Best Engine oil for Volkswagen Golf

The oil spec for the 1.8L engine in my 2019 Golf Sportwagen S 4motion is 502.00 (5W40). After my last oil change at the dealer I questioned whether they used the correct oil because the service ticket was written up wrong. The dealer supplied these photos to show how the different grades of oil are actually different colors. The oil on my dipstick was caramel colored, so I knew it was the correct grade for my car after all.

I use LiquiMoly 5W-40, no issues.

I've noticed my mk4 2.0 AZG with 250k miles uses 1.5-2 quarts of Mobil 1 in between 4k mile oil changes vs 1L of liqui moly.

When I put Mobile 1 (found a killer deal $$$) in my Golf, I noticed a bit more engine noise vs LiquiMoly. I'd say you'd be fine with both, but the nod goes to LiquiMoly if you want a very quiet engine.

I use it in my MK4 1.8T. Tuned with 212K miles on original engine and turbo. Still going strong, no complaints.

Therefore, although I have used Mobil1 synthetic oil exclusively in all my vehicles for more than 30 yrs, and even though M1 0W40 is VW 502 approved, it is not the recommended viscosity, so I now use Liqui Moly Leichtlauf high tech 5W40.

Just updating! I used to put Castrol Magnatec 5w40 on that Golf, and the engine just improved from day one. Much smoother and with greater response to throttle, and the engine start got like 2 seconds faster, almost instantaneous.

If you want the best oil money can buy, read up on synthetic bases and high temperature shear strength. Oil is cheap, engines aren't, so ponying up for a tier 4 or 5 base oil like Motul, Amsoil or Redline makes sense.

Leichtlauf every 5k for me with Certech added in every 30k.

about 4 weeks ago i did a 10w 30 mobil 1 synthetic oil change in my obd1 vr6 mk2. i find with this i can hear more of what is going on under the hood and may b i'm getting parranoid over normal noises that are just amplified b/c of the intake everything coming from the motor seems louder. lifters i'm assuming esspecially when motor is cold. but oddly there is also a weird \"diesel\" sound...pinging?...around 3200 rpm.. Nothing before or after once motor is warm i notice it as well during coasting deceleration.