It just needs to meet the relevant VW/SAE specs Jason. Oil for diesel engines tends to be of a different/higher spec than petrol because of the tighter tolerances/higher compression ratio. Many dealers would use an unbranded VAG oil, but it meets the spec for the car.

PD engines are very fussy about their oil. The same oil for a 1.9TDi 90 and 110 Octavias can badly damage the Fabia TDi so much so that my dealership puts lables on the oil with Fabia and Octavia to stop mistakes!

Jason

Just to confuse you some more (you must need a lie down by now!), I use Magnatec to top up the girlfriend's Mondeo TDCi, BUT, its the 5W30 Magnatec specifically for diesels, NOT the Magnatec that I have topped up the Octavia with ( 0.5 litre in 9,500m !)

If you car has not fallen apart already, its not worth worrying about to be honest !

I still WOULD call some other dealers for a 30k quote though. When I had my Subarus I found that it was still a fair bit cheaper for me to travel 50 minutes and back to a privately run but official dealer, rather than use my local one ! Example -

Well - I should damn well hope they're using the correct type of magnatec. The engine's still running sweet, and loses no oil, so I reckon they're using the correct stuff, 5W30, as you said...

I'll see what the Newton Abbott skoda dealer will quote me for my 40K service...

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

Well - I should damn well hope they're using the correct type of magnatec. The engine's still running sweet, and loses no oil, so I reckon they're using the correct stuff, 5W30, as you said...

I'll see what the Newton Abbott skoda dealer will quote me for my 40K service...

My second service (cant find the receipt for the first at the mo)

The cost of oil was

Did my 40k service myself, and more thoroughly than the agent would have done. Parts prices from Skoda dealer for 1.9 SDi ASY engine: oil filter

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

Is magnatec really not a good oil for a TDI fabia??? I'm confused now. I just assumed magnatec was decent because of its clingy properties. "protects from the moment you turn the key" as the TV ad says...

:confused:

If the dealer is not able to supply the correct 'spec' of oil I would have thought that was a major problem. If your dealer has told you he is using a particular grade of Magnatec I would hope that it is suitable for the engine in your car!

I don't know if the relationship is nationwide but I know of a couple of dealers who use Castrol lubricants, that tends to suggest that there are suitable products in the Castrol range for the various Skoda engines. If he uses an oil that is outside of 'spec' then I would foresee all manner of warranty problems, I'm sure your dealer doesn't want to find himself in that situation.

Also I'm sure he wil be happy to run through the requirements and costs of your 40k service in advance and justify the quote he has given you.

While mentioning Castrol I thought I would ask this question. The Castrol brand name is well known, it goes back many, many years. At present Castrol are using a rather well known sporting figure to endorse thier products....any idea who he is? Only reason I'm asking is because, as far as the UK is concerned, I don't think too many people know about it, which is rather a shame for the millions being spent on the deal.....

:cheers:

A few pennies worth...

From what I understand, if you are on fixed interval servicing then the spec for the oil is less stringent than for variable servicing. Mine's on variable and I use Castrol SLXII Longlife, which meets the VAG spec. Tis expensive stuff, though (approx

Originally posted by spc in this post

While mentioning Castrol I thought I would ask this question. The Castrol brand name is well known, it goes back many, many years. At present Castrol are using a rather well known sporting figure to endorse thier products....any idea who he is? Only reason I'm asking is because, as far as the UK is concerned, I don't think too many people know about it, which is rather a shame for the millions being spent on the deal.....

:cheers:

I'll own up and say I have absolutely no idea :wave:

Just found out I'm working at a different office on Thursday, so have to bring car into Exeter on Saturday morning for its service and new door barrel (or I would have had to wait until 29/08/03 - sod that!)

This also means I won't be able to spill the beans on the

Believe it or not, its Mr Beckham. In fact he is nearly one year into a two year deal. Since it seems the Beckham brand name is possibly the most well know (and expensive!) brand name out there. (There is talk of a

Originally posted by spc in this post

I'm sure everyone knows who Shell are using.......don't they?

Er...

