical VAG I'm afraid.   

I'm not a fan of Castrol Edge personally.  It always smells burnt to me when I change it and it seems to burn off quicker than other oils.

See if you can get hold of this in Ireland, it should slow consumption down a fair bit.




2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline ducman77

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2016, 11:01:15 am »
Sounds like your Wife's has the infamous piston ring problem that afflicted so many Audi A4s of the same vintage!

1 litre per 600 miles is truly abysmal and they consider that normal?  I've had old bangers from the 80s use less oil than that, but typical VAG I'm afraid.   

I'm not a fan of Castrol Edge personally.  It always smells burnt to me when I change it and it seems to burn off quicker than other oils.

See if you can get hold of this in Ireland, it should slow consumption down a fair bit.




Thank you very much for that Pudding :happy2:
Much appreciated.

Pretty sure she has the piston ring issue all right. Tried changing PCV and all that jazz but no difference.

Will try the Mobil 1 and report back!!
Thanks again

Offline flashp

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Re: Thicker oil for remapped car really necessary ?
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2016, 10:30:51 am »
I'm stage 2 and do track days every now and then where oil temps can get to 125 degrees regularly so chose an oil rated for this. If I were road only I'd have stayed with 5w-30.
Oil consumption isn't a problem per se provided it's not excessive. It even exists in the manufacturers specifications. What's excessive is a moot point though.

If anyone didn't know about the benefits of Ester based oils at any grade I'd recommend that they make themselves aware of them.  :happy2:
« Last Edit: December 03, 2016, 10:32:36 am by flashp »

Gone but not forgotten :-)