Hi All,

 

Reading the manual for my 280 TSI it says use VW 502 00 specification oil. It says to check oil when 'The engine operating temperature is reached.'

 

So every time I want to check oil I have to drive it around a bit before hand? Seems rather inconvenient! What is the difference in checking when cold or at temp?

 

Also, given that oil specification what would you use to top up? I want the best oil but not sure what to buy. I like to have some handy just in case. I haven't bothered checking the oil level since picking the car up but I'm planning to check it this weekend having covered 900 odd miles.

 

Cheers.

Oil expands and becomes "thinner" when hot; flowing easier around the engine. If you take the level at cold it may read lower thereby fooling you into topping up. This will mean too much oil in the car when hot and that can be as bad for the engine as too little oil. Keep some rag in the car and just check the oil level after a run.

The manual doesn't state what oil grade is preferred. What would you put in a 280 TSI - 5W30 or 5W40? Found these online - both are VW 502 00:

 

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60457-castrol-edge-titanium-5w-40-fst-advanced-fully-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx

 

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/engine-oil/castrol-edge-5w30-oil-4l

 

Edit - used reg number entered on halfords site which showed the 5W30 but the spec of the oil doesn't say VW 502! There is also a 0W40 Castrol on the Opie Oils site which is the correct spec. Any advice appreciated on what to buy

Edited 23 January, 201610 yr by l4wrence

You had maybe best go and check your oils, 

because VW502 00 would only be if you were changing the Oil with Fixed Services. 

 

The car left the Factory with Full Synthetic Long Life Oil for Variable Servicing (Flexible servicing)

 and that is not VW502 00 or 5W 40 Full Synthetic Long Life. (VW 502 00  is not Long LIfe)

(VW 504 00 is Full Synthetic Long Life, say 5w 30)

 

As to the Cold Check, that might show a higher oil level on the dip stick than the Warm or Hot / Operating Temp Check,

(Skoda say Warm in some Skoda Models Owners Manuals,

VW say Operating Temperature, something lost there in the Translation..... German, CZ, English...

*Good to hear that Skoda now say Operating Temperature in the Superb Owners Manual.*

 

Do the cold check, know where that is.

(At least a few times, say when the car is collected. after a technician does a service, Today so that you know.)

Then after the Oil has been to 80*oC or so, stop on the flat, wait 'A Few Minutes' as Skoda say. (Vague) 

A few is not more than 5 minutes, certainly not 10, 15 etc like some people do, 

but all that matters is be consistent how you check, be it Cold., Hot, or Hot and wait ages.

Dip and then you know the difference if any.

 

Then you can always set off on a journey having done a cold check first and know there is enough oil in.

Edited 23 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

PS 

If someone believes that Engine Oil gets noticeably  thinner when hot and that changes the oil level on the dip stick.

 

Put 1 litre of engine oil in a cooking pot, or even 4 litres.

(1 litre weighs 857 grams. That is the given weight when Skoda are doing official Oil Consumption tests.)

 

Mark on the pan the top line of the oil. 

Heat it up and with a Cooks Thermometer used to check take that oil up to say 130*oC which is hotter than you will run it in your engine,

now is the Oil above the mark you made when it was at say 15*oC or what ever when you put it in the pan?

BE SURE TO WATCH AS THE TEMP OF THE OIL GETS TO 50*oC & 80*oC TO SEE IF THE LEVEL RISES.

 

........................

Now think about a Oil & Filter Service and a VW Factory Trained Technician checking your Oil.

*Or worse a Kwik Fit fast foot dancer and chancer.*

Say they put in 4.2 Litres,  then start the car, leaving it ticking over to 'Warm the Oil'. 

Leave it 5 minutes to be at Operating Temperature', Dip and check and maybe top up a bit more.

 

Well 5 minutes tick over is not even at 50*oC Oil Temp, (Dependent on Ambient Temp in Workshop, etc)

& 50*oC is not Operating Temperature, & not Normal running Temperature other than at the start of a journey, 

and not a 'Hot Check'.  

