oil change question...1.8t

[B4passatglx]

I did my first 1.8t oil change today on my 2003 Passat, however I have a few concerns.

1. The previous owner had a Fram filter on there. I went to Burdick and got an OEM filter. The OEM filter is pretty large, and much bigger than the Fram on the car. It does not leak, at all but I don't know if the guy at the parts dept. gave me the wrong filter or the previous owner installed or had installed the wrong filter. He obviously wasnt too smart if he put a Fram on there... So am I okay? No leaks just a bigger filter.

2. Since the previous owner had installed a Fram oil filter, I doubt he bothered to use synthetic oil. I have roughly 30k miles on the car and I just used 5 quarts of Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic oil. (The owners manual says to use 4.7q but I compensated for the larger filter) If he really didnt use synthetic oil will it be a problem that I am using it now? I heard some cars devolpe oil leaks when transitioned form standard oil to synthetic.

3. I heard of sludge issues on a 1.8t. When I pulled my oil cap off there is black crap all over and caked on the walls of the valve cover. I just pulled the valve cover on my 1995 VR6 when I did the turbo, and the inside of the valve cover was shiny silver with a thin film of oil on it....No black crap like on the 1.8t. Is this normal or a cause for concern?

Thanks and if your still reading this you get a cookie

[customfabvw]

the bigger filter you bought at the dealer is the correct one, oil sludge is only a problem if you way over your oil changes and dont use a full synthedic. what happens is the oil pick up get plugged up and starves the mototr of oil causing the oil lite to come on and or worse eating the bearings in the bottom end. you should be fine.

[boostin20v]

1. The previous owner had a Fram filter on there. I went to Burdick and got an OEM filter. The OEM filter is pretty large, and much bigger than the Fram on the car. It does not leak, at all but I don't know if the guy at the parts dept. gave me the wrong filter or the previous owner installed or had installed the wrong filter. He obviously wasnt too smart if he put a Fram on there... So am I okay? No leaks just a bigger filter.

The larger filter is the correct one, after the early B5 Passat/A4s hit high milage they developed sludging issues because people didnt follow the correct oil change intervals or did not cool down the car long enough. VW issued a TSB for these cars to run a larger filter. The larger filter will allow slightly greater oil capacity and better cooling making the oil last longer. Everyone with a 1.8t would benifit from the larger filter.


2. Since the previous owner had installed a Fram oil filter, I doubt he bothered to use synthetic oil. I have roughly 30k miles on the car and I just used 5 quarts of Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic oil. (The owners manual says to use 4.7q but I compensated for the larger filter) If he really didnt use synthetic oil will it be a problem that I am using it now? I heard some cars devolpe oil leaks when transitioned form standard oil to synthetic.

With only 30k on the car you should be fine switching to synthetic, Dave our resident oil guru could likely give you the complete run down. But basically if you were closer to 100k I'd have suggested one or two blended oil changes before going all the way. Seals with conventional oils can expand, synthetics will not soak into seals the same leaving new gaps in the seals that would have other wise never leaked with dino oils (or so I've been told).


3. I heard of sludge issues on a 1.8t. When I pulled my oil cap off there is black crap all over and caked on the walls of the valve cover. I just pulled the valve cover on my 1995 VR6 when I did the turbo, and the inside of the valve cover was shiny silver with a thin film of oil on it....No black crap like on the 1.8t. Is this normal or a cause for concern?

As mentioned the early high milage engines were prone to sludging for the reasons mentioned in #1. With 30k on the engine even with a fram filter and likley dino oils your unlikely to have built up much if any. The black could be just residue from the dino vs synthetic oils. Cheap insurance if your interested in keeping the car awhile would be to buy a new valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket and really give the engine a good cleaning. While your in there make sure the oil pan pickup is free of any debris which could cause lower oil pressure and possibly engine failure if left unchecked. Shouldnt cost more than ~50 bucks and an afternoon of your time. With appropriate oil change intervals, use of high quality oils and proper cool down of the car you shouldnt have any sludging issues.

[lite1979]

W3rd!

This discussion has gone on quite a lot in my volvo forums, where lots of the cars have over 250K miles on them. It is suggested that you not switch to a full synthetic if you car has run for over 100K miles on regular fossil oil, since the buildup of the impurities gets "washed away" by the synthetic oil. After 30K, though, I don't imagine you'll see any leaks after the switch. Many of the older volvos have develped leaks around the rear main, front main, camshaft and valve cover gasket after swiitching to full synthetic. If you replace all these seals, however, you have no reason not to run synthetic. I plan to run my 89 jetta on synthetic if I ever get the crankshaft fixed...

[USOPHUNKE]

[QUOTE=lite1979]W3rd!

This discussion has gone on quite a lot in my volvo forums, where lots of the cars have over 250K miles on them. Many of the older volvos have develped leaks around the rear main, front main, camshaft and valve cover gasket after swiitching to full synthetic. QUOTE]


at 250 k if those things dont leak I would be amazed....haha

[crew219]

Ugh . . . . black crap sounds like sludge.

The bigger oil filter was correct.

Mobil 1 5w30 is not the correct oil for your engine. You need a 5w40 with the 502 rating. 502.00 includes several variables including a HTHS spec. 502 requires that the oil have at least 3.5 HTHS, and M1 5w30 only has 2.9. Not good . . . . that oil will shear up in no time . . .

I would be very concerned . . . .

Personally, I would drain the M1 5w30 and look into purchasing some Auto-RX.

Dave

[F%20B%20L]

switched my 96 Golf to synth @ 140K. Gave me a leaky valve cover gasket, and a leaky oil sensor, but after replacing it's all http://www.fastdubs.org//forums/images/icons/icon14.gif.

[b5crazy]

X2 for Auto Rx