Short answer
VW 508 00 (gasoline) and VW 509 00 (diesel) are Volkswagen Group engine oil standards, often called LongLife IV, for engines designed around SAE 0W-20 oil. They call for a lower high-temperature high-shear (HTHS) viscosity than earlier VW oils, with a minimum of 2.6 mPa·s. The first engines requiring them reached the market around late 2015.
What makes 508 00 and 509 00 different
Earlier VW long-life oils were built around a minimum HTHS viscosity of 3.5 mPa·s. VW 508 00 and 509 00 lower that floor to 2.6 mPa·s, which reduces internal friction in engines engineered for it.
The standards also build on ACEA C5 and VW’s own durability tests. Oils approved to them are typically dyed a distinctive color so technicians can tell them apart from older VW oils in the engine.
Which engines use them
VW 508 00 and 509 00 appear in manuals for specific newer VW Group engines designed around 0W-20 oil. Porsche’s C20 approval and Mercedes-Benz 229.71 are frequently cross-listed on the same 0W-20 products, but each approval is separate.
Many older VW Group engines specify 504 00 or 507 00 and were never designed for an HTHS viscosity this low.
The one-way compatibility rule
VW 508 00 and 509 00 oils cannot be used in engines that require older standards such as 504 00 or 507 00. VW has, however, allowed 504 00/507 00 oils as an option in some engines that call for 508 00/509 00, subject to its current guidance.
That one-way rule is the main practical point: never assume a newer number is a universal upgrade.
Checking the right oil
Read the oil standard from the owner’s manual or the service label in the engine bay, then look for “VW 508 00” or “VW 509 00” on the product’s current approval list.
If your car lists 504 00 as the primary standard, a 508 00 oil is not a substitute, even though it is a newer number.
Frequently asked questions
Is VW 508 00 just a 0W-20 oil?
No. It requires a specific 0W-20 formulation with low HTHS viscosity that passes VW’s approval testing. A generic 0W-20 does not qualify.
Can 508 00 oil go in a car that calls for 504 00?
No. VW 508 00 and 509 00 oils are not backward compatible with engines that require 504 00 or 507 00.
General maintenance information. Always follow your vehicle or equipment manufacturer’s requirements and the current product data. Questions? Email [email protected].