TD5 Engine Oil Selector
TD5 engine oil selector for Defender and Discovery 2, from 5W-30 standard-service oils through our preferred Ravenol VMO 5W-40 for normal, remapped and hard-working road engines to Ravenol RUP 5W-40 for highly tuned 250–300+ bhp VNT builds.
Start with the engine’s power level and use rather than viscosity alone. A full TD5 oil and filter service also requires more than a single 5L bottle, so check the complete quantity needed or use a TD5 service kit supplied with the oil and filters.
Showing all 4 resultsSorted by popularity
![Ravenol VMO 5w40 Engine Oil - 5L [505.01] Td5 Engine Oil](https://twinwoods4x4.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_8320-scaled-450x500.jpeg)
Which TD5 engine oil should I use?
The right TD5 oil depends on whether the engine is standard, normally remapped, regularly worked hard or producing substantially more power through a larger or VNT turbocharger. Oils carrying the same nominal viscosity can be intended for very different levels of heat, boost and engine load.
| TD5 use | Best place to start | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Standard TD5 using a 5W-30 service oil | Ravenol FO 5W-30 or Rock Oil Synthesis F 5W-30 | Both are ACEA A5/B5 standard-service oils. Check the individual formulation, specifications and quantity required. |
| Standard, remapped, towing or hard-working road TD5 | Ravenol VMO 5W-40 – 5L | Our preferred all-round TD5 oil, with formal VW 505.01 approval and stronger high-load positioning than a normal 5W-30 service oil. |
| Topping up an engine already using VMO | Ravenol VMO 5W-40 – 1L | The 1L bottle is intended for top-ups. It is not enough for a complete TD5 oil change. |
| Highly tuned 250–300+ bhp TD5 with a VNT or larger turbo | Ravenol RUP 5W-40 Racing Oil | Race-developed protection for engine and turbocharger under sustained boost, high oil temperatures and extreme load. |
| Complete oil and filter service | TD5 service kits | Check the oil quantity, filter brands, centrifugal rotor filter and sump-plug washer included in the individual kit. |
Standard, remapped or highly tuned?
Ravenol VMO 5W-40 is our preferred oil for the majority of Defender and Discovery 2 TD5 engines. It covers standard vehicles, normal remaps, towing, off-road use and hard-working road vehicles without moving into a dedicated motorsport formulation.
Highly tuned TD5 engines require a different approach. At 250–300 bhp and beyond, particularly with a VNT turbocharger, the oil is protecting an engine and turbo operating far beyond the original TD5 output and duty. A standard road oil cannot reasonably be expected to retain the same protection margin under sustained high boost, extreme heat and substantially increased mechanical load.
Ravenol RUP 5W-40 is the step above VMO for these engines. It combines genuine racing-oil protection with recognised manufacturer approvals for normal road use, making it suitable for highly tuned TD5 vehicles that still cover ordinary road mileage between competition or hard-use sessions.
Standard TD5
Ravenol FO or Rock Oil Synthesis F provide 5W-30 ACEA A5/B5 choices for normal service use.
Ravenol FO or Rock Oil Synthesis F provide 5W-30 ACEA A5/B5 choices for normal service use.
Remapped or hard-working TD5
Ravenol VMO 5W-40 is our preferred oil for road tuning, towing, off-road work and sustained everyday load.
Ravenol VMO 5W-40 is our preferred oil for road tuning, towing, off-road work and sustained everyday load.
High-output VNT build
Ravenol RUP 5W-40 is our preferred oil for highly tuned 250–300+ bhp TD5 engines and VNT turbo conversions.
Ravenol RUP 5W-40 is our preferred oil for highly tuned 250–300+ bhp TD5 engines and VNT turbo conversions.
Oil quantity
You will need a minimum of 7.2 litres for a full oil change.
You will need a minimum of 7.2 litres for a full oil change.
TD5 oil specifications and engine use
Viscosity alone does not identify the best oil for a TD5. A 5W-30 ACEA A5/B5 oil can be entirely appropriate for a standard engine, while VW 505.01 gives VMO a particularly relevant link to the lubrication demands of unit-injector diesel engines. RUP carries VW 505.01 as a manufacturer recommendation while adding the shear stability, low volatility and high-temperature protection required for racing and extreme-load use.
Use the product pages to check the complete ACEA and API specifications, formal approvals, manufacturer recommendations and technical data before ordering. Engine-builder advice should take priority on bespoke competition engines with altered clearances, oil temperatures, fuel dilution or service intervals.
Related TD5 oil and servicing sections
| Section | Use it for |
|---|---|
| VW 505.01 engine oil | Specification-led comparison of VMO and RUP, including the distinction between formal approval and manufacturer recommendation. |
| Land Rover engine oil | Other viscosity grades and engine oils for TDI, TDCI, petrol and TD5 engines. |
| TD5 service kits | Complete servicing combinations with oil, filters and related service parts. |
| TD5 servicing guide | Oil-change intervals, filter information, service quantities and TD5 servicing guidance. |
| TD5 turbos and turbo parts | Turbochargers, oil feed and drain components and supporting parts for standard and tuned TD5 engines. |
