I've just had my car serviced at Winner, Cinderford (a Skoda dealer) and the invoice says:

5W-30 HELIX PLUS - 4.5l = £23.36 (+vat)

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/what-engine-oil-must-i-use-my-fabia-vrs/23797/ notes that "You must use an oil which meets specification VW 505 01" and the only Shell oil available for a Fabia vRS is shown as "Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-40"

I've rung Winners and queried the precise specification of the oil they've put in but the receptionist was rather vague about it - though she did say they use the Helix oil all the time and she did seem to pick up on "VA" when I mentioned it.

The Shell site notes the following "Plus" oils - none of them is a 5W-30 specification:

Shell Helix Plus - United Kingdom

Shell Helix Plus - 10W-40 Synthetic technology motor oil - VW 505.00

Shell Helix Diesel Plus - United Kingdom

Shell Helix Diesel Plus - 5W-40 Synthetic technology motor oil - VW 505.00

Shell Helix Diesel Plus - 10W-40 Synthetic technology motor oil - VW 505.00

However a footnote on here produced further clues:

Shell Helix Ultra Extra - United Kingdom

Shell Helix Ultra Extra - 5W-30 Fully synthetic motor oil - VW 504.00 / 507.00**

**Approved for all VW and Audi engines except V10 engines and pre 2000 TDi engines. (For these engines use Shell Helix Plus VA or Ultra VA to meet VW 505.01)

But the website doesn't list "Shell Helix Plus VA" or "Ultra VA" and in a search those terms only appear on the last page quoted above.

However a Google search turned up the following page not occurring in the listings above:

Shell Helix Diesel Plus - Model Site

Shell Helix Diesel Plus

... and at the bottom of that page is noted:

Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-40

Exceptional engine clean-up

Specifically designed for VW pump injection engines needing products which meet VW 505.01 or Ford M2C 917A specifications

So we're nearly there - it's possibly that but it still doesn't match the 5W-30 grade noted on the invoice.

But Googling "Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30" certainly brings up references on other sites to this particular oil.

I finally found two references on the Global Shell website:

Shell Helix Ultra - Shell in Deutschland

Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30 (speziell für VW/Audi)

Shell España - Motores de Vehículos Ligeros

Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30

Lubricante de tipo VW 505.01 para motores diésel de automóviles del grupo VW (VW, Audi, Seat y Skoda), especialmente los equipados con inyectores-bomba (PD) hasta el año 1998 y aquéllos posteriores que no se acogen al sistema WIV (largos periodos de cambio): el intervalo de cambio máximo es de 15.000 km. Los motores que sigan el sistema de larga duración (longlife) deben utilizar los productos Shell Helix Ultra VX o Shell Helix Ultra X.

Catálogo - http://www.shell.com/static/es-es/downloads/catalogo_Shell_Helix.pdf

Boletín Técnico - http://www.shell.com/static/es-es/downloads/Helix_Diesel_Plus_VA_5W-30.pdf

Ficha de Seguridad - http://www.shell.com/static/es-es/downloads/Helix_Diesel_Plus_VA_5W-30_DPD.pdf

Hence I conclude that Shell Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30 is an acceptable oil to meet VW 505.01 specifications and thus OK for my Fabia vRS, and another oil to add to the list at http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/what-engine-oil-must-i-use-my-fabia-vrs/23797/

Comments?

I've also found a reference on here which is the only page coming up in a Google search on < "Helix Diesel Plus VA 5W-30" >:

Oil advice and recommendations here!! [Archive] - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forums

I have just bought 5L of Millers 5W40 XFE-PD oil for £25

I have just bought 5L of Millers 5W40 XFE-PD oil for £25

where from?

You really do need to get confirmation from Winners that whatever oil they used meets spec VW 505.01. If it doesn't, then the oil needs to be drained and replaced with the correct spec oil asap.

where from?

Blackburn Brakes and Components

Just checked the receipt and it came to £25.29

Blackburn Brakes and Components

Just checked the receipt and it came to £25.29

i just bought "Fuchs TITAN Supersyn Plus 5W-40" and paid 25.46+vat (4L), and 8+vat (1L)

from Partco (Warrington)

VWSpares.co.uk seems cheap now that I've started to search around properly :(

(sorry, taking thread off topic)

That was confusing...