As a new Skodaite, We have a 2004 mkI fabia 1.4 tdi. Great car but I don't know which engine oil has been used in it's regular servicing? I am changing the oil soon to start afresh but need to know which spec I should go for? I keep hearing 'is it the pd engine'? I always use top grade oils.

Yes it's a PD so it must meet the VAG approved spec. listed in the handbook.

Thanks - what does PD mean? Or is it just an engine number

PD is short for Pumpe-Deuse  ("Pump nozzle" in English). It's a way of pressurising the fuel within the engine.

See here (pages 27 onward) http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_223.pdf

And maybe here http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=61956 (some nice GIFs in post #6)

 

Because of the use of special camshaft lobes, oil quality is critical in preventing premature wear.

Edited 6 December, 20178 yr by Wino

10 hours ago, GordonE said:

Thanks - what does PD mean? Or is it just an engine number

 

It means it needs special VAG approved oil, not generic crap.

Thanks. I only use Syntrum full synthetic in my motors .

If it meets VW 505.01, 506.01 or 507.00 carry on. If it doesn't, don't.

I use this, for the price its excellent

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-VW-VOLKSWAGEN-5-LITRE-QUANTUM-PLATINUM-ENGINE-OIL-5W-40-ZGB115QLB00521/253001544665?epid=1563484657&hash=item3ae81133d9:g:SBQAAOSwautZyjVX

26 minutes ago, GordonE said:

Thanks. I only use Syntrum full synthetic in my motors .

 

Is that not an Omega 7 oil?

 

Something fishy here!

Edited 6 December, 20178 yr by rum4mo

Thanks for the help everybody. Advice followed - oil tomorrow.

 

I notice 10/40? Is it not 5/30?

2 minutes ago, GordonE said:

Thanks for the help everybody. Advice followed - oil tomorrow.

 

I notice 10/40? Is it not 5/30?

 

It doesn't matter, you're really starting to overthink this now.

The oil that clarendon recommended on ebay is 5w40 - which is fine !

5/40 it is then.

26 minutes ago, GordonE said:

Thanks for the help everybody. Advice followed - oil tomorrow.

 

I notice 10/40? Is it not 5/30?

 

23 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

It doesn't matter, you're really starting to overthink this now.

Does matter, 10/40 oil is an old multi grade and normally semi-synthetic or mineral, using this any PD engine will kill the camshaft's in no time at all, it will also kill the main, big end and small end bearings as the materials they are made from can't get enough lubrication from this oil, the tolerance's of said components to bearings shell's is to tight for thicker oil's.

 

These engine's either 1.4, 1.9 or 2.0 PD's MUST use 5/30 or 5/40 fully synthetic oil

No-one except the OP mentioned 10W40.

 

3 minutes ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

These engine's either 1.4, 1.9 or 2.0 PD's MUST use 5/30 or 5/40 fully synthetic oil

 

No. As I said above, what is required is an oil that meets 505.01, 506.01 or 507.00.  Not all 5W30 or 5W40 fully synth oils will meet one of these.

42 minutes ago, GordonE said:

Thanks for the help everybody. Advice followed - oil tomorrow.

 

I notice 10/40? Is it not 5/30?

 

39 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

It doesn't matter, you're really starting to overthink this now.

 

I was referencing both quote's and i know it was only the OP who mentioned 10/40, just explained a little as to why 10/40 can't be used in these engine's, a little info hurts no one.

 

And i am well aware there are 5/30 fully syn oil's that can't be used, the one's that can have already been mentioned by yourself so no need to explain them again.

 

I have worked on these VAG long enough to which oil you can and can't put in them, incidently the CR's have to use low ash oil's because of the DPF's.

Yeah, fair enough fella, it just looked a bit like you were saying that all that was necessary was for it to be 5/30 or 5/40 FS, whereas it's really the VW 505.01, 506.01 or 507.00 that is the critical part of the purchasing decision, any of those will automatically be in the right range of viscosities.

Edited 6 December, 20178 yr by Wino

Thanks everybody. Good technical advice - the specs are written down and will be bought tomorrow. I am a retired Police Accident and HGV examiner and have only run Hondas for donkey’s years - I routinely halve the oil change intervals and only use top stuff.  

An early maintenance operation might be to have a look at the state of the anti-shudder valve and EGR valve, de-crudding may well be in order.

A few other suggestions:

Check the rear doors for leakage after rainfall by looking for teeny puddles on the rubbers at the bottom of the doorways when door is open

Check that the battery light illuminates at ignition on

Check rear bushes of wishbones

Check rear screen wash function

Have a look at the strip fuses in the fusebox above the battery, and replace any that look corroded. Fuse 6 seems to suffer failure by cracking, rather than blowing, leading to ABS light and possible expensive, unnecessary repairs if the fuse isn't checked. In late versions of Fabia fuse 6 is something else, but not yours.

