Hello,

     

 I have a 2013 Fabia TSI (85) estate, first registerered 31st October 2013. I had a major service at the local main dealer today and they put 3.96 litrs of engine oil including the filter. My handbook says the capacity is 3.6 litres. I have scoured the internet and the majority of sites say it is 3.6 litres with just one or two saying it is 3.9 litres One site  suggested  that the amount was changed in early 2013 but I cannot find corrobation of this.I tried to look at the level  when I got home but it was dark and I couldnt see properly by torchlight. Also,  I as not as   mobile as I was by any means   and I rely on my main dealer doing the job correctly which is why I entrusted them with the job of course. So  now I am having doubts. I bought it a year ago with a full service history  but none of the invoices specify  the amount that was put in at each service. I know that overfilling will definitely  damage components including the exhaust system and I do not know how to drain any excess oil. Although I have contacted the garage I have not had a response and I dont really want to drive the car there in case it causes further damage. Its 16 miles away. Can anyone throw light on this? What is the correct amount of engine oil including filter for my car?          

Welcome.

4 litres will not damage it, if that was what was put in.

if it was .4 litres over capacity just do not panic.

 

I know there were errors in Owners Manuals.

I know some engines were shown as a 3.6 litre capacity and they should have shown 3.9 litres.

(Where some technicians put in 4.2 litres instead of 3.6, then added a bit more that was an issues.)

 

So you will need to check what the oil is showing on the dip stick when at 'Operating Temperature, parked on the flat after stopping and checking after a few minutes' ?

*

First though,

Check when stone cold this morning,  to check at OPERATING TEMPERATURE that requires driving more than 5 miles, 

sitting ticking over does not get the oil above 80*oC, maybe not even above 50*oC.*

Stone cold Engine & Engine Oil, parked on the flat, first check.

 

(In Mk2 vRS 1.4 TSI with 3.6 litre capacity i put in 4 litres of oil, as i ran them at the max level having experienced too many running below capacity after Main Dealer Servicing.   where the oil level had only been check when WARM, and not 'AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE'.

Only 1.2 44Kw VW Group engines are checked COLD according to Fabia Owners Manuals.)

 

?

What oil was used,  

5w 30 Full Synthetic Long Life VW504 00

or

5w 40 Full Synthetic VW502 00

Is the Service Indicator reset on Fixed or Variable Servicing.?

 

CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE SERVICE DESK MANAGER CHECK WITH THE MASTER TECH IF THE OIL LEVEL LOOKS TOO HIGH.

86 ps is 63 kW.. & Engine was built after 2011 

 

 

Edited 3 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

Thank you very much for this reply, it is very helpful

 

hetty1

I did get a response from the mechanic who serviced the car. He said the amount was correct, that 3.96 litres filled the car up to the top of the dipstick. I asked him how the different amounts can happen and he said its all about engine tolerances. He said different engines even from the same "family"  can have very  different tolerances. I mentioned that I had seen something on the internet concerning Mark Six Polos and their sump capacities increased to 3.9 from a date in 2011. He didnt respond to this.  Am I being had here or is what he is saying  a possibility?

He either checks and knows the capacities or is one that would put 3.9 in yours and checks level and would put the same in a pre 2011 that should get only 3.6.

 

?

Have you checked where on the dipstick when cold, how far above the crosshatch if it is?

Were is it when checked hot?

Edited 3 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

thanks for the information, I wish it had been in my manual

I'm thinking that you are being given good advice here, ie check the level on the dipstick and use that to gauge if the oil level is correct, it does not really matter - well to me anyway, what the exact oil quantity poured into the engine is during a service, if I end up with the oil level being correct then that is good!  I've noticed I've been billed from 3.2ltr to 3.8ltr for the same car across the years, knowing full well that I have checked the oil level on flat ground and found it to be correct in each case - note, I was not listing an early 1.2TSI there, just "an engine".

 

Edit:- well okay it was a BXW but these "oil capacity" figures are approximate.

Edited 3 November, 20178 yr by rum4mo

As already said, does it really matter? Check the oil level carefully yourself and correctly with a warm engine, on level ground etc using the dipstick. This is what counts.

 

I have 2 vehicles with the 1.2tsi engine one a late 2011 105ps the other a late 2013 85ps variant. I've never ever managed to get more than 3.6 litres in either when I change the oil and filter. Both user manuals state 3.6 litres. 

 

And don't make me laugh that a dealer or any mechanic measures oil poured to 0.01 litre (10ml) precision.   Though I've seen plenty of weird quantities quoted on invoices, when queried its always turned out that its been manually manipulated to make the cash figures add up to the correct figure.

 

3.96 litres is likely they typed on 3.9 then the numpty service manager decided to change it to 3.6 but didn't use the backspace key.

Some / many do not pour in from a bottle or jug, they hold a trigger on a gun on the end of the pipe and a measured amount goes in.

 

When changing oil and removing by suction then that amount is also know, including the last drain when the sump plug comes out.

Drain off or suction off engine oil.doc

Edited 3 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

On 03/11/2017 at 07:25, Headinawayoffski said:

...

I know some engines were shown as a 3.6 litre capacity and they should have shown 3.9 litres.

...

(In Mk2 vRS 1.4 TSI with 3.6 litre capacity i put in 4 litres of oil

...

 

Are you suggesting that the Mk2 VRS should have 3,9 litres of oil in it rather than 3.6?

Is there a misprint in the manual?

I ask because I am just about to have my car serviced; I am supplying Denso plugs as you advise from time to time and 4 Litres of Castrol Edge Titanium FST 5W-40 as advised by Skoda.

