Having just purchased a 07 VRS TDI PD I was shocked too see that the skoda dealer had been using 10w40 part synthetic in previous services!

First service was done by a different dealer and used the proper stuff at a price of €65.

All other services were with 10w40 at a price of around €30.

Rang up the offending dealer and they said its acceptable to use this, which I know is bull..

Rang a few other dealers and they have said it has to be 5w30 Fully synth meeting 507.00 only, as I knew anyway..

I've emailed skodas head office and regional office to see what they say about the situation..

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Having just purchased a 07 VRS TDI PD I was shocked too see that the skoda dealer had been using 10w40 part synthetic in previous services!

First service was done by a different dealer and used the proper stuff at a price of €65.

All other services were with 10w40 at a price of around €30.

Rang up the offending dealer and they said its acceptable to use this, which I know is bull..

Rang a few other dealers and they have said it has to be 5w30 Fully synth meeting 507.00 only, as I knew anyway..

I've emailed skodas head office and regional office to see what they say about the situation..

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Yes I did - gave up fighting in the end and just paid to get it done at an independent specialists. Some dealers really are charlatans!

the PD170 has a DPF and a DPF equipped car must use VW507 due to it needing a low ash oil.

The 10w40 will have potentially allowed damage to the camshaft and injectors and could also cause you DPF problems down the line.

How far did the car go between services on the 10w-40?

I would have asked the dealer to put that oil comment in writing as they are well out of order.

Could I ask what area the dealer is in, I'm wondering if it's along the south coast as I avoid one for similarly bad advice.

Edited 31 March, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

Well its gotten two oil changes with 10w40, both 10,000 miles apart. Thats all I really have documentation for. Im in ireland so I dont know if that information would be any use to you.

10'000 miles apart means that it's running on a fixed interval, which is at least something not quite so bad.

If they had run it for a variable interval at that mileage, then I'd have said there was a strong potential for serious engine wear or other issues.

On a fixed interval it still isn't good for the reasons above on the pd injectors and cambelt.

If you think you might keep the car, then go and get some VW507 oil and get the oil dropped, filter replaced and new oil put in.

I'd then run that for a short interval (6 months/10k miles max) and then change it again just to remove any gunk that might have built up in there.

I'd also be contacting skoda and asking what they are going to do about the dealer. At the least I'd expect an extended warranty from them for the first year of ownership past the manufacturers warranty.

Did you buy the car from the dealer who did the servicing? If so and it was less than 30 days ago, I think there is a skoda 30 day change the car period when buying used from a main dealer.