fabiamk4man

Since we are talking about oils, i will tell you what i have conclude over the years and how i deal with the lubricant issue in all my cars – i consider it successful since for +35 years i have never had a failure that was indirectly or directly related to lubrication and all my cars had negligible/almost zero oil consumption even after 140-150k km. - Short oil change intervals regardless of what the manual says. I change my oil around 8-8,5k km (before full synthetic oils even lower). Mainly because that is how far each of my cars travels each year and i don’t want to keep the oil running in for more than a year. 3-4 times happened to travel near to 10k km in a year while there were also times when traveled below 7k km, but as a general rule and as an average i change the oil around 8-8,5k Km. Almost never above 10k Km and definitely once a year regardless of mileage. - I always use synthetic oils (for the last 20 years at least) that meet or exceed the manufacturer's requirements. I'm mainly talking about the specific class/spec of the oil that each manufacturer requires, while i adjust the viscosity to the climate conditions in which i live and drive (going for the higher recommended limit due to warm climate). In the case of MK4 It is the first time i consider to go for an even higher than the recommended viscosity because I believe that 0w-20 is way too thin (obvious to me just for consumption/emission reasons) and will affect the long-term engine’s life. - I always change the oil together with the filter from a manufacturer that is considered quality and reliable. - Whenever i can (meaning most of the times), i force the technician to remove the oil while the engine is hot and i insist on letting them drain as much as possible. Also, whenever i can i supply the oil and the filter to the technician who will be doing the change and i am present during the work to make sure everything is done properly. - Although my intervention is rarely needed, i monthly check preventively and always make sure the oil is at the maximum level or at least slightly below it. - In the few cases where i bought a brand new car (only 2 out of a total 11 cars), i had the first oil change at about 1,5K km regardless the manual said it wasn't necessary. - I change the gear oil to my manual transmissions at about 80k km point regardless they are referred as “lifetime” use. - I have never used oil additives, no matter how fashionable they are. My opinion is that anyone who follows such or a similar lubricant plan will have the best possible longevity and reliability results.

I will certainly wait another 10 months and 1 more oil change until the car is out of warranty. Until then i will stick with Castrol LL-IV 0w-20 that local Skoda dealers use (at least that they are writing at the invoice…). By the end of this period the Fabia from new will have total of 4 oil changes and about 35-38.000 km covered with the recommended 0w-20. But right after warranty expires and as mileage goes up i strongly believe i must change into something slight more viscous for better long term protection. I didn't know that there was a 0w-30 oil meeting VW 504 specifications. I thought there was only 5w-30. Been the case, 0w-30 sounds to me like a good alternative. As you mentioned i am serious thinking even to a C3 5w-40 which i was using for 6-7 years in my previous Fiat T-Jet with great results…

Because in my opinion, many of the choices made by manufacturers over the last 10 years have been made with the aim of achieving maximum economy and emissions, often at the expense of other parameters which in that case have to do with reliability and long-term durability. After all, what they care about is that the car comes out of the warranty unscathed, whether the engine will survive half the kilometers than it should and could is not concern them - perhaps they even seek it. That is why in recent years you see oils becoming thinner and the change intervals getting longer. Personally, living in a warm climate (which certainly to some extent affects the choice of oil viscocity) and wanting the best in terms of longevity, thinking about such a change (which is not miles away from what is recommended – the same engine basically called for 504 5w-30 a few years ago) is not unreasonable or unheard of – combined with the fact that such thinking seems to be supported by many experts in the field as reflected in dozens of discussions/videos/interviews/tests… Anyway, i still have almost 1 year until I decide whether to change or not

My 2023 1.0 tsi 110hp MK4 Fabia according to the sticker requires oil of the specified wv 508-509 0w-20 specifications. Because i live in a country with a warm climate (southern Greece - even in winter it very rarely drops below 5 degrees Celsius while in summer temperatures above 30 are daily), and since the warranty expires in 2026, i have had the idea to go back to the older specifications wv 504 5w-30 from now on (i have already used 2 times the specified 0W-20). I read a lot of bad things about the 0w -20 on the net and in general i see the prevailing opinion is that their use is mainly imposed for fuel economy/pollution reasons and that is not the best option for the long-term maintenance of the engine. What is your opinion ?

