engine oil.?

have a clipper cabrio and want to do a oil changeis there any perticular oil i should use.?it`s sorn but turned over regulaly just so it does`nt die on me.cheers

I'd go for 5W/30 or 5W/40. Avoid 10W oils these days.

many thanks,by the way you don`t have any idea how to fit the plastic seat kit so that they slide properly,mines knackered

Clip them onto the seat runners.

paul whats wrong with 10w/40? its what vw put in these cars as standard?

It only goes down to -10°C before it becomes too thick. What's the lowest temperature the past 2 winters you've seen in your region?

not sure, but ive never had a problem in my mk2 abf or mk1 16v the last 2 winters they ran great and oil pressure were fine

hi rubjohnny , i see that you put a post up saying you use 10w/40 ,my car has done over 100,000 miles even though ive re done the head and changed the piston rings paul recommends 5w/40 and to avoid 10w/40 but thats what gsf sold me but i aint used it yet .I thought the older the engine the thicker the oil or am i wrong , any advice would be great ...cheers pete

its all ive ever used since 2003, either fuchs titan or quantum synta silver. looking at the specs 10w40 is good enough for -20 but i could have misunderstood. there was an uber oil thread somewhere but i cant find it now

It depends on the lowest ambient temperature you want to try start your Golf in. If you're happy with being unable to use it if it dips below approx -10°C, then fine. Last winter, boxing day was -11°C where I live (suburbs) and at work (countryside) their lowest temperature seen was -22°C. Other areas of the country saw -29°C. With the battery being at such a low temperature, it can't produce 100% of its normal output, do you really want to try turn over an engine full of jelly, and try get it to fire?

as i say 10w40 is rated for -20, ive never had it that cold around here so im not to worried

10W/40 is rated to -10°C

all the info on the web says its -20, not seen anywhere saying its -10?

Looking at an "Instruction Manual for the Golf" dated 6/82 it shows for petrol engines 10w/40 being suitable for ambient temps -20 to +10 . 20w/50 is -10. In this temperate country I'd be more concerned with the +10 ! Much of the year is more than +10 but -20 is almost a once in life time occurrence.

It mentions the (then) new VW Standard 500 00 improved lubricity oil, that is ok -20 to +30.

The instruction book for my 1.6TDCI Fester Diesel specify 5w30 and says if below -20 don't use 10w/40.

I think a modern 10w/40 semi synth will be fine unless you live up a Scottish mountain and park outside or drive to southern Spain 6 times a year.

yeah my mk2 manual says the same, hence my confusion! i thought paul knew something about the spec that i was missing as im by no means an expert on oil

dont worry about the +10 as really the engine will get above 10 degrees pretty damn fast eh

Did a service in mine last week, used 5/30 semi synth.  had 10\40 is before.. have to say engine seems to be running less noisy from cold for obvious reasons. Best decision this year me thinks….you dont want to know my worst decision.lol

Very good, easy to understand charts on this website. I used to work at Halfrauds years ago(dont laugh thank you)and RJ is correct. 10w/40 is good to minus 20. I used a thinner grade last time i serviced my car and my oil pressure has dropped a little. Going to give it an oil service  today and see if it rises again.

linky:   Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms