What oil does a Volkswagen Gol 2022 take

Why is there a code here instead of a number?

Volkswagen and some other makes don't give you a grade like «5W-40», but VW 508 88. That is the standard, and it's the part almost nobody looks at.

The standard is the seal Volkswagen puts on the oil it tested in this engine and approved. What you have to look for on the container is that code, not a viscosity number.

That's why the standard outranks the brand on the bottle. If it meets the standard, it works; if it doesn't, it makes no difference how nice the label looks.

Why does one take more oil than the other?

Because they aren't the same engine, even though the car is called the same on the outside. The 1.0 has 999 cubic centimetres and the 1.6 (81/88 kW) has 1.598.

Those cubic centimetres are the space the pistons sweep inside the engine. A bigger engine has bigger parts, more surface to lubricate and more passages to fill, so it needs more oil to reach everywhere at the right pressure.

Hence the difference of 1,2 liters. That's why we always ask the engine size before we set out: bringing the 1.6 (81/88 kW) the 1.0's quantity leaves it short.

How do I know which one I have?

Two ways, from the easiest to the most reliable:

1. 1. From the registration card. Engine size is no help here —all three engines measure 999 cm³—, but the car's trim line sometimes carries the «kW)». If it doesn't, move on to the next one.
2. 2. By the engine. Open the bonnet and there's a small plate stuck to the block with a code: EA211. That code doesn't lie even if something has been swapped on the car, and it's the sure way to settle the question.

If you're not sure, send us a photo of your registration card on WhatsApp and we'll tell you which one it is.

And the 5W-40 that's sometimes offered?

The manual does allow for it, but it's worth reading the small print. It says that if in an emergency you can't find any VW 508 88 approved oil, you may temporarily use one meeting the ACEA A3/B4 specification in 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 or 10W-40.

And it goes on: it recommends changing it for an approved oil as soon as possible. So 5W-40 isn't forbidden, but it isn't this car's routine oil either: it's the emergency stand-in.

Volkswagen is blunt about the other point: it says that engine damage caused by using an oil that doesn't meet the VW 508 88 standard is not covered by the warranty. If your Gol is still under warranty, that sentence carries weight.

What happens if they put in the wrong one?

Nothing blows up the next day, which is why plenty of people never find out. What happens is slower: an oil that's too thick takes longer to reach the top of the engine when you start it, and one that's too thin can't hold up under pressure with the engine hot. Either way, wear runs faster than it should.

And being short on liters is worse than the wrong grade: if oil is missing, the pump starts sucking air and some parts run for a while with no lubrication. That's why we always ask which trim you have before we set out.

How much does the mobile change cost?

The full change —synthetic oil and filter, done wherever the car is— starts at $240.000. The price moves with the number of liters the engine calls for. Message us with your car's engine and we'll give you the exact figure before we set out.

We come to your home, your workplace or wherever you have the car parked. Nothing to drop off, no queue.