VAG approvals are used when selecting motor oil for Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and other cars.
VW Approvals
VW motor oil approvals were developed during the development of production and sales technologies, VW decided to introduce its own quality standards for its units (engines, transmissions, automatic transmissions, gearboxes, etc.), despite the already existing standards for oils from API and ACEA.
This innovation, in turn, led to two big advantages for the company:
- Binding the customer to original (OEM) oils and working fluids, and, as a result, increasing the company’s profits
- Minimization of warranty risks due to customers’ use of products of inferior quality.
For a client, on the one hand, it is also a very tangible plus: no need to delve into all the subtleties of the oil business, and just buy products with the necessary specification, which is clearly stated in the service books. But the price of original oils from VW doesn’t always allow giving preference to branded oils.
Volkswagen is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. Besides Volkswagen cars, the concern produces such car brands as Audi, Lamborghini, Giugiaro, Bugatti, Ducati, Bentley, Seat, Skoda, Porsche, Suzuki, Scania, MAN.
In terms of motor oils, these car brands have one thing in common: they all need motor oils that meet VW specifications. In this article, we’ll tell you what the different VW oil specifications mean and what VW approvals exist.
What is a VW specification?
Specifications are symbolic designations of engine oil properties for a certain type of car engine, which you use to select the oil for your car. By choosing an oil according to the appropriate specification, you ensure that you’re using the right oil for your car.
A spec is an interface between the physical and chemical properties of the oil, as well as the recommendations of car manufacturers. Automobile manufacturers combine a variety of expected oil properties and test results into specifications but do not list all of the relevant properties on their datasheets. At the same time, oil companies test their products to meet these requirements and show the resulting specification or product approval as proof that the product is suitable for use where that particular specification is required.
VW Engine Oil Approvals
VW 500.00
Volkswagen specification for multigrade engine oils for gasoline engines with SAE 5W-X/10W-X viscosity. This is an “old” oil specification and is applicable to engines built before the model year 2000 (up to August 1999). Oils with an approval made post March 1997 were given an alternative, later VW specification.
VW 501.01
Conventional motor oils are suitable for some VW engines built before MY 2000. This is an “old” oil specification and is applicable to engines built before the model year 2000 (up to August 1999). Oils with an approval made post March 1997 were given an alternative, later VW specification.
VW 502.00
Oil for gasoline engines. The successor of VW 501.01 and VW 500.00 specifications. Recommended for those who are subject to arduous conditions. It must not be used for any engines with variable service intervals or any which are referred to under other specifications.
VW 503.00
Long-life gasoline engine oil for VW cars with WIV (system for longer service intervals). Also meets ACEA A1, SAE 0W-30, or 5W-30 specifications.
VW 503.01
This specification is specifically for Audi RS4, Audi TT, S3, and Audi A8 6.0 V12 models with outputs of more than 180bhp running with variable service intervals (30,000km or 2 years). Now superceeded by the VW 504.00 specification.
VW 504.00
The VW 504 00 specification superceedes the VW 503 00 and VW 503.01 specifications. VW 504 00 oils are suitable for engines meeting the demands of Euro IV emissions standards.
VW 505.00
Passenger car diesel engine oil specification, minimum performance level CCMC PD-2. Lists viscosities SAE 5W-50, 10W-50/60, 15W-40/50, 20W-40/50 requiring 13% max. evaporation loss and SAE 5W-30/40, 10W-30/40 requiring 15% max. evaporation loss.
VW 505.01
Special engine oil for VW turbodiesel engines with pump-injector-unit and for the V8 Commonrail turbodiesel engines. Meets ACEA B4 SAE 5W-40 specification.
VW 506.00
These oils are suitable for diesel engines with extended service intervals of up to 50,000km / 2 years. Not for use on engines with a single injector pump. Oil change is indicated by the electronic service indicator. Viscosity is SAE 0W30.
VW 506.01
These oils are especially for “Pumpe-Düse” (unit injector or “PD” engines) running on extended service intervals (30,000 – 50,000km / 24 months). Oil change is indicated by the electronic service indicator.
VW 507.00
Low SAPS oils suitable for Euro 4 engines and almost all VAG diesel engines from 2000 onwards with extended service intervals, unitary injector pumps and also Pumpe-Düse (“PD”) engines. Excludes V10, R5 engines and VW Commercial vehicles without fitted DPF (diesel particulate filters) – these must use a 506 01 specification oil.
VW 508.00/509.00
This specification combo (508.00 for petrol, 509.00 for diesel) requires a 0W20 viscosity, fuel economy oil with long life additives. These specifications are NOT backward compatible with the eariler VW specifications. Recommended for the new 2.0 TFSI 140 kW and 3.0 TDI CR 160 kW VW/Audi engines.
Volkswagen Gear Oil Specifications
VW G 009 317
Gear oil for mechanical and automatic 6 gear transmissions.
VW G 052 145 A2
Special synthetic gear oil with SAE 75W90 viscosity for front and rear differentials, including limited slip differentials.
VW G 052 162 A2
Special ATF with viscosity modifier. Suitable for 4 and 5 gear ZF automatic transmissions. Not suitable for 6 gear transmissions.
VW G 052 171
SAE 70W75 viscosity gear oil.
VW G 052 171 A2
Special gear oil is designed for the manual transmissions of cars with transverse engines.
VW G 052 175
Special working fluid for Haldex clutches. Developed by Haldex and Statoil.
VW G 052 178
Gear oil with SAE 75W viscosity.
VW G 052 180 A2
Special gear oil for Audi Multitronic transmissions.
VW G 052 182 (VW TL 521 82)
Special gear oil for certain DSG dual-clutch transmissions.
VW G 052 190 A2
Special VW gear oil for Multitronic CVT transmissions.
VW G 052 726
Monograde gear oil with SAE 75W viscosity.
VW G 052 798
SAE 70W75 viscosity gear oil.
VW G 052 911
Audi specification for transmissions used with longitudinal engine configurations. Products meeting this specification are of SAE 75W90 viscosity and also meet API GL-5 criteria.
VW G 052 990
Special ATF for automatic transmissions combined with differentials.
VW G 055 005
Special ATF for VW automatic transmissions and transaxles.
VW G 055 145
Transmission oil with 3% Sturaco additive.
VW G 055 162
Special ATF for VW automatic transmissions and transaxles.
VW G 055 175 A2
Special working fluid for Haldex clutches. Developed by Haldex and Statoil.