bhvrdr

to the quality 502 oil not being able to always go the 10K miles. Switching to even lower protection is a step in the wrong direction. I'd be trying to find an oil that exceeds the 502 specs, not fails to meet it. Keep in mind the most sever duty is really 90% of the folks out there. Do you drive to a grocery that is less than 10 miles from the home? Thats severe duty...not bringing the oil up to temp. Do you live in an area that has "rush hour" traffic? There again. Running the car at 100mph is just one example that even most Europeans are not doing on a daily basis. We often do our sever duty routines at least daily. BTW, I would totally agree if we were talking about a less heat intensive NA motor than the 1.8t, 2.7tt, and 2.0t motors that often see 250+ degree temps and are known for having hot spots. cheers! Mike

joe@vwvortex

those oils that meet the 502 standard you are ok. Mobil 0-40 meets that standard, as do some others.

RKJ

5W-40 Oil - VW 502 00 Available @ AutoZone, accept no substitute IMO.

NewtsA4

... need to ensure label on back says "Made in Germany" -- only found at Autozone.

Mooselook

That's exactly what I was trying to say. Further, it may be possible that a viscosity that is optimum for high speed and high temp, may not necessarilly be best for lower speeds/temps. Maybe a lower viscosity oil would actually provide better lubrication in cold weather for driving <100mph.
Food for thought. Thanks everyone for the insights. Bottom line is, I'll probably follow the Audi recommendation to the letter.
Regards,
Mooselook