Simon: this is the link - http://forums.tdiclub.com/ubbthreads.php?Cat=&C=2. The board to see first is Fuels and Lubricants, esp. the 504 and 507 thread. Happy for you to post the info, after all you found it!

John

Oilman,

This is a general question about the W viscosity of oil at cold temps.

I'm currently in an argument with someone who claims that a OW-30 oil (specifically Castrol SLX) is 'too thin when starting from cold.' Now I know this is rubbish, as the oil will be much thinner (lower viscosity) at normal engine operating temp of approx 90C. And, that one of the major advantages of 0W oils is that they are thin (relatively speaking) to quickly and easily flow around the engine when starting from cold, thus providing better lubrication than a thicker oil.

With this in mind do you have any data on the viscosities of the following grades of oils at 0C?

0W-30 Full Synthetic

5W-30 Semi Synthetic

10W-30 Mineral

The only data I can find on the internet is for 40C & 100C.

Thanks

Pud

Pud,

It all depends on the engine. Most VAG engines produced in the last 10-15yrs are quite happy with a 0w.

A 0w will provide better cold start protection then a 5w and 10w.

In reality for cold start protection outside of the arctic circle you do not need anything lower then a 5w, as these will puor to around -25 a 0w will pour down to -30.

The reason VAG use the 0w-30 is for variable service and to help meet mpg and emission standards.

Have a look on my site http://www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm and see if you can find the information you are looking for.

Cheers

Guy.

At the risk of asking a stupid question...............

I'm in my second week of ownership of a Fabia vRS and am checking the engine oil tomorrow morning. Should I:

a) be checking the oil with the engine cold; or

check after getting the temperature up to operating temperature, turning the car off and letting the oil settle for a couple of minutes

Cheers,

JT

Check when the engine is cold, its the best way to get a true reading.

Cheers

Guy.

I thought I had quite handle on oil specs etc....... just shows you how wrong you can be!

Anyway, got the Octy MOTTED this morning and a Trafpol Volvo T5 was getting motted before me so I had a sneaky look under the bonnet and spotted this sticker:

"Use only Constab PS Oil in this vehicle" ?????? :confused: :confused:

So as well as being chipped and tweaked the trafpol use different oils from us mere mortals......or is it just rebranded fully synth?

cheers

I have to be honest, I have not heard of Constab PS.

Any idea of grade etc??

Cheers

Guy.

I have to be honest' date=' I have not heard of Constab PS.

Any idea of grade etc??

Cheers

Guy.[/quote']

Nope: the tester was just getting to the end of that part of the test and shut the bonnet (don't he was overly happy at me sneaking a peek, although there wasn't anything to see that was obvious!).

The label did catch my eye though because I'd been reading this thread last night as I'm about to start my own servicing..car out of warranty, tightening my belt and not paying through the nose for an oil change at Skoda etc.

Maybe I misread it......It definitely said Constab P.S but maybe the P.S had IS removed?

Would love to know what oil it is though?

How well do oils store? The next service will be due in a few months, but i'm sure if i left it, it would be too late to buy it cheap! Would it pick up too much moisture, condensation?

Spanner, just so you know, the cheapest I found oil round here was in Redhill, Frenches Autos the company is called. I found them on the Millers Oils website.

How well do oils store? The next service will be due in a few months, but i'm sure if i left it, it would be too late to buy it cheap! Would it pick up too much moisture, condensation?

If the oil is on the shelf, sealed youve got a few years, if the seal is broken you are looking at 1 year.

Cheers

Guy.

Thanks both for the info.

I've got a load of Silkolene turbo oil to put in my Octy RS. After reading this i'm unsure whether it's going to be ok in it. Can anyone help please? it's 15/40. I thought it would be ok as it say's for fast road and performance use especially on turbo charged engines. I use it in our EVO rally car and it's great. Will it be ok in the Octy. I'm on fixed service schedule and change the oil myself every 5000 miles.

Cheers

Si

What (in simple terms) is the difference between an oil rated as ACEA A1 and one rated ACEA A3, assuming they are both the same viscosity & type?

And what would happen if you were to put an ACEA A1 rated oil in an engine that required ACEA A3?

Thanks

Pud

I've got a load of Silkolene turbo oil to put in my Octy RS. After reading this i'm unsure whether it's going to be ok in it. Can anyone help please? it's 15/40. I thought it would be ok as it say's for fast road and performance use especially on turbo charged engines. I use it in our EVO rally car and it's great. Will it be ok in the Octy. I'm on fixed service schedule and change the oil myself every 5000 miles.

Cheers

Si

It will be OK ifit meets any one of specs VW 500 00, 502 00, 501 01 or ACEA A2. Do you have any particular reason for not using the factory fill spec VW 503 00 fully synthetic 0W-30 oil?

No reason really, i get the Silkolene in bulk for the rally car and also i change my oil every 5000 miles. They factory stuff is to expensive as well. Last time i got some Skoda charged me

Sorry to lower the tone but the thread says oil advice.

I have a 98 Octavia 1.8 slx its done 78000, I haven't owned it long and I need to do an oil change. What is the best oil to use and where should I Buy it ???

I think its been run on semi-synthetic, I'll probably do the oil change myself every 10,000 unless its too much hassle getting to the drain plug.

Any advice would be appreciated, cheers

You can use a 10w-40 semi synthetic or a 5w-40 full synthetic, if you are looking at 10,000 miles oil changes I would consider a 5w-40 full synthetic.

This would be a good one to look at;

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/TechSpecs/titan%20supersyn%20sl%205w_40%20&%20sl%205w_50.pdf

Cheers

Guy.

Guy, could you give us your thoughts on the pros and cons of engine flush oil since at least one dealer routinely uses it when carrying out oil changes? I for one wouldn't like the residue of that contaminating the LongLife oil I use for variable servicing.

Denis,

I personally do not go for flushes, good quality modern oils have all the detergents needed to keep your engine clean.

Most flushes are made from paraffin or kerosene mixes and in reality can do more harm then good.

Cheers

Guy.

Thanks, Guy. Those are my thoughts too.

cheers oilman

ACEA Specifications

(Association des Constructeurs Europeens d

Any thoughts on flushing oil, eg the light oil you buy in 5 litre bottles as opposed to the the addative tins?

Flushing oil tends to be just normall mineral oil, branded as such.

Dont use flushing additives and they can be too harsh.

If you really feel a flush is needed just use an engine oil.

Cheers

Guy.