Engine oil Mobil or Motorex
Personally, I would buy Mobil 1 5w-40 Turbo Diesel Truck. Not the VW spec oil. The Mobil oil has much higher amounts of zinc which helps reduce the cam wear inherit to that engine. I have been using it in my BRM and just checked my cam the other day with 70k miles on it and it looks perfect.
Motorex 60:1 piston and rings go 180 hours with out issue, could go longer but i change it every winter, powervalve has yet to need to be seriously cleaned in 3 pistons.
I went with the motorex recommended oil. Worked great.
If I do the oil change, I only use Mobile 1 0W-40 Synthetic European Formula. I get them at Walmart for $25.50 for 5 quarts. For oil filter, I usually buy it from the VW dealer.
Mobil 1 of varying weights for all of my cars. Been using it for years and it's served me well.
I use Mobil1 0W-40 on my 1.8T with 150,000 miles and engine is definitely quieter after oil change.
Mobil 1 5W-30 and a matching oil filter. '93 244 with 311,000 miles.
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.
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.
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