Mobil 1 5W-30 and a matching oil filter. '93 244 with 311,000 miles.
Volvo 940 Turbo; Castrol Edge Synthetic 0w40. Seems to play nice with the old seals and works pretty nicely in the winter too.
Back when my motor was relatively stock, I ran Mobil 1 - 15W-50 and had no oil consumption/burning. This was back when Mobil 1 15W-50 was a true synthetic not just a group III base stock. The motor has 80k on it when I switched it out (don't remember what the PO ran... I doubt they did either) and ran another 40k through it with that oil.
VW recommend full synthetic 5W-30 or 5W-40. Some owners also use 0W-40 as well, it's easier to find on store shelves. Honestly using the right type of oil and changing it regularly is more important than the brand. Just don't buy the cheap store-brand recycled stuff and you'll be fine. People go back and forth online about brands and stuff but you're probably talking about fractions of a percent better one way or the other. If you still want suggestions: Mobil-1 oil and a Mann filter, there, I said it.
Based on my experience over the years, while switching back and fourth between the Mobil1 and Castrol, is that the Castrol doesn't seem to burn off as much in between oil changes.
Full synthetic 5w-40 if you can find it, you could run 5w-30 if not. The 1.8t needs around 4.8 qts I believe, so just buy 5 so you have a little left over. Mobil 1 is my go-to oil.
My local Walmart sells the Euro spec VW 502.00 Castrol Edge synthetic in 5 quart jugs and I think 1 quart as well. I think Mobil as well, but I stick with Castrol. Of course there is the dealer, too. You can get the cabin pollen filter there too. Very necessary this week. Advance Auto sells maybe 4 brands of full synthetic 502.00 oil. Pentosyn, I think even. Federated (formerly Robbins) will often carry it. I bought my 20,000 mile kit from the dealer so I have documentation for the warranty. Where I am, it is all sand (Granite State) so I tend to change the oil and filter and air filter and pollen filter and windshield regularly. The oil change interval is ahead of the windshield, but not by lots. I do wonder what gets through the air filter and then into the oil. It has to be good for the turbo compressor blades too.
Mobil 1 0W40 and Castrol Edge 0W40 Euro. Those are the best oils for our cars in US. The price is excellent too. I run them in all my cars and equipment. Never had a failure.
All the local autoparts stores in my area have the proper VW approved oil oil on their shelves. I buy the Castrol that VW uses for the original fill. The weight does not matter much...you are over thinking it.
Oil change every 5K M1 0W-40, zero oil consumption.
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