Urgent: What oil do I need to use and where can I get it (ideally today)?

[matth76 1]

Hi

Just noticed my car oil level is running low which is strange as I had my car serviced a month ago by Caffyns. I understand it requires semi-synthetic engine oil... what make do I need to buy and where can I get some easily? I know it is expensive (~

[VR6Pete 1,455]

VW Syntha Silver - available from any VW outlet!

[VRmonster 1]

yeah synta silver does the trick for me too. normally around the

[matth76 1]

Thanks for your reply. Caffyns told me they can't help me as their parts dept is closed. I assume all VW garages will be closed for the weekend as per usual. I'm going to have to go to Halfords and see what they have. The engine oil level is just under half a cm above the bottom of the dipstick...well below minimum. Very importantly: will this have caused damage to my engine?! The engine oil pressure light hasn't come on. I was routinely checking the oil...however I am going to have to check my oil very regularly. How often do you guys have to top it up? Does the VR6 have a heavy consumption?

[matth76 1]

Is that semi-synthetic and do I go for 10w 40? Other than a VW garage where else can I get it? Many thanks for your help.

[matth76 1]

I've just rung Halfords and they do their own brand 10/40 semi synthetic for my car. Can anyone tell me if I shouldn't go with their engine oil?

[Ultimatetune 0]

10 40 will be fine, just use a good quality brand, millers, castrol or valvolene

[matth76 1]

Thanks. Will I have caused any damage to my engine with the oil being so low (just under half a cm from the very bottom of the dipstick)? Does the VR6 have a high oil consumption normally?

[matth76 1]

If anyone can answer my question about whether any damage may have been caused by the engine oil being so low please let me know. Ok I have finally got some Castrol Magnatec 10w 40 which I was told in Halfords that it was semi synthetic. It says on the back of the oil that it is suitable for VW 505 and 500 ...although I'm not sure what that means. Is this oil a multi-grade semi synthetic one?

[antera309 3]

I've used Castrol Magnatec 10w-40 before with no ill effects...

[Justicevr6 0]

If driven normaly and the fact that it has'nt been low for long I would doupt if you would have done any damage.

If you have thrashed the arse out of it thats a whole new ball game.

[matth76 1]

Its been driven normally. Since owning it I actually drive slower than I ever have...always letting it warm up to the 90 degree operating temp shown on the trip computer. I will occasionally drive it hard briefly if it has warmed up fully and it's an open road (as I know we all do)...but don't get the chance that much to be honest as there's too much traffic these days. Can anyone confirm if the engine oil being very low on the dipstick (not totally empty mind you) is very serious and damage could have been caused...just from normal driving? Would the signs be immediate? Or is it only VERY serious (and worth worrying about) if the engine oil pressure light/buzzer comes on? The oil pressure light buzzer did not come on in my case thankfully ...I only found out it was low during a routine oil check.

And does anyone else know what the oil consumption is like on average with the golf vr6? I had assumed it would be no different to any other car ...therefore I hadn't expected it to run very low in just over a month since my full service which was 17th August (about 6 wks ago)... although this may be normal? I do approx 800 - 900 miles a month (so not above average). My car is a 1997 with 71k miles, full service history.

Thanks for any help and information.

[matth76 1]

Anyone? &|

[jayvwvr6 0]

hi matt, have a look at the post i put up the other day its 17 questions below your one headed "using a bit more oil then normal"its got a few members opinions on the vr6 engine using oil.as for the oil warning light i dont know of anyone thats had it come on even when the oils been realy low?i think the warnings work on pressure rather then the level amount,i doubt any damage would of accoured,

hope this helps jason

[matth76 1]

Thanks for your help. What is the difference between low oil pressure and low oil 'level'? Are they linked and is one worse than the other?

So far my car runs really smooth exactly as it did before...no noises thankfully. Would signs of bad damage be immediate?

I had to top my engine oil up by just under 1.5 litres to get it back to the maximum mark (is this good or bad?)... I'm not sure how many litres the oil sump actually contains.

While we're on the subject of engine damage. What damage is likely to be caused (if any at all) from running the petrol/gas tank to virtually empty? I've only ever done it once since I've owned the car...normally I fill her up when I get to the edge of the red zone... but is any damage actually caused running right into the red just on one occasion? I know it's not advisable as all the fuel sediments are at the bottom of the tank.

By the way is it normal for the car to sound slightly "ticky" when you let it idle after driving? I think it's the belts going round but wondered if everyone else's VR6 ticks on idle? It's only audiable if you open the window or get out of the car and listen. My car is as smooth and quiet as anything when driving though.