Can you send me a link where ?

I would like to ask where i can find a complete detailed maintenance program for the Fabia MK4- 1.0 TSI – 110ps - DLAA engine. I don't want the classic “ book for the 1 or 2 year service plan at the dealer” but a full/detailed list of what work is required in which kilometers or time passed (filters, liquids, spark plugs, belts, timing etc). Looking for something like the old school user manuals (i am posting screenshots from a Fiat Bravo T-Jet owners manual service plan that i previous owned for reference and for better understanding of what i am looking for) who were much more detailed and owner involving at the maintenance field. I want to know these things mainly because i like DIYing,and i want having control and decide for the maintenance work, without depending to what dealer says or what is trying to shell...

Too much discussion for almost no reason… Ever passenger vehicle I am aware of suggest around 2,1-2,3 bar for partial load with a slight increase of 0,3-0,5 bar in cases of full load (mainly increasing the rear tires). All above valid for “normal” size tires, for “normal “ cars, and for “normal” use. It’s the first time i see 2,5 bar as recommended “minimum” pressure in a normal passenger car and also is the first time ever i see a very high 3,4 bar as a recommended pressure in general. I already explained why this happens to my opinion, and after have driven the car under different situations and pressures i concluded that for a MK4 the best all around pressure is 2,2-2,3 bar when we take account all aspects of driving. But that’s only my opinion and everybody is free to drive his car in any pressure he likes…

Not much different as you may image. Specially from 2000 and up most higher tier superminis and almost all class c passenger cars were fitted from factory with 15 – 16 inch rims with tires of 185-195-205 width of 55/60 ratio and they weighed more or less the same as a today’s MK4 (most class c even more…). 4 of my previous passenger cars manufactured after 2000 (2 superminis and 2 class c) were no different than the 16 inch -195/55 of my current MK4 and in all of them the manual suggested 2,1 – 2,3 as optimal pressure (with a slight increase in full load cases).

For +35 years all my previous vehicles suggested an 2,1 -2,3 bar as “optimal” pressure and i find hard to believe that suddenly something has radical chanced leading Skoda to suggest 12 -40% higher (the 3,4 bar suggestion for rear/ loaded is unprecedented and in some cases may reaches the max allowed pressure of some tire manufactures…). The only reason i could think of is an agonizing and stupid effort for max fuel economy despite the sacrifice of all other aspects. Specially as living in Greece where the roads outside of highways are very bad maintained, i will never exchange a much softer, better feeling, and safer ride for a slight (if any…) fuel economy of just 0,5-1%... Generally speaking, after all these years i have concluded that 2,1-2,3 bar is the “sweet spot” for every day driving on low and medium loads with a possibly slight increase of 0,2-0,3 in rare cases of full load and/or driving long trips in highways with speeds above 130 km/hour. That i am following to my MK4 regardless what sticker says

The sticker on my MK4 Fabia suggests 2,5 bar front and rear for partial load and 2,7 front 3,4 rear !!! full loaded... Seems to me very high for everyday/normal use resulting in harsh ride. I believe these have been set mainly for max fuel economy reasons. Tried a 2,3 front and back and the car feels much better to me. Maybe i will add 0,2only in rare cases of full load.

Last 2 months new owner to a slight used (12/2002 - 28.000 Km ) Skoda Fabia 1.0 tsi 110ps style, white with black top and with some additional extras. Living in Greece and until now car seems driving fine, its fun, and complies to what i was expecting from it.

Last 2 months new owner to a slight used (12/2002 - 28.000 Km ) Skoda Fabia MK4 1.0 tsi 110ps style, white with black top and with some additional extras. Living in Greece and until now car seems driving fine, its fun, and complies to what i was expecting from it.