Auto-Rx Customers Questions & Answers

SonnyBoy · Member

Dino oil and my Audi A4 3.0

johnoh · Veteran Member

what is your climate?

geeaea · Senior Member

5w40 only exists as a synthetic. Not all synthetics are prohibited from use with Auto-Rx. Rotella 5w-40, available at all WallMart's should work for you if you demand a synthetic. An alternative is to use any available 15w-40. Both are mixed fleet/diesel oils (HDEO).

Your Euro spec's have multiple criteria to be met. Most don't have anything to do with the suitability of the lubricant for use. For example, Mobil's Delvac 1 is just about the most hardy 5w-40 on the planet, yet has no Euro approvals due to various reasons. The Euro's put a very narrow corridor of suitability that an oil must navigate for approval. Longevity WITH fuel economy WITH limited deposits WITH limited wear WITH additive limits WITH ...etc...etc...etc.

Throw out any one "axis" of the requirement, while exceeding all others - no approval.

Rotella 5w-50 runs about $18/gallon at WallMart
Rotella 15w-40 runs about $12/gallon at WallMart

You're only using them for 3000+/-, so you can save $6 with the 15w-40. Many Euro owners use the 5w-40 full time. They don't care what the Teutonic engineers want them to use for the reasons they spec'd it.

SonnyBoy · Member

Think I'll stick w/ the 5W40 so will see if my local WallyWorld has some Rotella 5W40 in stock, if not I read Castrol Syntec 5W40 is ok as well. Thanks.

http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/choosing_an_engine_oil.html

SonnyBoy · Member

I'm up and running. A4 3.0 oil capacity with new filter is 5.8quarts according to owners manual.

Went with the Rotella Synthetic 5W40 and 15oz of Auto-Rx.

geeaea · Senior Member

Good choice. Use it with confidence.

SonnyBoy · Member

I did the treatment and the rinse with Rotella Synthetic 5W40.

The rinse went about 3700 miles - it's winter and it's been too cold for me to change that's why I ran it up to 3700. Just changed the rinse oil out yesterday.

I found WHITE sludge like material on my dipstick/yogurt-like consistency. There was nothing under the oil cap. The oil draining looked like oil and not oil/water mix.

I read it could be coolant(via the head gasket leaking) to condensation due to short trips. My coolant reservoir looks like coolant(G12) - the level if fine. The dealer did change the coolant reservoir in the fall for what they claim was a hairline crack in the reservoir (under warranty) - that seems too far out to be the cause? - IDK... To ease my mind I wonder if I should get a compression check?

I'm running Castrol Syntec 5w40 and it's time for the maintenance dose but I am afraid to add it. Should I?

johnoh · Veteran Member

You have correctly narrowed it down to either emulsion from condensation, or a coolant leak. If you are in a cold climate and/or do a lot of short trips, this is the time of year that people notice condensation emulsion, so I would just change the oil and keep an eye on it if either or both of those are true.