I have a 2004 Fabia 1, 1.2 HTP, AWY. I need to change the oil soonish, and wondered what to use. The manual seems to say the acceptable specifications are VW500 00, VW 502 00, and VW 501 01. My options include:

i) I have a can of Castrol Magnatec dating back to 2006. There is no obvious expiry date. It says it complies with WV 501 01, but is 15W40 rather than 10W40 the dealer used the last time. Is it too old, or not quite the right spec?

ii) Castrol recommend this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Castrol-Edge-5W-40-Engine-Oil/dp/B0043R0L0A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1307341090&sr=8-4 It compiles with 502 00, but at 40+ quid might be a bit of an overkill (though I am not fussed if there is some identifiable benefit to using it)

iii) I could buy this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004AFE8BS/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_i5?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ARWD3KWR3KHX6JG053P&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294 It also complies with WV 501 01, but I am conditioned by advertising to believe I really need "magnetic oil" that will stick to the engine. Do I?

iv) I could try going with Magnatec, but there seems to be an awful lot of confusion about whether it is suitable. Castrol have 3 (yes three) different data sheets for 10w40 Magnatec, one of which complies with 50101 ( http://datasheets.bp.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/0/01CD85D91C080535802578960060E745/$file/BPXE-8H6D85_0.pdf ) and the other two don't ( http://datasheets.bp.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/0/8D4FDD0EF97E6765802577ED004D443F/$file/BPXE-85KR7U_0.pdf http://datasheets.bp.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/0/683401609037E175802577ED004D4329/$file/BPXE-85KQLL_0.pdf ). Given that I am not going to be able to tell the difference when buying on-line, perhaps this particular brand is best avoided?

Many thanks for any hints.

Get down to tescos

Castrol magnatec a3/b4 10w40 semi synth around £22

Go to ASDA and you can get Castrol Edge 5w-40 or 5w-30 for £30 for 4 l or £10 for 1l bottle. Or get from here http://www.vwspares.co.uk/quantum_oils.php 5w-40 or 5w-30.