This is where even Professionals do things so differently.

After a Oil & Filter Change and a Road Test of at least 5 miles, then a Hot Check should be done.

 

If you check out the VW UK Film on Youtube you will see there the presenter does not mention engine / oil temp.

VW USA are obviously more concerned with covering their butts against claims.

(well they were until they got caught lying and cheating.)

Edited 23 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Cheers, all makes sence. Although I will be having fixed services I take your point about 504 being in there so I'll buy 504 to top up with. So the Halfords link was correct - I'll get some Castrol Edge 5W30 Oil.

PS 

If someone believes that Engine Oil gets noticeably  thinner when hot and that changes the oil level on the dip stick.

 

Put 1 litre of engine oil in a cooking pot, or even 4 litres.

(1 litre weighs 857 grams. That is the given weight when Skoda are doing official Oil Consumption tests.)

 

Mark on the pan the top line of the oil. 

Heat it up and with a Cooks Thermometer used to check take that oil up to say 130*oC which is hotter than you will run it in your engine,

now is the Oil above the mark you made when it was at say 15*oC or what ever when you put it in the pan?

BE SURE TO WATCH AS THE TEMP OF THE OIL GETS TO 50*oC & 80*oC TO SEE IF THE LEVEL RISES.

 

........................

Now think about a Oil & Filter Service and a VW Factory Trained Technician checking your Oil.

*Or worse a Kwik Fit fast foot dancer and chancer.*

Say they put in 4.2 Litres,  then start the car, leaving it ticking over to 'Warm the Oil'. 

Leave it 5 minutes to be at Operating Temperature', Dip and check and maybe top up a bit more.

 

Well 5 minutes tick over is not even at 50*oC Oil Temp, (Dependent on Ambient Temp in Workshop, etc)

& 50*oC is not Operating Temperature, & not Normal running Temperature other than at the start of a journey, 

and not a 'Hot Check'.  

This is where even Professionals do things so differently.

After a Oil & Filter Change and a Road Test of at least 5 miles, then a Hot Check should be done.

 

If you check out the VW UK Film on Youtube you will see there the presenter does not mention engine / oil temp.

VW USA are obviously more concerned with covering their butts against claims.

(well they were until they got caught lying and cheating.)

(coefficient of volume expansion) of water = 0.00021

(coefficient of volume expansion) of oil = 0.00063

an online calculator gives the expansion of oil between 10C and 80C as 4%. I'll do some hand calcs to check.

Just checked the numbers and 4% stacks up.....this rises to 6% if the oil is 100C.

Science is good.

The thing is,  'Cold Check'  and all Oil in the Sump and the Oil on the Dipstick is above the Cross Hatch Area. 

 

Do the Oil Check with the engine / oil at Operating Temperature, a few minutes after stopping and you will very likely find 

the oil at the top off the Cross Hatch Area.   Area 'A'. 

 

So lower on the dipstick not higher, because capillary action has not all oil out of the filter, head and oil channels.

 

Simple way to check.

Do a cold dip this morning,  after you have gone say at least 10 miles today do a hot dip.

Where is the oil on your dip stick?

 

Now you know where it is if setting off on a trip, a better check than having to pop a bonnet at a filling station or as you arrive some place at the end of a trip.

Cheers, all makes sence. Although I will be having fixed services I take your point about 504 being in there so I'll buy 504 to top up with. So the Halfords link was correct - I'll get some Castrol Edge 5W30 Oil.

Take a look at this http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-713-castrol-edge-titanium-5w-30-ll-fst-fully-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx

I have never worried whether the engine is hot or cold (99% has been done cold and for the last four years) as long as the car is level the dip stick is wiped and when checked the level is between the marks. If it is nearer the lower mark top up until it is nearer the upper mark, mind you I have not had to top up at all in nearly four years (51k miles) on variable servicing. It is after all just common sense, which I usually borrow from the wife.