I thought they'd just used their advertising funds to hire pretty cashiers...

Think the trouble with "big name oil advertising" is that, certainly from my point of view, the garage changes it for me at service, I look at the invoice to see how much it's cost me, but it could be made by anyone for all I care. As a result, I just ignore oil adverts, particularly one as cheesy as Castrol Magnatec (for some reason a 15 year old Polo in black and white sounds rough, but a forecourt-fresh Passat filmed in colour purrs... )

Rob.

Originally posted by spc in this post

I'm sure everyone knows who Shell are using.......don't they?

:cheers:

Well it used to be Michael Schumacher - is that still the case?

What form of advertising are Castrol using Beckham in? Have never seen any - no bell rang when you said it was him ...

Now I may not be representative of the majority of Briskoda members, but maybe that makes me more representative of the population at large in that obviously that advertising is not reaching me....

Originally posted by ncarring in this post

Well it used to be Michael Schumacher - is that still the case?

What form of advertising are Castrol using Beckham in? Have never seen any - no bell rang when you said it was him ...

Now I may not be representative of the majority of Briskoda members, but maybe that makes me more representative of the population at large in that obviously that advertising is not reaching me....

Nick

You make my point exactly! You make the association with Schumacher and Shell but not Beckham with Castrol. You probably are quite resprentative of the British population in this regard.

MEMO to ad agency......its not working......must try harder!!!!!

Originally posted by spc in this post

Nick

You make my point exactly! You make the association with Schumacher and Shell but not Beckham with Castrol. You probably are quite resprentative of the British population in this regard.

MEMO to ad agency......its not working......must try harder!!!!!

Well I have bought Shell Oil in the last year, and also Castrol. If you go into a Shell service station and buy oil, you will see an image of Schumacher. I've never seen any image of Beckham - I bought my Castrol oil in the local Motorsave. Funnily enough, Burmah Castrol's headquarters are/were in Swindon (they were taken over by BP in 2000). I go into a BP station on an occasional basis but I'm not even sure if they've merged the oil brands yet. I know I can still buy Castrol products, but not sure if the BP oils are still on the shelf.

Are you in advertising, Paul?

A thought occurs though - I (and maybe much of the British motoring public) think it's ludicrous to use a footballer to advertise oil. Maybe the advertisers realise it would have little credibility here and have chosen not to use that particular brand image in the UK. Schumacher (like him or loathe him) is actually an obvious motorsport icon. Beckham is just a footballer - and not even known particularly as a driver. That is probably of little consequence in the Far East where Man Utd and Beckham are worshipped and therefore add desirability to any product.

PS Sorry Jason your thread's been hijacked - Paul should we start a new one?

I don't care - i'll just delete all the "xxxx has replied to your thread" emails...

Originally posted by robmawer in this post

Er...

As a result, I just ignore oil adverts, particularly one as cheesy as Castrol Magnatec (for some reason a 15 year old Polo in black and white sounds rough, but a forecourt-fresh Passat filmed in colour purrs... )

Rob.

Is it not a Suzuki Swift rather than a 15 year old Polo?

Originally posted by flyingscot in this post

Is it not a Suzuki Swift rather than a 15 year old Polo?

Quite possibly...hey, I did say I ignored the advert!

Rob.

Yeah but then I also didn't say I that need to get out more too:rolleyes:

I paid

Had my car done this morning - turned out to be

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

oh and that bloody VAT!

Why do we allow people to quote us ex-vat prices? :rant: I've got to pay vat which is bad enough, but don't rub my nose in it by drawing attention to how much it is. If you're a normal punter, like most of us are, the vat content is of no intetest. Just tell me how much we have to pay...end of story.

If per chance you are a vat registered punter then you know how to make allowance for the vat content, and you're in the minority. So dealers make it easy for the majority of your customers,

Devon, did they let you go without that job on the rear brakes?

Never came up in chatter. - I don't think the problem is as bad as it seems. It just looks totally f***ed visually, but performs fine.

And after that bloody service bill, I'm not going to be able to afford it for a while...

I must have missed something Jason - what looks "totally f***ed visually"?