My Octavia 1.6tdi is a couple of thousand miles off its first 20,000 service and the oil level is around the bottom of the dipstick range so I thought I should top it up. I called the local Skoda dealer to ask what sort of oil to use. She advised Castrol Edge Professional - only available through garages.

But then - and this is a new one to me - she said 'never top up until the engine oil level light comes on'. Is that right - do we ignore dipstick measuring in the new world of digital motoring ?

Thanks

Isn't this something to do with having the least old oil left, diluting the "good" new top-up oil, because you are having to put more new oil in if you let it get very low?

Sounds a bit iffy to me! A bit like "never fill your petrol tank up because you get lower m.p.g due to the weight."

Maybe so, but life is a little too short for that - like "only drive on roads with no hills." Or better still, only drive downhill. Yeah, right!

Always keep the oil level between the max and min mark, simples!

Surely the Oil Level light is there as a warning that you haven't been checking the level regularly & the level is dropping to levels that are out of the operating range? If you've seen the oil level dropping like you have, surely it's good practice to top it back up to max & pre empt the warning light? Incdently, my old Oct will illuminate it's Oil Level warning light if it drops below half on the dipstick range, which I thought was a little over cautious. Mind you, mine is so rattly by the time it's half way down, you already know it needs a top up!

Thanks for the responses. Also, is there a proprietry brand I can use to top up, or does it have to be the Castrol Edge Pro ? Thanks

Check the oil level each week and don't let the level drop to the minimum. Always check the dipstick with the car on level ground. Top up with the correct spec as quoted by Skoda, for the 1.6 CR it will be VW507.00.

Any oil that is 5w-30 and conforms to VW507.00 is OK to use. I use either Shell Helix or Quantum, you don't have to use Castrol edge.

You can get Castrol Edge from Halfords.

Castrol Edge also available in asda best price i could find at 35 for 4 litres

Castrol Edge also available in asda best price i could find at 35 for 4 litres

+1

Cheapest place I found too

If you ask me she needs some training she shouldnt be giving out wrong instructions that could cause damage!

Which dealer was it??

The brand doesn't matter, as mentioned above as long as it meets the VW 507.00 spec (listed on the container) then you are good to go.

Castrol Edge is expensive, I just bought some Shell Helix off eBay for £30.00 delivered, and that is for 5 litres not the 4 litre Castrol bottles...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320818355099

You should never wait for the oil light to come on, if the level is near the MIN mark on the dipstick it needs topping up.

Yeah brand doesnt matter aslong as it meets the spec and the cheapest VW 507 I have seen is ASDA's own brand 5 litres of 5/30 Long life for £20

Edited 1 January, 201214 yr by 07 vRS Taxi

Is the ASDA oil to VW 507.00 specification? The reason I ask is that I was looking at their oil a few weeks back but dismissed it as I couldn't find VW 507.00 on the container...

Probably the same woman who went into the garage where my mate worked and asked if they could give her a longer dipstick as her original wasnt reaching the oil

Lol fibaman, Silver VW 507 Isnt on the container but it does have VW SEAT SKODA AUDI BMW etc on the front and on the back it meets API SM/CF ACEA C3 Low SAPS/ASH Which is exactly what is on the GOLD castrol tub right next to it along with VW 507 and BMW LONG LIFE. The GREEN castrol 5/30 tub meets VAUXHALL and other VW Specs

Edited 1 January, 201214 yr by 07 vRS Taxi

Have a look at page 227 of the owner's manual:

https://mediaportal.skoda-auto.com/resource/documentation/manuals/en/Octavia/06-2009/Manual/A5_Octavia_OwnersManual.pdf

Probably the same woman who went into the garage where my mate worked and asked if they could give her a longer dipstick as her original wasnt reaching the oil

If we're not careful we'll soon be into Blonde jokes.........like the one about the missing engine cap with 7IO stamped on it.......

The brand doesn't matter, as mentioned above as long as it meets the VW 507.00 spec (listed on the container) then you are good to go.

Castrol Edge is expensive, I just bought some Shell Helix off eBay for £30.00 delivered, and that is for 5 litres not the 4 litre Castrol bottles...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320818355099

You should never wait for the oil light to come on, if the level is near the MIN mark on the dipstick it needs topping up.

I have bought some off this ebay seller and i found it a bit odd that there was no tin foil seal on the container after i removed the top. All other brands of oil i have bought have had some sort of seal on them. Can anyone confirm if there should be a seal.

I have bought some off this ebay seller and i found it a bit odd that there was no tin foil seal on the container after i removed the top. All other brands of oil i have bought have had some sort of seal on them. Can anyone confirm if there should be a seal.

I bought 2x shell helix 1litre top ups from opie oils and they didn't have foil seal. They do have the plastic seal on the cap though that separates and leaves a collar on the top of the bottle - the same way a coke bottle opens when new.

Edited 6 January, 201214 yr by thewill

Thanks, that makes me feel better.

I did a google search on fake shell helix which revealed a warehouse in malasia full of fake shell helix being raided.

http://www.21tradenet.com/news_2011-3-30/128499.htm

Edited 6 January, 201214 yr by taxigeoff

The one I received off this same seller had no foil seal but the plastic cap was unbroken.

I haven't seen a foil seal on bottles of oil for a long time.

I'd be very wary of buying oil on ebay, there is a lot of fake oil out there and buying from a seller with low feedback is a sure sign of fake products. The fact the plastic cap seal was not broken is not a sign of a genuine prodict, most fakes these days are very good and hard to distinguish from the real thing.

I wonder how much of that malaysian oil has been through the warehouse before it was raided.

Not in english, but look at this.

http://ondscene.my/jenayah/rampasan-minyak-pelincir-minyak-gearminyak-brek-semuanya-tiruan

The pictures are bad enough.

But then - and this is a new one to me - she said 'never top up until the engine oil level light comes on'. Is that right - do we ignore dipstick measuring in the new world of digital motoring ?

Maybe that's just what garages do with the cars they run around in and therefore what she's been told. They certainly don't like putting more than a few pints of petrol in at a time so I guess they probably delay putting oil in as long as possible. I feel sorry for the eventual buyer of the car if that's the case.

The one I received off this same seller had no foil seal but the plastic cap was unbroken.

I haven't seen a foil seal on bottles of oil for a long time.

You havnt shopped at ASDA for a long time then ;-)