No not suggesting that,

(The 1.2 TSI Quanity was misprinted though and still showed 3.6 when VW had changed that to 3.9 in some manuals.)

 

but i put in 3.9 or 4 litres in quite a few twincharger engines when servicing them after finding that 3.9 litres of 5w 40 FS oil could have the indicated oil temp a few degrees lower, and in the belief that this quantity of oil did no harm and helped the efficient running of the engine.

(Your Castrol 5w 40 should be fine, but why not just stick with the 3.6 litres then after a good run see what the difference on the dipstick is as you take the level up to the correct amount putting in another .3 or .4 litres.

Run it for 10 miles with 3.6 litres in and watch the oil temp, then later with 3.9 litres in run it for 10 miles and see if any oil temp difference.)

*If running cooler oil or running it with the temp indicated lower, see if the Indicated MPG is any better with than when it was 2 or 3 degrees higher.*

 

There were Qualified VW Group Master Techs and others putting in 3.9 litres of oil and they did this probably after some experience of filling with 3.6 litres and doing checks with the Dipstick or even using the Diagnostics.

 

As it is the difference between a Cold Check level and the At Operating Temperature has the difference of about 0.5 litres as there is still oil up in the top half, in the filter etc.

3.9 litres shows as the correct level on a Hot Check, in area 'A' of the dipstick, just at the top of the crosshatch onto the flat stamping.

(That same Dip Stick is used in engines with oil capacities of 3.2,3.6,3.8 and 4,2 litres and is crap really.)

 

PS

I believed those Silver non drip Oil Filters that VW had to replace the Black ones originally fitted are crap and i never used them, 

i put on a cheaper filter, not because of the saving on money, but because it was an efficient filter.

Edited 4 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

Thanks, good strategy, I will do as you suggest; start with3.6 litres and add .3 litres a week later.

I live on a hill and have to leave the car in a local level and true Sainsburys car park for an hour in order to check the oil level.

The Cold check should be stone cold on the flat.

 

A Hot check is oii above 80*oC on the flat less than 5 minutes after stopping,

Skoda say 'Wait a few minutes'  say check when refueling,  a few is a handful not 15 or 30 minutes.

 

Best check is a Jabazuma check.

Car cold, open bonnet, dip cold oil,  then go start the car, just start it, stop right away, dip the oil.

If the oil was on the flat above the crosshatch cold, it will now be at the top of the cross hatch.

 

So if you go drive 10 miles and do a Hot Check it will be surprising if the Oil is not were it was with the Jabazuma check, 

Just at the top of the Cross Hatch.

If that is true, then Hot Checks are not required, just remember where a Cold Check level is, sorted. Easy.

 

The UK VW Video is not like the US one, the lady on it never mentions 'Operating Temp' when checking.

 

*If the oil stone cold and all in the sump is not above the crosshatch by a little before starting the engine, 

with a oil capacity of only 3.6 litres then the oil level is down a bit, and if below the cross hatch when hot that is 1/3rd below capacity, 

Twinchargers can be 1.3 litres low and no Warning of Low Oil, or Low Oil Pressure.*

Open the bonnet for more than 30 seconds and do nothing and any warning lights go out, sometimes for another 60 miles.*

 

 

Edited 4 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

For me the topic of black or silver/grey filters is a bit worrying, I did not make the effort to check what filter was fitted to my wife's August 2015 Polo 1.2TSI 110PS at the engine plant, but it now has a grey/silver VW Group filter.  What I have found out is, the engine plant seemed to still be using Mahle (black) filters while the dealer workshops via VW Group parts supply line, will only ever receive Mann (silver/grey) filters - that might just mean a change of supplier for many reasons like cost, or cost at maybe even cost.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Mann filters now being supplied as a VW Group genuine part are every bit as good in doing their job as the original Mahle filters were!

Edited 4 November, 20178 yr by rum4mo

No idea if there is Gel Technology or any such with the Silver Ones, all i know is for fitting on the top of engines you can remove them and they trap the oil and save messy people spilling oil.

Personally i think for the likes of a Twincharger that needs the oil up into the filter quick there might have been Silver ones over tightened.

Anyway, Mahle filter less than £4 at the motor factors, does the job so job done.

Suck or drain oil before filter removal and a cloth / rag/ paper towel to catch any oil sorted.

My interest is for the filter fitted to the 2015 1.2TSI 110PS engine and after checking both Mahle and Mann sites they are the same in as much as both have "anti drain back" valves so maybe not too sinister a reason for VW Group to drop Mahle in favour of Mann, well until proven by others, maybe just retaining Mahle for engine plant supply and only Mann for genuine VW Group dealer sourced parts. 

I would suggest any of the well known brands of filter will suffice. I use Bosch myself as I trust the brand. I use their oil, fuel, cabin and air filters. I may be talking about a different model to you but if the manufacturer states its the correct fitment, I will fit the Bosch.

 

As for oil levels, I use manufacturers guides as just that... A guide. I will put in the required amount slowly, checking it is not too much and use the old tried and trusted method of checking, adding if needed and checking again. Running up to temp, stopping and rechecking (Both hot and cold). As long as I end up with the level in between the marks and usually just coming up to the upper level, I know a 4L can of oil will leave me a little left for a top up if need be, mid-service. I would never rely on manuals saying fill with say, 4L, Chucking that in and finding it too much, only having to drain some out again.

 

Been there, did that at 16 with my first moped, with gearbox oil... Lesson learnt!

Edited 9 December, 20178 yr by mrgf