bthirk

Hello:

I have a 2001 A6, 2.7T with 47,000 miles.

What is the opinion of you guys on using synthetc oil as apposed to conventional? At this milage should I make the switch and is it worth the cost? (twice as expensive as regular oil)

Also, can you wait longer in between oil changes when using the synthetic? I usually change every 3-4K miles right now.

I have heard different opinions on this and am curious what you all think.

Thanks!

Jarrod

I change mine every 5k with Amsoil 0-30. Anytime after initial break in, which is what ... 5-10k miles.

parham

Just my 0.2cents, if you are going to go the synthetic route, I highly recommend Lubrication Engineers Oil, it actually exceeds most, if not all of the common brand name sythetic oils out there. Here's their web site link for passender vehicles >http://www.le-inc.com/products/Eo/EO_PassengerCar.html

And here's a link that tells you why there oil is pretty impressive >http://www.le-inc.com/Welcome/PropAdditives.html

I have used this oil in every passenger carl I have owned, I just purchased my 3rd Audi product, a '99 Avant (so now i am back into the Audi fold again, so to speak). First time I ever heard of this stuff was from a Austrian Mechanic in my area, and at that time the only person willing to work on my 5cylinder syncro, he specialized in MB diesels, but swore on this stuff for gas and diesel vehicles. I pick my bottles up at a truck stop, allot cheaper than going to one of these so called Auto-Boutiques. Give it a look.

PG Audifan

How this is compare with AMSOIL? I used AMSOIL 2000 0-30W in my S4 and found that it worked very well. Is the LE better than AMSOIL. I am due for the first oil change soon.

DWC_2.7T

While most engines will never approach loads or temps where synth oil's characteristics are really beneficial, turbochargers routinely run in that range. For turbo engines, (I believe) synthetic oil provides an improved margin of efficiency and cooling for the very expensive turbos. Plus, the 2.7T's biturbo arrangement would seem to double the odds against you, seemingly making any added protection a wise choice.

The jury is still out on whether that translates into true long term economic sense. Seems to me that most turbo failures we hear about are due to seals and waste gate issues and are not oil-related. It would be interesting to see data on lube-related turbo failures. As 2.7T's get into higher mileage (100K+), we could see usable patterns of engine wear or failures vs. oil type, change frequency, and usage relative.

I use synth, but every time I buy the stuff I feel just a little suckered...especially since I've put over 300K trouble free miles on a turbo engine that lacked the sophisticated cooling and lube functions of modern turbos.

BasicSlvr

I run Mobil 1 0W30. The oil typically runs 25 degrees(F) than conventional.

Grapeking

Agree - it is cheap protection to avoid a very expensive potential problem.

DWC_2.7T

Perhaps your driving style really warrants syn oil.

parham

In my humble opinion it is a better oil over all, and the fact that they supply NASA says allot as well. If I remember correctly, their shear is high than Mobil 1. But I would just contact the company and ask them directly, I have found them very responsive. But all I know is that my first german car mechanic was very **** and very sharp, and I learned to respect that aspect in people who are like that, and he swore by the stuff, so I started using it. Every car I have own, I average 250k on them. Since this company is well know in the service-fleet world of truckers, and they are very picky, they get allot of props from that world. Find a truck-18 wheeler repair shop that uses LE oil and ask them how good it is. I am willing to bet that they would be happy to give you comparative specs of their oils for passenger cars.

Now, the rep in my area changes his oil filter every 5K, and then both his oil filter and LE oil from his passenger car when he has hit 10K.