Should the Volkswagen Lamando use 5W30 or 40 engine oil?
2 Answers
The Volkswagen Lamando uses 5W-40 engine oil. Main differences: 1. Viscosity: 5W-40 has slightly higher viscosity than 5W-30, meaning the 40 grade consumes slightly more fuel. 2. Low-temperature performance: Under low-temperature conditions, although both are suitable for the same ambient temperature range, 5W-30 has significantly better viscosity than 5W-40, meaning 5W-30 offers better low-temperature performance. Choose 5W-30 for winter as it provides better cold-start protection than 5W-40. 3. Stability: Under high-temperature conditions, 5W-40 has better stability. If the vehicle operates for extended periods in high temperatures, 5W-40 is the best choice. However, even in summer, 5W-30's high-temperature characteristics are sufficient. 4. Sealing: Due to differences in sealing performance, new cars and high-end vehicles with good cylinder sealing typically choose 5W-30. For low-end cars and older vehicles with significant engine cylinder wear, which require oil for sealing, it's best to choose 5W-40 or even 5W-50.
I've been driving my Lamando for almost ten years and always used 5W40 oil, which feels particularly suitable for our German cars. Volkswagen engines operate at high temperatures, and turbocharged engines especially need thicker oil film protection. 5W40 maintains good stability at high temperatures, keeping the engine quiet during summer road trips or traffic jams. Although 5W30 saves fuel, it offers poorer high-temperature protection and tends to burn oil—my neighbor's car showed low oil levels just six months after switching to 30 viscosity. The mechanic at the dealership said Lamando comes factory-filled with 40-grade oil, and the manual also recommends using oil that meets the VW502 standard. We really shouldn't change it randomly.