 

Those are some of the most common problems, others to be found/covered in the pinned thread called something like the Very Useful Mk1 Fabia thread.

Fuse and bulb info in this one.

 

Welcome along.

Edited 6 December, 20178 yr by Wino

1 hour ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

 

 

I was referencing both quote's and i know it was only the OP who mentioned 10/40, just explained a little as to why 10/40 can't be used in these engine's, a little info hurts no one.

 

And i am well aware there are 5/30 fully syn oil's that can't be used, the one's that can have already been mentioned by yourself so no need to explain them again.

 

I have worked on these VAG long enough to which oil you can and can't put in them, incidently the CR's have to use low ash oil's because of the DPF's.

 

Nonsense, read the whole thread, the important thing is that it meets the VAG spec. as I previously stated, SAE rating is NOT important.

It is important, This viscosity rating is bag factor on how an engine is lubricated as well as weather it's fully synthetic or semi or mineral.

 

10/40 is too thick to run in the PD so dosn't allow suffiecent oil flow, as these from the outset were designed to run 5/30, as is the majority of modern day engines, newer designs now use 0/20 oil.

 

The the Vag rating is for the chemical compound the oil is mixed from, one of the reasons why you can't  use a VAG oil in a PSA/Ford engine.

 

And yes I DID read the whole thread before posting.

 

As said previous 10/40 is an old multi-grade or semi-synthetic oil, and never ever meet VW 505.1 506.1 or 507 specs, so should not go anywhere near a PD. Must use a 5/30 FS using the above VW spec.

 

Been in the motor trade 22 years and know put the wrong oil (type/rating/viscosity) in an engine and it will kill pretty quick.

Edited 6 December, 20178 yr by Ju1ian1001

Having just looked through the lists of approved oils*, there aren't any 10W-anything there for 505.01, 506.01 or 507.00; for whatever it's worth.

Other oils can/will claim to meet or exceed the specs (and may well do so), only the ones in the list are actually tested/approved by VW group as far as I know.

 

The one that clarendon462 linked to really is a good way to go. Some people recently have said they've found it at equivalent or even cheaper prices at their local TPS.

 

*Anyone can look at these by creating a log-in on erWin Skoda and following a link from the homepage.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

It is important, This viscosity rating is bag factor on how an engine is lubricated as well as weather it's fully synthetic or semi or mineral.

 

10/40 is too thick to run in the PD so dosn't allow suffiecent oil flow, as these from the outset were designed to run 5/30, as is the majority of modern day engines, newer designs now use 0/20 oil.

 

The the Vag rating is for the chemical compound the oil is mixed from, one of the reasons why you can't  use a VAG oil in a PSA/Ford engine.

 

And yes I DID read the whole thread before posting.

 

As said previous 10/40 is an old multi-grade or semi-synthetic oil, and never ever meet VW 505.1 506.1 or 507 specs, so should not go anywhere near a PD. Must use a 5/30 FS using the above VW spec.

 

Been in the motor trade 22 years and know put the wrong oil (type/rating/viscosity) in an engine and it will kill pretty quick.

 

A cursory study of tribology might prove instructive, the VAG spec. relates mostly to the additive pack for PD, not the oil stock, the base oil used is irrelevant, it can be semi-syn or full synthetic.

 

The motor trade is rife with mythology, you're simply repeating it.

 

Here:

 

https://www.oilspecifications.org/articles/vw_motor_oil_specifications_explained.php

18 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

A cursory study of tribology might prove instructive, the VAG spec. relates mostly to the additive pack for PD, not the oil stock, the base oil used is irrelevant, it can be semi-syn or full synthetic.

 

The motor trade is rife with mythology, you're simply repeating it.

 

Here:

 

https://www.oilspecifications.org/articles/vw_motor_oil_specifications_explained.php

Additive's pack yes, i know what they refer too, they are put in to protect some of the white metal bearing surface's from chemicals in the base mix of the oil. so no mythology there, plus some of the additives have cleaning effect so no myth there either. Also some of the additives also aid the cooling effect of the oil.

14 hours ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

10/40 is too thick to run in the PD so dosn't allow suffiecent oil flow, as these from the outset were designed to run 5/30, as is the majority of modern day engines, newer designs now use 0/20 oil.

 My 1.9TDI and previous 1.4TDI have as a recommended oil Quantum Platinum which is a 5W40, while our 1.4TDI Greenline uses Quantum LongLife III which is a low ash 5W30, both to the relevant VW specification for PD engines.