On page 0.18 of Haynes manual 4376 for the Fabia, the wrong oil grades are given for the diesel engines. If you use oils of these specifications, you will trash your engine in lots of interesting ways. For all unit injector engines, you must use lubricant meeting VW 505.01 for 10k changes or 506.01 for variable changes. This issue is discussed in detail elsewhere on this forum.

What do they say to use?

(plus the Fabia doesn't run variable anyhow).

'Standard service interval: Multigrade engine oil, viscosity SAE 5W/40 to 20W50, to API SG/CD' — in other words, late eighties standards.

'Long Life (variable) service interval: Škoda 506 00 or better' — not quite there, but at least it's in the right century.

20w50? Woof, bring out the treacle.

Wouldn't VW 507.00 be the current standard for (almost) all TDIs ?

I'm talking about the minimum standard permissible and advisable.

507.00 incorporates 506.01, 506.00 and 505.01.

There are two exceptions, in which you should use 506.01 (Titan Supersyn SL Longlife Plus 0W-30) and not 507.00: engines R5 TDI (2,5 L) and V10 TDI (5,0L).

507 00 oil must be used on vehicles with particle traps, and those running Long Life servicing regimes.

Don't get too hung up on viscosity grades. They tell you nothing about the quality of the oil. If you do a lot of cold starts, 0w/30 is preferable to 5w/40; if you thrash it, go for the thicker stuff. But for most of us, the only real difference will be a slight improvement in economy with the lighter oil compared with the 5/40 in everyday driving. Some sporting drivers who have had used oil analysis carried out have reported higher engine wear with the thinner stuff, but in most circumstances both viscosities will do a perfectly good job at protecting you engine, provided they meet 505.01 at the least. This is what matters most, not the viscosity grade. You can cook up a 5/40 that's not worth using in a lawnmower -- stick with performance grades, not SAE viscosities, and you won't go wrong.

20w 50?!

If I needed just some cheap top-up, I might risk some 10w 40, but I can't believe Haynes would make an error like that. Is it something we should be telling them? :confused:

20w 50?!

If I needed just some cheap top-up, I might risk some 10w 40, but I can't believe Haynes would make an error like that. Is it something we should be telling them? :confused:

First, you definitely shouldn't use cheap top-up. Secondly, yes, you're quite right about telling Haynes. I've e-mailed them.

Edited 24 December, 200817 yr by northernsky

There are two exceptions, in which you should use 506.01 (Titan Supersyn SL Longlife Plus 0W-30) and not 507.00: engines R5 TDI (2,5 L) and V10 TDI (5,0L).

507 00 oil must be used on vehicles with particle traps, and those running Long Life servicing regimes.

Hmmmm, so what oil would you recommend for my Transporter ? It has an October 2006 build R5 motor AND came with a DPF, and in Australia we have to use fixed service intervals

Caution: the following is somewhat Off Topic in a Skoda Forum, but I have some information I feel I should add.

Having done a bit of research onto the best oil for the R5 motor (and after looking at the specific differences between 506.01 and 507.00) , I'm happy to put 507.00 into mine.

AFAIK the lubrication issue which led VW to officially requiring 506.01 (and therefore not 507.00) only applies to a small number of early R5 (and V10) motors that had "lesser quality" hardening treatment on the cams and followers. Most of these engines would have had those parts replaced by now (either under warranty or not) because of failure if they were going to fail. Information I've seen (from the additive supplier) suggests that 507.00 has anti-wear properties that are at least as good and in some aspects better than that of 506.01.

Ergo, I just tell everyone to use 507.00 in all VAG TDIs, as it is a lot simpler than puzzling over which lesser standard oils (505.xx, 506.00 etc) are "acceptable" for which TDI motor in which circumstances.

I don't mind if anyone else has a different opinion, after all, it is their engine and their money

Thanks. That sounds pretty definitive.

The only slight problem is that 507.00 is not exactly common, but the situation will obviously improve.

Yes, VW 504/507 isn't that common here in Australia either, but it is getting a little more readily available (just not from many of the "cheap", high volume products only, auto parts suppliers).

The biggest problem I see is people with new motors who can't be bothered checking the oil level (ever). Then they panic when the low oil warning light unexpectedly (!!?) appears. Then they don't know what specification oil to put in. Then when they figure it out they whinge they can't find the correct oil at their local corner store or supermarket

Nah, I don't see that. If a punter is too dim to check the oil, they'll not give a monkey's about what they tip into the poor motor when the crisis hits. The phrase 'fool-proof' was invented by someone with a rich sense of irony, or by a fool.

Just had a quick look at some web-cam images of Canberra. Hmm. A bright summer morning. Hope you choke on it...

Interesting readng on the R5. I believe we still have the information not to use 507 on the Touraeg even the new ones.

Interesting readng on the R5. I believe we still have the information not to use 507 on the Touraeg even the new ones.

Don't the new ones have a DPF ?

Interesting, as I believe the Touareg R5 is the same engine as in Transporters (except for lengthways vs sideways layout), and my owners manual categorically states VW 507.00, as does my dealer's info, and here in Oz Transporters are all on fixed service intervals (we aren't allowed to have variable service intervals).

The problem for 506.01 is that oil manufacturers will stop making it sometime in the future, as there is a very limited market for it these days.

The 506.01 vs 507.00 comparison has been discussed in great detail on the Brickyard T5 forum.

Confused So what do I use when I change the oil in my Fabia VRS MY07

Millers XFE-PD SAE 5w40

Confused So what do I use when I change the oil in my Fabia VRS MY07

Only an oil which meets spec 505 01. There are loads to choose from, including the one just recommended. See the thread below:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/what-engine-oil-should-i-use-my-fabia-vrs/23797/

I've just pulled this (below) from a reply I gave on another thread a couple of weeks ago:

______________

Here is a rather hurried tour through the VW specification codes that apply to unit injector TDI engines.

505.01: This is high-quality oil, and it is expensive, but it is the bare minimum you should use in a PD TDI. Do not use any lower grade, even as top-up!

If you have an emergency and really have to use something without VW accreditation, insist on the ACEA's B4 grade. But I'm afraid my sympathy for anyone who can't be bothered to carry a litre of top-up is rather scant...

If the vehicle is is being run with variable service intervals, it needs grade 506.01.

The newest grade to be introduced by VW is 507.00. This covers all PD TDIs on all servicing régimes. It is essential that you use this grade if your car has a particle trap.

If you have an 'emergency' in a vehicle with a particle trap, the oil you use must have not only the ACEA's B4 rating but also a Cx rating, to indicate that it's compatible with after-treatment devices. C4 is the best of these grades, but in any event don't drop below C3. If you can't manage an oil with B and C grades, drain the oil and change it ASAP. But you'll probably have poisoned your cat anyway...

.............................................

Rotary pump TDIs

Here we're looking at the 90ps and 110ps four-cylinder motors, 115ps and 140ps five-cylinder engines, and the derated commercial versions of same.

This is dead easy. Don't worry about VW's in-house specs. Any ACEA B4 will be splendid. Beware of B3: one of the few differences between B3 and B4 relates to the VW TDI rotary pump engine. Don't drop below B3, even for top-up. The VW grade required for these engines was 505.00.

............................................

ACEA 'E' specs

Ignore them. They apply to truck oils, and the requirements of an oil in commercial applications are completely different. For example, the base oil for a truck application must be very shear-resistant, but the resistance to acid attack will be nowhere near as good in a truck oil as it is in a lubricant designed for cars. Besides which, the E grades aren't actually progressive.